American Idol Nursing Theory Contest Essay
Being one of the major events at the University of West Georgia nursing calendar, the American Idol Nursing Theory Contest was held this year with a view to come up with the best theorist based on the criteria set by the institution judges. This years competition attracted three judges who will be describing and selecting the best nursing theorist. The judges include Dr. Carol Wilson, Dr. OBrian N., and Dr. Williamson. The three theories that will be examined by the judges comprise of Madeleine Leiningers culture care theory, Hildegard Peplaus theory of interpersonal relations, and Dorothea Orems nursing theory of self-care deficit.
The theories will be judged based on the criteria of their simplicity, clari,ty and clinical practice. The judges will be providing a brief overview of the theories including their conceptual framework, how the theories relate to the nursing practice, their philosophical background, their usefulness, and relevant assumptions. Each of the criteria has an individual range of scores in which they will be rated and the overall scores will be used to award the winning theory. Finally, the judges will explain the rationale of the final winner.
The judges
This years contest has three judges, Dr. Carol Wilson, Dr. OBrian N. and Dr. Williamson. Dr. Carol Wilson is a nursing professor at the University of West Georgia and has been lecturing nursing theory for over ten years. Similarly, Dr. OBrian has experience in teaching and practicing nursing for over 15 years. At the University of West Georgia, Dr. OBrian has been teaching nursing practice for over ten years. Dr. Williamson also has 25 years of experience in teaching nursing theory and application at the university. In addition, Dr. Williamson has over the years been a judge in the American Idol Nursing Theory Contest.
Theories and theorists
As indicated before, the contestant in this years competition are Madeleine Leininger, Hildegard Peplau and Dorothea Orem. Madeleine Leininger culture care theory or trans-cultural nursing care theory is a known theory that has been widely applied in clinical nursing. The theory developed by Hildegard Peplau is known as the interpersonal theory while that developed by Dorothea Orem is called the self-care nursing theory. These theories will be judged according to the criteria of their applicability and usefulness. The winner will then be announced.
Madeleine Leiningers trans-cultural nursing
The trans-cultural nursing also known as cultural care theory is applied in both general practice area as well as the specialty category (Basavanthappa, 2007). The Madeleine Leiningers theory is today being studied as one of the nursing disciplines. According to this theory, the nurses have the task of recognizing the role culture plays in the health of the patient. While cultural background determines the type of care given to the patient as well as the patients health, the treatments that the patient get are also being determined by the patients culture (Leininger & McFarland, 2006). Moreover, this also theory considers the cultural background of the nurses.
In practice, nurses are supposed to take into consideration both the patients cultural background and that of themselves while providing care to the patient. The theory suggests that nurses must perform culturalogical assessment that evaluates the patients health depending on cultural condition (Leininger & McFarland, 2006). This appraisal is then applied in generating the nursing-care plan. Like the culturalogical health evaluation, the nursing care plan also considers the cultural setup of the patient.
Having the cultural background knowledge helps nurses to understand how to relate the patients culture and illness or suffering and how best they can provide care for the patients. Moreover, the knowledge enhances the nurses commitment towards providing care to the patient. The cultural knowledge enables the nurses to look at the patient holistically instead of the patient being considered merely as a set of warning signs of illness (Finkelman, & Kenner, 2010). Finally, the cultural knowledge enables the nurses to be open minded about the care and treatment they offer to the patients. In particular, the unconventional treatments such as religious based treatments like anointing and spiritual reflection or meditation.
Hildegard Peplaus interpersonal relations theory
Hildegard Peplaus interpersonal relations model was inspired by the relationship that exists between the nurses and the patients (Finkelman, & Kenner, 2010). According to this model, the patient-nurse relationship is the most important thing when offering care. This theory focuses on how the nurse-patient relationship is built while identifying the roles of nurses when discharging their duties. The theory has four components, the person, environment, health and other human processes that include productivity, creativity, interpersonal, constructive and community living (Masters, 2009).
The goal of this theory is to help nurses understand their own behavior, use their professional skills to help others identify their difficulties and use the human relations principles to solve the problems that are being experienced in their daily duties (Peterson & Bredow, 2008). According to Peplau, nursing is therapeutic because of its healing characteristics. Peplau views nursing as a healing art where sick patients or those in need of health care are assisted to recover from their difficulties (Masters, 2009). Furthermore, nursing is interpersonal practice in which the relations between two or more persons with a common objective subsist. In this model, the patient and the nurse work together so as to gain a common knowledge in the care process and is geared towards achieving a common purpose. The theory emphasizes on the roles the nurses play while discharging their duties. six main functions of nurses that among other comprises of the stranger and the leader.
As a stranger the nurse has the responsibility of meeting the patient and building a rapport just like in any other life situations. Acting as a teacher, the nurse passes on the necessary knowledge in accordance with the patients requirements and concerns. In proving the needed knowledge to the patient, the nurse also acts as a resource person (Peterson & Bredow, 2008). Specifically, the nurse communicates the essential information that is obligatory in the comprehension of the patients situation.
As a psychotherapist, the nurse has to offer assistance and give confidence that is vital for the patients recovery. In the process of guidance and encouragement the nurse makes the patient appreciate and comprehend the existing life conditions (Peterson & Bredow, 2008). The nurse must also play the surrogating role by determining and clarifying to the patient the realm of interdependency, independency and dependency. Finally, acting as a leader, the nurse will ensure that the patient have fully accomplished the treatment goals.
Dorothea Orem Self-Care Nursing Theory
Self-Care Nursing Theory of Dorothea Orem is also known as the . The model is broad and takes into consideration various aspects and concepts that are applicable in all nursing situations. The primary viewpoint behind this theory is that all the patients should be assisted to care for themselves as almost all the patients would want to do so (Orem, & Taylor, 2003). The self-care enhances the patient quick recovery in a more holistic manner. In other words, the self-care enables the patient quick recovery in a manner they deem fit and appropriate.
The self-care prerequisites are basically categorized in three main areas. The universal self-care requisites that comprises of the needs every one else have such as food, rest, activity as well as risk prevention (Orem, & Taylor, 2003). The second requisite is the developmental self-care. The developmental self-care requisite is further divided into two categories. The maturation requisite advances the patient to the next level of development. The situational requisite protects the patient from detrimental effects during his development. The third requisite category is the health deviation. These are the requirements that normally arise depending on the patients conditions. In case these requisites are not met, the patient suffers a self-care deficit. In such circumstances, nurses are anticipated to make available supportive modalities which in most cases are either entire or incomplete reparation.
