Application of Concepts from Caring Science
Assignment Prompt
Summary: A theory can be used to guide practice. This assignment is an exercise in supporting a clinical practice with theory and evidence.
Directions: Identify an outcome of nursing practice in your area of practice that can be improved. For example, if you work in home health, you may identify that throw rug use by fall risk patients is too prevalent. You may be able to use the problem that inspired the theory concepts that you developed in week two.
Briefly support why it is a problem with evidence from the literature. This is not the major focus of the assignment so do not elaborate.
Create a clinical nursing (not medical) theory in the form Concept A I Proposition I Concept B. Think of the structure like two nouns and a verb. While the term proposition is much more complex in the dictionary, in our use it is the connecting term between the two concepts. Examples include Concept A improves Concept B, Concept A is related to Concept B, when Concept A increases then Concept B also increases, etc. When you get to research, you will explore this further as you develop independent and dependent variables. How to use these statistically will come in research and statistics courses.
This clinical theory is identified as an empirical theory when you get to the C-T-E model later in this course. It is empirical in that they can be measured.
Identify and define your concepts. Identify how they could be measured in a research study. Be careful that you do not use compound concepts. If you find the words “and” or “or” in your theory, you are probably too complex.
Match the proposition in her theory with your proposition. To help, the 10 Caritas Processes are Concept A. Choose the one that matches your concept. To clarify, let’s look at Caritas 1 Embrace and use it in middle-range theory. Sustaining humanistic-altruistic values by the practice of loving-kindness, compassion, and equanimity with self/others (Concept A – Very complex and abstract) improves (Proposition) subjective inner healing (Concept B).
Remember that the paper is not about the problem. It is about constructing a clinical theory and matching it to a middle-range theory and conceptual model your clinical theory represents.
Conclude the paper with your discoveries made in your readings and the impact on the nursing profession of your discoveries. Explore, briefly, discovered questions that require further research. Summarize the paper in the conclusion.
Present your outcome in an APA formatted paper that meets the University’s standards for a written assignment.
Expectations
Due: Monday, 10:00 pm
Length: 5 pages excluding title and reference pages
References: minimum 6. There should be enough to support the links between the concepts of the problem and the concepts of Watson’s Theory of Caring.
Nursing practice aims to provide patient-centered care that promotes healing and well-being. The application of caring science theories in nursing practice supports the provision of holistic care that addresses the physical, emotional, spiritual, and psychological needs of patients. The purpose of this paper is to identify an outcome of nursing practice in my area of practice that can be improved and to develop a clinical nursing theory based on Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring. The theory will provide a framework for promoting patient-centered care that enhances the healing process.
Problem Identification
One of the problems identified in my area of practice is the high incidence of pressure ulcers among elderly patients with limited mobility. According to VanGilder et al. (2015), pressure ulcers are a significant healthcare problem that affects the quality of life of patients and increases healthcare costs. Pressure ulcers are caused by prolonged pressure on bony prominences, leading to tissue damage and necrosis. Elderly patients with limited mobility are at high risk of developing pressure ulcers, particularly if they are unable to change positions independently. Despite the availability of evidence-based guidelines for preventing and managing pressure ulcers, the incidence of pressure ulcers remains high in many healthcare settings.
Clinical Nursing Theory
Concept A: Provision of Patient-Centered Care
Proposition: The provision of patient-centered care improves patient outcomes.
Concept B: Prevention of Pressure Ulcers
The proposition: The prevention of pressure ulcers improves patient outcomes.
Concepts Definition
Provision of Patient-Centered Care: This concept refers to the provision of care that is responsive to the individual needs, preferences, and values of patients. Patient-centered care emphasizes the importance of building a therapeutic relationship with patients that is based on empathy, compassion, and trust.
Prevention of Pressure Ulcers: This concept refers to the implementation of evidence-based interventions aimed at preventing the development of pressure ulcers. Prevention strategies may include the use of pressure-relieving devices, regular repositioning of patients, and the assessment and management of risk factors for pressure ulcer development.
Measurement of Concepts
Provision of Patient-Centered Care: The provision of patient-centered care can be measured using tools such as the Patient-Centered Care Questionnaire (PCCQ), which assesses patients’ perceptions of the extent to which care is patient-centered. Other measures of patient-centered care include the Consultation and Relational Empathy (CARE) Measure, which assesses the quality of the therapeutic relationship between patients and healthcare providers.
Prevention of Pressure Ulcers: The prevention of pressure ulcers can be measured using tools such as the Braden Scale, which assesses patients’ risk of developing pressure ulcers based on factors such as mobility, sensory perception, and skin moisture. Other measures of pressure ulcer prevention include the use of documentation of preventive interventions such as regular turning and use of pressure-relieving devices.
Matching with Watson’s Theory of Human Caring
Caritas Process 5 – Engage in Genuine Teaching and Learning within the Context of the Caring Relationship: This process emphasizes the importance of engaging in a learning process that promotes healing and well-being. The provision of patient-centered care and the prevention of pressure ulcers require the engagement of patients in the learning process to promote their participation in their care. Through teaching and learning, patients can acquire knowledge and skills that enhance their ability to participate in their care, leading to improved patient outcomes.
Impact on the Nursing Profession
The application of Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring in nursing practice supports the provision of patient-centered care that promotes the healing process. The theory provides a framework for nurses to engage in a caring relationship with patients that is based on empathy, compassion, and trust. The theory also emphasizes the importance of engaging patients in the learning process, which promotes their participation in their care. The adoption of caring science theories such as Jean Watson’s theory can have a positive impact on the nursing profession by promoting a more holistic and patient-centered approach to care. By focusing on the patient’s needs, preferences, and values, nurses can provide care that is more meaningful and personalized. Additionally, the implementation of evidence-based interventions for the prevention of pressure ulcers can improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.
The high incidence of pressure ulcers among elderly patients with limited mobility is a significant healthcare problem that requires attention. The provision of patient-centered care and the prevention of pressure ulcers are important concepts in nursing practice that can improve patient outcomes. Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring provides a framework for promoting patient-centered care that enhances the healing process. The application of this theory in nursing practice can have a positive impact on the nursing profession by promoting a more holistic and patient-centered approach to care.
