Nursing Theory Concept Applied In Research and Nursing Practice Assignment
Nursing Theory Concept Applied In Research and Nursing Practice
Nursing Theory Concept Applied In Research and Nursing Practice Assignment
Identify a theory that uses a concept of interest to you that might be applied in research and nursing practice (clinical, education, or administration). This is a professional paper in which headings, full sentences, paragraphs, correct grammar and punctuation, and correct citation of sources are required
Nursing theories are systematic bodies of knowledge that describe nursing and nursing practice. The theories describe nursing as a unique profession from other professions, such as medicine. Theories are a framework of concepts that guide nursing practice at a concrete and specific level. This paper will describe a nursing theory that employs a concept of interest that can be applied in research and nursing practice and discuss the origin and major concepts of the theory.
Description of the Theory
The Swanson theory proposes that the primary goal of nurse caring is to support patients’ well-being. Swanson defined caring as a nurturing approach of connecting to a valued other person toward whom an individual feels a personal sense of commitment and responsibility (Swanson, 1993). The theory states that the nurse and the client being provided care for, get into a caring relationship, and thus their interactions should be mutually beneficial. The theory centers on teaching and healing during pregnancy. It enables one to understand how families and health providers cope with miscarriages and the healing process essential to facilitate closure (Nurse-Clarke et al., 2019). Furthermore, the theory facilitates caring behaviors among nurses in daily activities.
Origins of the Theory and Its Scope/Level
Swanson’s theory of caring originates from three phenomenological studies that were conducted in the field of perinatal nursing. Swanson derived the theory from nursing and non-nursing literature such as ethics and philosophy. This is a middle-range theory, which facilitates our insight into the dynamics of the experience of a caring relationship between a human being and others (Swanson, 1993). The elements of the theory have been backed in a caring-based counseling intervention study with female patients who had miscarriages in a meta-analysis of caring research (Nurse-Clarke et al., 2019). The theory informs nurses when engaging with vulnerable patients and encourages them to provide an environment that promotes healing.
Although the Swanson’s Middle-Range Theory middle-range theory is founded on nursing research, it provides a way to hypothesize the meaning and components of caring that surpass the traditional nurse-patient dynamic (Kalfoss & Owe, 2015). Furthermore, the theory gives nursing researchers insight into the essence of perceiving study participants as capable people, with important personal accounts that they should be allowed to convey in a safe and non-judgmental environment (Kalfoss & Owe, 2015). The theory also informs us that research should be useful to study participants and that by being conscious of the five processes, we can achieve this.
Major Concepts of the Theory
Swanson’s theory of caring contains five caring processes, each having multiple subcategories. The caring processes are: Maintaining Belief, Knowing, Being With, Doing For, and Enabling (Swanson, 1993). The five concepts are related in that they guide the nurse in assisting the client in coping after a difficult situation. Firstly, the nurse must strive to understand the client’s situation and then be emotionally present for them. By understanding the client’s situation, the nurse then supports them by helping them perform activities and tasks they would perform themselves if they had the ability (Nurse-Clarke et al., 2019). The nurse then takes the client through life transitions unfamiliar to them. Lastly, the nurse must maintain belief and sustain faith to help the client get through the emotionally difficult process.
Concept of Interest
My Concept of interest is empathy related to grief and loss. Loss is the absence of something that a person valued and can be actual or perceived (Sinclair et al., 2017). Grief is an internal part of the loss and refers to the emotional feelings attributed to the loss. My concept of interest is related to Swanson’s theory since women who miscarriage experience immense grief from the loss of their pregnancy (Nurse-Clarke et al., 2019). Nurses should show empathy to these women as they progress through the healing process (Sinclair et al., 2017). The nurse can achieve this by striving to understand the woman’s grief, being emotionally available, and listening to the woman as she expresses her feelings.
The concept of empathy related to grief and loss is related to Swanson’s theory concepts of ‘Knowing’ and ‘Being with.’ Knowing refers to endeavoring to understand what a specific situation means from the view of the person experiencing it (Kalfoss & Owe, 2015). Subcategories in knowing include assessing thoroughly, avoiding assumptions, looking for cues, focusing on the one cared for, and involving the self of both. By striving to understand a patient’s grief experience and its meaning to them, the nurse can create a positive and safe environment that can facilitate the healing process.
Being With refers to being genuinely present with another individual as a way of showing them that their experiences matter. Subcategories in this process are non-burdening, showing availability, enduring with, and sharing feelings (Swanson, 1993). The nurse can be present with clients experiencing grief by spending extra time with them, accepting their emotions, and using kind words that show respect. The nurse can also use nonverbal communication, such as attentive listening, eye contact, and concerned facial expressions to convey support (Nurse-Clarke et al., 2019). Using these techniques when communicating with clients experiencing grief demonstrates empathy and builds rapport.
References
Kalfoss, M., & Owe, J. (2015). Empirical verification of Swanson’s caring processes found in nursing actions: Systematic review. Open Journal of Nursing, 5(11), 976. . http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ojn.2015.511104
Nurse-Clarke, N., DiCicco-Bloom, B., & Limbo, R. (2019). Application of caring theory to nursing Care of Women Experiencing Stillbirth. MCN: The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing, 44(1), 27. https://doi.org/10.1097/NMC.0000000000000494.
Sinclair, S., Beamer, K., Hack, T. F., McClement, S., Raffin Bouchal, S., Chochinov, H. M., & Hagen, N. A. (2017). Sympathy, empathy, and compassion: A grounded theory study of palliative care patients’ understandings, experiences, and preferences. Palliative medicine, 31(5), 437–447. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269216316663499
Swanson, K. M. (1993). Nursing as informed caring for the well‐being of others. Image: The Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 25(4), 352-357. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1547-5069.1993.tb00271.x