Relevance of Nursing Theories and Health Quality Standards in Improving Patient Outcome

Running head: NURSING
Nursing
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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NURSING
The following essay is based on the concept that observance of the proper nursing
theories and health quality standards helps to improve the overall outcome of the patients. In
discussing the relevance of the nursing theories, health quality standards and framework, this
essay will focus on a specific case scenario. The case study selected for this essay centers on
a 40 year old aboriginal female Raelene Ward, mother of three children and is actively
working. The essay will mainly focus on the theories of person-centered care, family centered
care, code of nursing ethics of nurses and National Safety and Quality Health Service
Standards and Erikson theory of 8 stages. The essay will initiate with the identification of the
relevant nursing theories followed by examples of effective and ineffective care highlighted
in the case study. At the end, the essay will discuss the application of the “partnering with the
consumers” from the perspective of the case study.
The relevant theory, that can be applied in this case scenario is, code of ethics for
nurses. According to Nursing and the Midwifery Board of Australia (2013), it is the duty of
the nursing professionals to value informed decision making. However, the analysis of the
case study highlighted that while Raelene was detected with gestational diabetes; she was
directly injected prescribed for insulin. The concerned healthcare professionals did not
bothered to discuss the fatal effects of gestational diabetes. They did not even explain why
injection of insulin is important or took informed consent from Raelene. Faden, Beauchamp
and Kass (2014) highlighted that nurses are required to respect for the health care consumers
and at the same time are required to recognize their capacity for active and informed
participation in their own healthcare. This respect of dignity of the patient via the practice of
kindness and the proper recognition of the vulnerability and powerlessness of the people
helps to increase their overall participation in the care plan. This in turn helps to improve the
overall outcome of care. However, Alfano (2015) is of the opinion that when a person is

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NURSING
bestowed with more than two options to choose from in their process of care, they become
rapidly overwhelmed are become perplexed to choose which option is best for them.
The patient care explained in the scenario contained in-effective care because it does
not follow the process of person-centered care plan. According to the case scenario, when
Raelene was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, the healthcare professionals directly opted
for the insulin administration in order to control the overall situation. The systematic review
and the meta-analysis conducted by Viana, Gross, and Azevedo (2014) highlighted that diet is
the cornerstone for the treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The randomized
control trial conducted by Tobias et al. (2012) revealed that adherence to healthy diet and
mild to moderate physical exercise at the times of gestational period can help to reduce the
impending risk of GDM at the time of child-birth. Thus providing person-centered care plan
in-case of Raelene via analyzing her weight and the health of the baby towards treating GDM
will help to promote intrinsically valuable outcomes.
Another ineffective care that is highlighted in the case-scenario is the lack of
involvement of the aboriginal healthcare professionals in the care plan and the involvement
of the family member in the care plan. Panaretto, Wenitong, Button and Ring (2014) stated
that involvement of the aboriginal workforce is an important aspect of designing a culturally
competent care for the Aboriginals or Torres Strait Islanders healthcare service users. The
study conducted by Uhl, Fisher, Docherty and Brandon (2013) revealed that involvement of
the family member helps to devise the care plan with a family centered care plan approach.
National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (NSHSS) of Australia further support
this approach. According to NSHSS (2012), involvement of the family member (in case of
Raelene it would be her family member) would help to promote partnering with the
consumers.