Application of Theory to the Practice
Order Instructions:
Assignment:
Applying Theory to a Practice Problem: Part 1: Introduction and Problem of Practice
Due Date: Dec 31, 2014 23:59:59
Details:
Refer to “Identify Practice Problem Grading Criteria.”
Write a paper of 2,000?2,500 words. You will develop the paper in three parts.
In Part 1, you will identify a practice problem from a review of the literature, then write an introduction to the paper.
The introduction should state the purpose of paper, which includes applying theory to practice situations, identifying the practice problem and stating the rationale for the selection—i.e. why is this an important problem, as well as defining the practice problem and supporting it with the literature review.
Prepare this assignment according to APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Refer to the directions in the Student Success Center. Only Word documents can be
Assignment:
Applying Theory to a Practice Problem: Part 2: Application of Middle-Range Theory to Problem
Due Date: Jan 07, 2015 23:59:59
Details:
In Part 2, you will apply a middle-range theory to the problem described in the introduction.
Describe the theory, starting with a short bio of the theorist along with the major influences that the theorist has contributed.
Describe the concepts and propositions of the theory. Provide an example from the literature as to how the theory has been applied.
Apply the theory to your practice problem, demonstrating the links to the elements of the problem and theory. In addition, make sure to describe how practice would change by incorporating the theory. It should be clear to reader that this is an appropriate theory for the problem.
Prepare this assignment according to APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
Refer to the “Apply Middle-Range Nursing Theory Grading Criteria.”
Assignment:
Benchmark Assignment: Applying Theory to a Practice Problem: Part 3: Application of Borrowed Theory to Problem and Conclusion
Due Date: Jan 21, 2015 23:59:59 Max Points: 150
Details:
Revise Parts 1 and 2 of your paper, based on the feedback provided by the “Identify Practice Problem Grading Rubric” and “Apply Middle-Range Nursing Theory Grading Criteria.”
In Part 3, you will apply a borrowed theory to the problem described in the introduction.
Describe the theory, starting with a short bio of the theorist along with the major influences that the theorist has contributed.
Describe the concepts and propositions of the theory. Provide an example from the literature as to how the theory has been applied.
Apply the theory to your practice problem, demonstrating the links to the elements of the problem and theory. In addition, make sure to describe how practice would change by incorporating the theory. It should be clear to the reader that this is an appropriate theory for the problem.
Write a conclusion. The conclusion should summarize key points of the paper. Identify the usefulness of applying theory to practice, including both nursing and borrowed theory, and identify problems with the application of the two theories presented in Parts 2 and 3.
Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
This assignment uses a grading rubric. Instructors will be using the rubric to grade the assignment; therefore, students should review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the assignment criteria and expectations for successful completion of the assignment.
You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Refer to the directions in the Student Success Center. Only Word documents can be submitted to Turnitin.
SAMPLE ANSWER
Application of Theory to the Practice
Section 1
In the modern age, the field of nursing is ever evolving to meet the new challenges that emerge in every setting. Many hospitals have embraced the nursing code of ethics and nursing theories in their duties and as a result, there have been successful results. Over the years, there have been a number of nursing theories that have enhanced a significant contribution in the nursing professional. The impact that nursing theory enhances in the nursing practice cannot be underestimated in that it creates a strong framework to define and support nursing practice, enhance quality patient care, and provide solutions to problems that emerge in nursing practices (Parse, 1995). The theory of human caring by Jean Watson creates a strong platform to understand the importance of understanding and applying nursing principles to resolve the challenges that emerge on a daily basis. In depth, this section will discuss how nursing theories impact nurse staffing in hospitals.
Practice Problem and its Importance
A body of nursing literature reveals that nurse staffing has been an ongoing challenge faced by most hospitals (Alligood and Tomey, 2006). Healthcare leaders have acknowledged that staffing issue is an ongoing concern that influences the safety of patients and nurses. Nurse staffing is an elusive problem for many nurse leaders, clinical nurses, and educators in the acute setting. Hospitals with inadequate or low nurse staffing level have poorer patient outcomes, thus compromising on quality care. Decreased nursing staff affects patients’ safety and increased incidences of medication errors, patients’ falls, longer hospital stays, and high patients’ mortality rate. Despite the problem affecting nursing professional, traditional methods of solving the issue with the retention plans and financially based recruitment have not fully resolved the issue. Nevertheless, applying nursing theories has provided great insights on how nurses can work hard to enhance quality care to patients. Managers and hospital administrators understand the need to boost quality care and increase nurses’ morale. Indeed, when nurses are motivated to perform their tasks they would be valuable resources that strive to enhance the well-being of patients.
In today’s society, nurses face a lot of challenges trying to balance their personal lives and their career. By applying Watson’s theory, healthcare leaders understand that nurses should be motivated by various rewards to perform their duties effectively. This theory creates a strong platform for hospitals to understand that human caring is a crucial aspect in nursing that promotes quality care and solve staffing issues. To fully respond to the problem of nurse staffing, every individual in the clinical setting should understand that a human being is a valued being that should be nurtured, assisted, supported, cared for, and respected. This theory provides insights that, a caring environment is one that provides the development of an individual’s well being and allows the healthcare provider to accomplish his or her career goals (McEwen and Wills, 2011).
So, by putting the theory of human care in the hospital set-up, nurse managers and leaders understand the need of motivating nurses to perform, their duties effectively with an aim of promoting quality care delivery. The application of Watson’s theory has been used to improve nursing practice and provide nurses with the most satisfying aspects that boost holistic care. Applying theories in nursing is logical in that it offers solutions to immediate problems that emerge in the health sectors (Parker, 2006).
References
Alligood, M. R., and Tomey, A. M. (2006). Nursing theory; Utilization and Application (3rd ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier.
McEwen, M. and Wills, E. M. (2011). Theoretical basis for nursing (32nd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Parker, M. E. (2006). Nursing theories and nursing practice. (2nd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis.
Parse, R. R. (1995). Illuminations: The human becoming theory in practice and research. New York, NY: National League for Nursing Press.
Section 2
The Theorist Bibliography
Jean Watson is a recognized nurse theorist who has transformed the world with her knowledge and contribution of human caring. Born on June 10, 1940, Watson is a known scholar and the father of Watson Caring Science Institute. The institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to support and expands the insights of the practices and theories of human caring in the healthcare sectors. The modern society celebrates Watson for having six honorary doctorates that have transformed the world. The theorist has had the privilege of travelling worldwide teaching nurses and healthcare providers the theory of human caring. In 1961, Watson graduated from Lewis Gale School and continued with her studies at the Colorado University where she earned her B.S. She later earned her M.S in 1966 and acquired her PhD, in the education and counseling psychology in 1973.
This theory has been applicable in the modern age in that the body of nursing has increasingly been used as a distinct caring discipline and profession that transform the well-being of human beings. The aspect of human caring is crucial governs the body of nursing in the sense that this action is what has enhanced a strong impact in ensuring that all patients are handled well irrespective of where they are coming from. Dr. Watson’s theory has three major elements that have been used in the nursing field. These factors include carative factors, transpersonal caring relationships, and caring moment. Nurses have been encouraged to exercise these aspects at all cost regardless of challenges that emerge. Nursing practice would change by incorporating this theory in the sense that, every human being desire to be cared and loved.
Propositions and Concepts of the Theory
To this theory, human beings have the capacity of caring for other human beings. According to this theorist, human caring is crucial in the nursing profession as it results into the satisfaction of human needs. When demonstrated in the healthcare institutions, the aspect of human caring boosts health of individuals and enhances family growth. A caring environment is crucial as it allows individuals to choose the best actions that improve their lives and those around them. In essence, the key assumption of this theory is that, interpersonal interaction is crucial in boosting quality care and this reflects on the human nature of providing and expressing care in each other.
The theorist defines her theory in ten important factors that promotes healing, health, and wholeness of the human beings. These ten factors include practicing love and kindness towards self and other people, instilling faith and encouraging others, nurturing individuals’ beliefs to have confidence in life, fostering trusting and helping relationships, taking every opportunity as a way to grow, supporting individual needs, and creative solutions that improves patients’ well-being. Other factors include creating a positive environment that attends to societal, spiritual, and physical needs of the patients, fulfilling acts of healing and attending to human needs, and remaining open to embrace every challenge that emerged in the healthcare industry. The ten factors regard the need to have self-respect and respect those in leadership. The theory is crucial in the interventions of interpersonal relationships. Specifically, it creates a strong ground where healthcare providers or else nurses understand the importance of building strong relationships both with their colleagues and patients at large. The theory encourages the body of nursing to embrace the concept of caring, forgiveness, kindness, and compassion in nursing practice (Meleis, 2007).
Theory Applied Practically
The theory has been used to describe the importance of having a caring approach in the nursing leadership. Specifically, it provides adequate insights and foundation of how human caring creates a strong platform to enhance quality m anagement. Leaders can use this theory to understand and motivate nurses to achieve a guided or structured vision of care. As mentioned, motivating employees in an organization is crucial as it boosts customer care services. So, motivating nurses promotes patients’ healing process and wholeness. The theory helps nurse managers to have an ethical and moral guidelines or else principles that address the problems that emerge in the administration and in the delivery of patient care (McEwen and Wills, 2011).
Nurse staffing is a crucial aspect that hospitals cannot ignore when delivering patients’ care (McEwen and Wills, 2011). Although many hospitals spend a lot of resources managing the workflow and optimizing staff hours, much needs to done about caring of nurses. When a hospital embrace the aspect of caring for its staff, then this will increase nurse retention, customers or else patients’ satisfaction, and improve the entire delivery of care. Therefore, understanding the concept of human caring is crucial as it lays a strong ground where nurses are motivated to perform their tasks. It also lays a strong path for nurses to exercise their duties to improve the well-being of patients.
Practice Change with the Theory Implementation
A perfect example of how human caring theory can enhance change can be outline in solving the issue of nurse staffing. According to Brown (2005), nursing leaders can address this issue by implementing the basic concepts of the theory. For instance, nurse managers can support nurses to engage in human or else self-care practices and activities that promote love, kindness, and respect of self and others. Nurse leaders can also develop and implement health policies that provide healing process, support team work, allows nurses to rest, and help nurses to learn from one another. In so doing, this would demonstrate how utilizing this theory would enhance a significant contribution in the work environment and reduce the issue of nurse staffing. This theory allows nurse leaders to incorporate human caring in depth and ensure that nurses are working hard to improve the well-being of patients. The impact and connection between nurses’ leaders, nurses and patients are understood by understanding Ken Wilbur’s integrated theory (Hamric, Spross and Hanson, 2009).
References
Brown, S. J. (2005). Direct clinical practice. In A.B. Hamric, J.A. Spross, C. M. Hanson (Eds) Advanced practice nursing: An integrative approach, (3rd ed.). (pp. 143-185). St. Louis, MO: Saunders Elsevier.
Hamric, A. B., Spross, J. A., and Hanson, C. M. (2009). Advanced practice nursing: An integrative approach (4th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Saunders Elsevier.
McEwen, M., and Wills, E. (2011). Theoretical basis for nursing (3nd ed.). Philadelphia:Lippincott, Williams, and Wilkins.
Meleis, A. F. (2007). Theoretical nursing: Development and progress (4th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams, and Wilkins.
Section 3
Borrowed Theorist Biography
Over the years, Wilbur’s theory has been known to support the input of human caring theory by Jean Watson. Born in 1949 in Oklahoma City, Ken Wilber is the most celebrated and influential American Philosopher of the modern age. Wilber’s journey to discussing about human caring has been fascinating. Wilber enrolled at Duke University in 1967 and he became inspired to influence the world with his teachings. After few years, Wilber enrolled in the Nebraska University Lincoln where he pursued a degree in biology and chemist and later a master degree in biochemistry. While in school, Wilber became interested in western and eastern philosophy and psychology and he established the need to elaborate about consciousness through which he later used this concept to incorporate integrated theory. In 2000, Wilbur established the Integral Institute, whose aim was to educate many people about self-awareness. Wilbur believed that human beings have the responsibility of knowing who they are and further encouraged his audience to care for self and others. Indeed, the theorist support the theory of human caring various books such as “Caring Science as sacred science” and the Philosophy and science of human caring” (McEwen and Wills, 2011).
Theory Applied Practically
Integral theory has had a superb reputation of providing insights about western and eastern understanding of the consciousness. The theory has been applied to politics, art, business, medicine, ecology, and spirituality. Through this theory, researchers have established applications of coaching, leadership, and development. In leadership aspect, the theory provides insights of leadership theories and further help people to apply them in different perspectives. The model described by the theorist discusses four models; one that examines the self, collective aspects, internal, and external aspects. Understanding the four quadrant models creates a strong platform to enhance an environment that cares for people. Integral theory has also been applied by instructors at colleges when leading students and enhancing an environment that facilitates smooth learning experience.
Practice Change with the Theory Implementation
Nursing practice would change by incorporating this theory in the sense that, it creates insights on the importance of having a strong identity. Through this theory, nurses are encouraged to know who they are and further work hard to enhance the well being of others. Indeed, when an individual knows who they are in terms of their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats then they are in a better position to do activities that enhance the well being of people. In the nursing field, it helps nurses to avoid tasks that would deteriorate the well being of patients. In addition, this theory is appropriate in solving the root issues of staffing. For instance, by using the quadrant model used by Wilbur namely the self, collective aspects, internal, and external aspects, nurse leaders can understand the importance of making decisions that improves the well-being of staff and patients. Having a clear understanding of self may be vital for leaders in making the decisions that eradicate the issue of nurse staffing. Understanding how to motivate nurses to perform their tasks effectively would be vital in eradicating the issue of staffing and improving patients’ health (Dreyfusn and Dreyfus, l986).
Potential Challenges
It is vital to note that, the change does not rely on the most common methods of retention and recruitment, rather requires the hospital and its management is to have adequate knowledge on how enact the change required. Thus, applying this theory may be costly especially when creating awareness to the employees on how to improve their services to patients. Educating and training employees on the aspect of caring demand a lot of resources. (Alligood and Tomey, 2006).
Conclusion
Nurse staffing has been a common challenge faced in most healthcare institutions. Over the years, this issue has been address through various methods such as additional pay incentives, and recruitment bonuses. Despite the initiative made to address the issue, the truth of the matter is that these methods have not fully addressed the root cause of the issue. With this in mind, applying Integral and human caring theory promotes a caring environment. By applying Watson’s theory, healthcare leaders understand the importance of having rewards in the workplace. This theory creates the need to motivate competent and potential employees in the organization. Despite the benefits that emerge from applying this theory, the truth of the matter is that it requires adequate training to be effective in the workplace. An organization must invest on giving rewards to their employees to motivate their effort.
References
Alligood, M. R., and Tomey, A. M. (2006). Nursing theory: Utilization and Application (3rd ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier.
Dreyfus, H. L., and Dreyfus, S. E. (l986). Mind over machine: The power of human intuition and expertise in the era of the computer.New York: Free Press.
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