Importance of Theory
Introduction:
The word theory may be used to refer to a collection of related ideas that advance an action that guide a specific practice. It is a coherent collection of general proposals used as principles when making explanations to a related subject. In nursing, different theories are advanced to aid the process of treatment and patient care. Therefore, the nursing theory refers to a set of concepts, assumptions, definitions, propositions, and relationships derived from a variety of nursing models or other related disciplines for the purposes of predicting, explaining, describing, and prescribing proper nursing, health care, and patient care while undergoing medical treatment in medical facilities (Kim & Kollak, 2006). I have personally made use of the nursing practice theory in my internship program where I had to use the standard language of nurses to offer proper health care to a hypertensive patient. This article describes the nursing practice theory as applied by practitioners in their nursing profession across the world.
Analysis of the nursing theory and its importance:
The nursing practice theory is established for the purposes of use within specific ranges of situations of nursing. They provide framework for the interventions of nursing practices and predict the outcomes of nursing practices. The nursing practice theory is very important to anyone involved directly and indirectly to the treatment and care of patients in hospitals. They are standard principles that connect all the nurses across the world and form a common language through which all the nurses can comprehend their working activities at all branches of health care centers (Kim & Kollak, 2006). The nursing theory also outlines the importance of studying nursing. Nursing is considered by this model as a career that is rewarding at the same time challenging, where an individual has no choice but to do it. It offers a chance for one to be firm and decisive when handling their duty at work place due to the challenges of meeting different patients with different medical requirements.
The nursing profession gives a chance for one to make a difference in people’s lives and the general community. People are saved through nursing care in hospitals and gets a chance to do what they do best, in turn maintaining a country’s level of economy and other activities that take place around it. According to the nursing theory, the nursing profession gives a chance for nurse practitioners to work with different people across the world from different cultures on a one on one basis. Through interactions with coworkers and patients, ones social interaction skills are generally improved and may end up establishing a lot of connections. The nursing practice theory explains that this profession offers something extra rather than paying packet data at the end of the month or day (Kim & Kollak, 2006). It offers some level of job satisfaction and after the thought of saving lives of people.
Summary of the key concepts of the nursing practice theory:
The nursing practice theory impacts the nursing profession and patient care in a variety of ways. These theories are developed to attempt to explain and describe a phenomenon, process, and occurrence of an event. Therefore, nursing as a profession, requires some level of basic understanding of certain topics that are obvious to professionals (Masters, 2012). This theories form the basic understanding of practices that are carried out by nurses when conducting their daily activities. Patient care requires a qualified profession who is certified and sure of the services he or she is providing to a patient. These theories, therefore, form reference points by which nurses can make reference in case they are not sure of the kind of patient of the type of care that is required for a patient using the standard language of nurses.
Nursing leadership, education, informatics, and health care policy:
The nursing practice theory plays a vital role in the sector of nursing leadership. It has helped nurses over the years to develop strong foundations in management of nursing practices. The theory mainly concentrates on patient care rather than the leadership itself. It helps nurses especially those involved in management to put emphasis on the patients care rather than the leadership sector (Masters, 2012). It provides different methods of management such as Shared governance, Deming management method, and Transactional leadership and Developer method. The theory explains the conceptualized differences that exist between leadership and management and gives the exact outline of what is required by leadership and management in the nursing profession.
The nursing education is well outlined by the theory. It provides practical and theoretical training systems that can equip nurses well and prepare them for their respective duties. The nursing theory ensures that education is provided by well equipped and experienced nurses with high standard intellect. In most countries, nursing education is offered so that its relevance is of a general nature or to specific areas such as pediatric nursing, post-operatory nursing, and mental health nursing. It is outlined by the nursing theories that courses that lead to a qualified nurse and that finally allows the autonomous registration for the nursing profession require at least a minimum of four years of study (Masters, 2012). They ensure that the education system of nursing gives access to post-qualification courses related to nursing but in specialist subjects when acquiring higher education.
The health policies are also outlined in the specific theories of nursing including the nurse practice theory. Health policies are systematic decisions, actions, and plans that an individual undertakes to ensure that they achieve certain health care goals. These policies outline expected roles and priorities of different groups; it clearly states a clear vision for the future and builds a constant consensus (George & Julia, 1995). A lot of health policies are outlined in this theories which include pharmaceutical policy, personal health care policy, breastfeeding promotion policy, vaccination policy especially for the infants, tobacco control policy and many others depending on the kind of health care an individual or a group of people may be interested in. These policies may cover the areas of delivery of health care, health equity, financing, and the quality of care provided.
An example of a real life health care policy that is applicable across the world is an international health insurance policy. This type of policy is suitable for travelers and expatriates. It is a first class international health care insurance and even though its demand has never been high, it is considered as one of the most reliable forms of health policy especially for tourists and people who do a lot of travel work across the world. This is a specialist kind of provider that offers services for global private health. Comparing this with the cost of medical treatment especially for emergency cases that catch up with people unexpectedly, it would be a more reliable choice to make.
Another example of a real life health care policy is the of the economics nature, the health care financing. This health care policy focuses on financing health care services in order to spread the financial risk of ill health. It is used by many middle life individuals and it is ideal for cases where individuals are admitted for a longer period of time in case of health complications. This insurance policy takes different forms including the health care that is funded publicly, which is achieved through insurance or taxation, the voluntary or mandatory health insurance, and the personalization of individual health care through involving companies that have hired these employees. There have been general claims that the health care that is funded publicly has the ability to improve the efficiency and quality of personal health care delivery (George & Julia, 1995). These is realistic because for the group of people who might have gone without care due to shortage of finances, any form of quality care is of great use to them and a great improvement to their health. This form of health insurance is also effective because people perceive this form of policy as free health care; therefore, this reduces the burden of diseases and the health costs that would otherwise be insured in the long run.
CONCLUSION:
The nursing theories are fundamental in the nursing profession. They play different roles some of which include developing nursing as a profession, a move where the concept of the given theory must be addressed accordingly. For any given theory of nursing to be effective, it must have specific characteristics of clarity and accessibility. At the place of work, each professional nurse must be in a position to access the relevant theories for them to deliver services and health care that is of the required standard.
Works cited
George, Julia B. Nursing Theories: The Base for Professional Nursing Practice. Norwalk, Conn: Appleton & Lange, 1995. Print.
Kim, Hesook S, and Ingrid Kollak. Nursing Theories: Conceptual & Philosophical Foundations. New York, NY: Springer Pub. Co, 2006. Print.
Masters, Kathleen. Nursing Theories: A Framework for Professional Practice. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2012. Print.
