Nursing theories and conceptual frameworks form the foundation for guiding advanced nursing practice in the field of nursing. They serve as a stage to delve into and understand the various aspects of health care service delivery, patient care, and professional development. The purpose of this essay is to assess alternate theories and conceptual models from nursing and related disciplines, showing how they influence and are applied in advanced clinical practice.
Florence Nightingale’s Environmental theory is still relevant to nursing practice. Per Nightingale’s theory, the healthcare provider promotes health and healing settled in the environment. The responsibility of the nurse is to create a good ambiance for the patients. The application of this theory by APNs can help them analyse the environmental factors and align it with the health outcomes. For example, nurses in intensive care unit handle the lighting, sound, and temperature to align with the role of patient recovery and comfort (Riegel et al., 2021).
Peplau’s Interpersonal Relations Theory underscores the development of mutual ties between the nurse and patient. This strategy is based on communication, empathy and relationship building for successful recovery. An APN can use Peplau’s approach to develop an empathetic relationship with patients. This will consequently enhance patient participation, the adherence to treatment plans and the overall patient satisfaction to the care delivered (Forchuk, 2021). Utilizing the skills of active listening and the therapeutic communication approach, the APNs resolve the patient’s physical, emotional, and psychosocial needs better.
The Ottawa Model of Research Use is system-wide approach to the integration of Evidence-based practice (EBP) into healthcare settings from the health promotion discipline point of view. This model outlines the knowledge translation process and includes evidence identification from research activities, implementation of evidence-based intervention and subsequent outcome evaluation. APNs could utilize the potentials of the Ottawa Model to provide cost-effective and high quality care services (Jager et al., 2020). By keeping up with the latest research outcomes and having a learning spirit throughout their lives, APNs will be sure that they are practicing based on current evidence, which results in excellent therapeutic outcomes and healthcare systems.
The Chronic Care Model is a logical model that includes chronic illness management at all levels of the entire healthcare system. This approach places emphasis on preventive care which is patient-directed and takes care of varied needs of individuals with chronic diseases. In primary health care or specialized clinic, APNs can practice on the basis of the chronic care model and provide evidence-based care for chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart failure. APNs may use care coordination, self-management support, and decision support among other methods to enhance patient engagement in their health journey (Gilman, 2021).
Basically, nursing theories and other related concepts are the gateway to the advanced practice of nursing. Applying basic theories such as Nightingale’s Environmental Theory, the Interpersonal Relations Theory of Peplau, the Ottawa Model of Research Use, and the Chronic Care Model, APNs can advance the care, safety, and quality of patients. Theoretical principles being integrated with practice enables APN to handle the complexities of health care delivery and enhance evidence-based care, thus improving patient outcomes.
Forchuk, C. (2021). Overview of Peplau’s Theory. In From Therapeutic Relationships to Transitional Care (pp. 3-15). Routledge.
Gilman, P. R. (2021). Complex adaptive systems: a framework for an integrated chronic care model. Advances in Nursing Science, 44(4), 330-339.
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