MSN5270 Theories of Nursing Reflective Analysis Paper
Reflective Analysis: Theories of Nursing
Nursing practice has evolved and transformed from an era when patient care was hazy and met with illusory practices to the current epoch when care has advanced significantly. One of the ways that ancient caregivers could have an epiphany and gain a better understanding of various aspects of care was through the development of nursing theories. The middle-range nursing theories, which fall between the grand theories and the practice theories, are of particular interest.
The middle-range theories have fewer concepts and encompass a more limited range of reality; however, despite their immanence, they aid in explaining and understanding various aspects of care (Leandro et al., 2020). Throughout the course, I have had an incredible time moving from one theory to the next and applying each to a different aspect of patient care. In this reflective essay, I reflect on what I have learned throughout the course and incorporate some of my peers’ thoughts on some of the course issues.
Reflection on What I have Learned
Nurses play an important role in patient care delivery as well as knowledge development. I have had the opportunity to learn about the process of developing knowledge that influences nursing practice, all of which begin with a nursing theory. Some of the theories I have found particularly interesting and applicable in contemporary practice are attachment and comfort theories, as well as the concepts of proxy subjective healthcare status.
According to John Bowlby’s attachment theory, a child’s behavior is associated with the attachment figure, and the quality of the relationship, in terms of proximity to and the attachment figure’s behaviors, is responsible for future child’s behavior, thoughts, and actions (Ali et al., 2021). This has altered and influenced how child psychotherapeutic interventions are delivered, as well as aiding in the understanding of children’s personalities as they grow.
Also, during my rotation on the surgical ward, a patient scheduled for a breast lump excision expressed her concerns about the pain after surgery, potential complications, and cosmesis because she was newlywed. This prompted us to reach an agreement with her via a formal patient comfort contract, in which she expected pain-free post-surgery sprees, no or limited complications, and a return of cosmesis to near normal. The theory of comfort helped me understand that patients’ comfort is a highly valuable outcome of nursing care, and that ensuring it is a collaborative effort between the care provider, the patient, and family members.
Regarding proxy symptom reporting, it is true that a patient may be physically or mentally incapacitated to provide a history of illness. As a result, the assistance of a proxy is required, who is assumed to provide relevant information that would be close to the patient’s narration. This has made me appreciate the dynamics of life, in which a person may be critically ill, lack cognitive ability, or be unable to communicate, necessitating assistance with trivial matters such as speaking on their behalf.
Finally, I had the opportunity to hear some of my coursemates’ thoughts and perspectives on a variety of course topics. In one of their points of view, patient comfort extends beyond the hospital and into the patient’s home, with which I agree. This can be aided by providing a quiet environment, dimming the lights in the patients’ rooms, reminding them of their medications, turning them on the bed to prevent bedsores, and using music therapy (Khatri et al., 2020).
This was especially useful during the Covid19 period when home healthcare services increased exponentially. Moreover, a peer’s perspective on proxy reporting suggested that a proxy could be human or non-human. Indeed, a non-human intervention of patient assessment, the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) tool, is increasingly being used.
Conclusion
A reflective essay depicts one’s experience and feelings about an event. In this case, the experience I had with the course was impactful. I have learned about several aspects of knowledge development, with nursing theories as a starting point. While several theories were learned, I only included theories that directly impacted my clinical rotations in the various departments in this reflective assay, which are the theory of attachment and the theory of comfort, as well as the concepts of proxy subjective health status.
The perspectives of one’s peers are also important for maximizing understanding because they shape and sculpt one’s thinking. As a result of the course materials, educators, and classmates I had, my critical thinking has greatly improved.
References
Ali, E., Letourneau, N., & Benzies, K. (2021). Parent-child attachment: A principle-based concept analysis. SAGE Open Nursing, 7, 23779608211009000. https://doi.org/10.1177/23779608211009000
Khatri, P., Seetharaman, S., Phang, C. M. J., & Lee, B. X. A. (2020). Home hospice services during COVID-19: Ensuring comfort in unsettling times in Singapore. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 23(5), 605–606. https://doi.org/10.1089/jpm.2020.0186
Leandro, T. A., Nunes, M. M., Teixeira, I. X., Lopes, M. V. de O., Araújo, T. L. de, Lima, F. E. T., & Silva, V. M. da. (2020). Development of middle-range theories in nursing. Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem, 73(1), e20170893. https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2017-0893