Nursing Theories, Standards, and Caring Practices in Healthcare

This essay delves into the core concepts of nursing, emphasizing the symbiotic relationship between caring and nursing practice. It begins with a personal narrative illustrating the author's understanding of nursing as a compassionate profession, highlighting the significance of emotional, physical, and spiritual support for patients, aligning with Jean Watson's Caring Science theory. The essay then explores various nursing theories and their practical applications, including person-centered care and evidence-based practice. It discusses the importance of adhering to professional standards, referencing the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) guidelines. The essay emphasizes the integration of caring with professional standards, theories, and the application of evidence-based practice to improve patient care and outcomes. It concludes by reinforcing the significance of integrating personal and professional aspects of nursing to achieve successful patient care.

Running Head: NURSING 0
INTRODUCTION TO NURSING PRAXIS

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The words nursing and caring are synonymous as nursing is all about planting back the
hopes of physically and mentally disabled patients. In the Jean Watson caring science theory,
which is considered one of the best approaches of curing a patient by helping them recover by
providing mental, emotional, spiritual and physical support thereby improving the overall well-
being of a person (Watson, 2019). It is a behavior of a nurse towards a patient which is
responsible for the fast recovery of a patient. The way the nurse tends to the patient and the way
she talks all influences an individual’s health. The following essay will be discussing about the
different concepts and theories related to nursing and the professional caring fundamental aspect
of providing quality care.
It was 9am on Monday when I saw a little abandoned girl lying at the side of street, her
clothes tattered and a bleeding wound on her right leg, On seeing that sight I felt pity and my
consciousness as a nurse was evoked so I grabbed her in my arms took her to the hospital where
I work and as a nurse treated her wound by covering it softly with a bandage and a cream and
placating her emotions, that day I felt sublimely great by helping her out. The incident had taught
me the true meaning of nursing which is to reach out someone who needs a helping hand. Then
during her medical tests, it was reported that the girl was suffering from high fever due to severe
blood infection which requires an immediate emergency treatment, the investigation agency of
the hospital was trying to figure out her family, at the end of the investigation, it was reported
that she is an orphan and could be treated under a government policy for orphans for free, so the
treatment started which continued for around twenty five days where she was operated number
of times and was given antibiotics and injections, During that period, I considered myself as her
guardian and supported her completely, I stood by her side to give her strength, at night I used to
visit the hospital room where she was admitted and used to read out stories of strong children

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and their fight with the monsters in the hope to give her strength to fight back the oddities of her
life. I was there to make sure that nothing misses in her best treatment. During a day time, I used
to bring her favorite fruits and her lovely lily flowers which she loved the most, in those days my
only concern was that she recovers fast from her illness and becomes strong again.
Caring for the patient to help them recover fast is one of the most important attributes of
being a good nurse. According to the Jean Watson’s Caring Science theory, the caring can be
practiced with the effective interaction of the patient and the nurse (Smith & Parker, 2010). The
good interpersonal ties established between the nurse and patient could result in self- healing of
the patient’s disease as the connection established helps in bringing in the positivity which is pre-
requisite to facilitate the self-healing in an individual (Berman, 2013). The caring science theory
also emphasizes the importance of caring for oneself as when a person takes care of himself then
only, he will be in the position to care for others (Cara, 2013). The inner fulfillment of one’s
desires and needs will make a person capable of rendering services to others. The nursing
department must apply the caring science theory aspect of self- care by rendering nurses’ proper
incentives and providing them extra one hour each day for renewal of their well-being.
As a nurse, caring for patients is a central duty but there are other professional standards
for nurses, according to Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia(NMBA) some of the
standards are engaging in therapeutic and professional relationships which includes
communication by drawing a line between personal and professional relationship and also
keeping in mind the person’s dignity, culture, values and beliefs, supporting and directing people
to utilize organizational resources effectively (Nursing midwifery Board of Australia, 2019). The
standard third states maintaining the capability for practice which deals in identification of the
proper roles of people in ensuring the better health outcomes for example a nurse dealing with

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the patient of a different nationality must be respectful of the values the person holds and
accordingly provide the medical treatment (Barrett, 2017). These standards help as a guiding
force for the nurse to act professionally and serve as a base to take the decision in the times of
crises, the proper implementation of standards will result in right conduct of nurses in the
organization.
Nursing is a profession which comes from an individual’s desire to serve the patients but
if it gets aligned with the nursing standards and theories then it becomes one of the best
professions to serve. There are other nursing theories which when integrated could make the
nursing practices more compatible. Those are person centered and evidence-based approach. In a
person-centered approach of nursing the emphasis is given on the needs of a person, and to be
responsive to the needs and choices of a person, respecting the values, beliefs associated with an
individual, such kind of approach helps in forging good connections with patients thus helping
them recover fast through emotional healing (Redlandshospital, 2019). The application of the
theory in the practices of nurse will result in the happier environment at hospitals as people there
will feel more connected with each other thus improving the recovery rate of patients. Another
important theory is evidence-based theory which deals in taking the best decision for patients’
care and working environment through conducting proper research and applying findings as a
solution (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2011).The theory helps in finding out the best possible
solution for any problems related to clinical research, patient’s care and working environment in
the hospital (Nurse, 2019).The theory, if incorporated in the practice could solve many problems
that come in nursing practices for example there is problem in most healthcare departments
where a patient is not comfortable in disclosing the medical history which hinders in the process

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of proper nursing of the patients by proper counseling techniques a nurse can help a patient in
sharing his personal history thus improving the care of patient.
To perform successfully as a nurse, it is important to integrate professional aspect of
caring with the personal aspect of it. The theories and the professional standards for nursing
carves out a way for effective performance as a nurse, like the caring science theory which
teaches the concept of curing the person through interpersonal skills and a person-centered
theory keeps the person in the Centre to come up with the right technique of caring according to
the person’s needs, the evidence based theory which is very helpful in finding out the best
clinical solutions to the problem faced in healthcare departments. These theories if properly
integrated in the nursing life can make the life of a nurse much easier and successful.

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