Need ONE Response Per Each Discussion Total 6 Responses. Attached Are The Discussions And Rubric Please Follow Them. Posts Will Be A Minimum Of 100 Words, APA Format.One Reference Per Each Discussion

Discussion 1

In my current career as a Family nurse practitioner, I would align my practice with the general systems theory. The essential notion associated with this theory is that a system is often made up of a set of interdependent components which interact with each other, and the effective functioning of the system highly depends on the proper functioning of every single component. As such, when the functioning of a single component of the system is interrupted, so will the functioning of the entire system (Kaakinen et al., 2018). A family is a system unit, and the health of a family as a whole stems from the health of the individual family members and how well the individual needs and weaknesses within the family unit are addressed (these represent the components that make the family unit). By applying this theory, I will be able to, in my role as a family practitioner, improve the health of my family clients by looking into the individual family problems and shortcomings of individual family members, and address each one of them to achieve well-being for the family unit as a whole. 

I am in agreement with Nightingale’s thought regarding nursing being both an art and science. Nursing can be considered an art because it encompasses the art of applying healing philosophies and virtues during patient care, entails the art of winning patients’ trust, fully understanding the wishes of patients, and being responsive of their wide range of needs. Nursing involves exemplifying love, compassion, and commitment to patients and patient families, and these qualities do not represent the science aspect of nursing (Doan et al., 2018). Nursing is also a science because the nursing practice involves relying on scientific information pertaining to human beings and their environment, to guide in enhancing the wellbeing of patients. The nursing discipline utilizes sophisticated medical knowledge and scientific discovery regarding human health processes, to navigate through the provision of care to patients.

Discussion 2

Environmental Theory, coined by Florence Nightingale, described Nursing as the practice of using the patient’s surroundings to support them in the course of their recovery (Trafford, 2018). It comprises of the initiative by nurse to establish appropriate environmental settings for the step-by-step restoration of the health of the patient. The theory also posits that external factors connected with the patient’s environmental impact on the life or physiologic as well as biologic procedures and their development. Nightingale identified five factors in the environment: light or sunlight, fresh air, efficient drainage, pure water, and sanitation or cleanliness.

She elaborated on the Environmental theory in the book titled Notes on Nursing: What it is what it is not (Trafford, 2018). Nightingale was the first theorist in the field of nursing that established the nursing profession foundation. The main concepts in the theory include: Nursing, Human Beings, Environment, and Health. On Nursing, she stated the role of nursing as putting the sick in the best setting for nature to work on them. On the concept of Human Beings, they are not identified specifically by the theory.

Instead, they are identified with regard to their surroundings and the effects of the surroundings upon them. On the environment, she emphasizes on the physical environment in the theory (Hussian, & Karim, 2020). In the writings, she paints an image of a community model of health in which all elements of the environment are taken as if they have bearing in their health state. On the concept of Health, between 1859 and 1992, she did not focus on health specifically. Nightingale stated that nothing is understood on health, the favourable of which pathology is unfavourable, but the experience and observation. With respect to Nightingale’s definition of the art of nursing as unmaking that which God had created and made disease, we can assert that nursing’s major focus ought to be client health.

Discussion 3

Theory can be defined as: “a belief, policy, or procedure proposed or followed as the basis of action.” (What Are Nursing Theories?, 2020). They give the knowledge that allows nurses to bring a good care and stablish protocols and guideless to the practice. The use of theories allows nurses to assess, analyze and planning care in an organized manner. Also, helps to predict and evaluate the outcomes. It is important to clarify concepts and beliefs to proper use as tools in practice that is why choose the correct theory is crucial (Birken et al., 2017). After any intervention, a theory-based evaluation is demanded in order to validate the conclusion. There is not difference if we use an intervention approach or a descriptive one. There are made to explain or describe the causal relationship between an event and an outcome. Is a guide for the research process mostly on analysis and implementation (Ridde et al., 2020).

           The concept of Nursing Metaparadigm that involve fours theories: person, environment, health and nursing; is implicit on each theory and point the holistic care of patients. Also, exists three levels on nursing theories: Grand Theories, Mid-range Theories and Nursing Practice Theories in concordance with the amplitude of the spectrum it encompasses. The Grand Nursing Theories are broad, abstract and present general framework of the event to analyze. Mid-Range Theories can emerge from practice or research and has less broad spectrum. The Nursing Practice Theories are the narrowest focused on events that affect defined population (What Are Nursing Theories?, 2020).

           One of the most important theologist was Florence Nightingale, a true visionary, teacher, reformer and explorer. Her prolific works allows important reforms on nursing care for the good of the profession. Among others publications and studies, her Environmental Theory is still applied on nursing education, infection control, sanitation, health promotion and statistical analysis (Gilbert, 2020). Infection control is an integral part of nursing practice, the modification or creation of a safe environment is crucial to obtain good outcomes.

Discussion 4

Of all the theories in the larger nursing practice, the most popular include the Florence Nightingale Environmental theory. The formulation of this particular theory was informed after Nightingale is observing the correlation between patients and their immediate environmental conditions when he attended to soldiers during the Crimean War. As Smith and Parker (2014) explain, Florence Nightingale is considered the first critical theorist in nursing practice.

           Nightingale's Environmental Model offers major concepts that continue to be applied in clinical practice to date. As Alisher et al. (2019) explain, the critical concepts of the theory are commonly referred to as the four meta-paradigms. These meta-paradigms have become essential in designing treatment plans and a befitting environment to facilitate the treatment of patients. These four meta-paradigms include human, health, the immediate surrounding or the environment, and nursing (Alisher et al., 2019). One way the theory has been applied is in controlling the infection within a clinical setting. Alves et al. (2016) assert that Florence Nightingale was among the first healthcare provider to express concern regarding infections associated with healthcare. The theory has guided the modification of environmental conditions to control and prevent hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), which are caused by reduced hygiene within the clinical facilities (Gilbert, 2020). Under the meta-paradigm of environment, Florence Nightingale insisted on enforcing cleanliness as it directly correlates with the risk of acquiring an infection. This can be attained by regular changing of the bedsheets, ensuring efficient drainage and good aeration of patient room and access to sunlight and clean water.

           In conclusion, Florence Nightingale Environmental theory offers an efficient model of modifying environmental conditions to improve patient safety quality of care. Nightingale was concerned about the infections patients acquire during care, which became known as the HAIs. As the theory provides, adhering to hygiene protocols is essential in addressing the risks of developing an infection during care delivery. Therefore, Nightingale's Environmental Model stands out as among the most valuable theories for enforcing patient safety and quality of care within clinical practice. 

Discusion 5

Before going into analyzing Nightingale's environmental model of care, it's important to note that the main purpose of nursing theory is to improve nursing practice and with it the health and quality of life of individuals, families, and communities. Nursing theories provide coherent ways of seeing and approaching the care of the people in their environment (Smith & Parker, 2015).

The history of professional nursing began with Florence Nightingale. She viewed nurses as a body of educated women at a time when women couldn’t educate themselves or were employed in public service. After her wartime service of organizing and caring for the wounded in Scutari during the Crimean War, Nightingale's vision and the establishment of a School of Nursing at St. Thomas Hospital in London marked the beginning of modern nursing (Alligood, 2014).

Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, was born on May 12, 1820, in Florence, Italy. During the Crimean war, Nightingale received a request from Sidney Herbert, Secretary of War to travel to Scutari, Turkey, with a group of nurses to care for wounded British soldiers. To achieve his mission of providing nursing care, he needed to address the environmental problems that existed, including poor sanitation and the presence of dirt, few urinals, contaminated water, contaminated bedding, and overflowing cesspools (Alligood, 2014).

The goal of nursing is described by Nightingale as helping the patient so it can retain the vital powers on achieving their needs and thus, putting the patient in the best condition for nature to act upon him (Smith & Parker, 2015).

Nightingale separated five essential environmental components for a person's health: clean air, pure water, efficient drainage, clean lines, and light. The patient is the center of the Nightingale model, integrating a holistic view of the human being as someone who has psychological, intellectual and spiritual components (Smith & Parker, 2015).

According to the Nightingale model, nursing assists in a person's ability to preserve and restore their health directly or indirectly through environmental management. The person has a fundamental role in her own health, and this health is a function of the interaction between the person, the nurse and the environment. However, in her model it's not said that the person or the environment influence the nurse (Smith & Parker, 2015).

Florence Nightingale's theory consisted of thirteen canons, these are: observation, personal cleanliness, petty management, light, health of house, cleanliness of rooms, ventilation and warming, bed and bedding, taking food, what food?, noise, chattering hopes and advice and variety (Smith & Parker, 2015).

If each of these canons is carefully observed, we currently apply it in nursing care, if they were not applied, we would not give a care of excellence and we would not be able to restore the health of patients.

Discussion 6

Theories have the ability to impact nursing practice in a positive and major way. Theories influences researcher to conduct more research to learn new things and hence impacting nursing science which have great impact to nursing practice. Although there is huge diversity in nursing practices, specific theories play a major role in each practice. Theories help to support the nursing metaparadigm which consist of various element, nursing, person, environment and health. The holistic goal of nursing is to provide high quality of healthcare services to the patients. Such theories include Grand theories and middle range theories. Theories plays a major role in enhancing a nurse’s practices.

Nightingale’s environmental theory states that environment plays a major role in assisting patient’s recovery. Florence Nightingale is considered to be the first theorist in nursing to provide a strong foundation of nursing profession. The theory emphasizes that a nurse should configure the environmental settings appropriately for effective recovery of the patient’s health. It emphasizes the role of external factors in patient’s health. Environment affects a patient’s psychologic and biologic processes as well as his or her development.

Environmental theory has addressed all the aspects of nursing metaparadigm. It states that during nursing, there is need to put a patient in the best environmental condition since nature plays a part in nurturing a patient. The theory emphasizes that cleanliness, fresh air and ventilations, noise-free and warmth which are essential. The theory states that human beings should relate well in their environment since it turns to act upon them. the theory stresses more on environment and its impacts promoting the health of patients. In order to provide care and health promotion in nursing it is important to consider the aspect of environment. The theory provides the assumption a health environment heals.