Human needs theory in nursing

Re-evaluating Research

If you were able to redo your research design proposal that you submitted for Written Assignment 3, what would you change? Why?

How did the research portion of the project differ from your initial expectations?

Review of Situation

The case study presents information about a diabetic patient, Juan Duran, with no idea on how to start insulin for diabetes. He had received the instructions to start on insulin but did not want to ask too many questions to the personnel at the nursing clinic. Jenny O’Conner, a nurse at the hospital, is instructed to assess Mr. Duran’s situation. The nurse is interested in finding out some information about Duran’s life, as well as medical history so that she can provide the necessary guidance on how he should start on insulin.

Nursing Theory Selected

The self-care deficit nursing theory would be most applicable in assessing Duran and making a plan for his care. The theory is also known as the Orem’s Model of Nursing. It was developed in by Dorothea Orem between 1959 and 2001 (Nursing Theory, n.d.). The theory’s primary philosophy is that patients have the desire to care for themselves. Therefore, patients recover holistically and in a fast manner when given the opportunity to take care of themselves. Moreover, this theory covers broad areas in the nursing field, providing general concepts that can be relied upon in nursing.

This nursing theory was chosen because it gives patients an opportunity to take care of themselves by all means that they can. In Duran’s case, he cannot be confined to a hospital for being diabetic and, therefore, needs to take care of himself to prevent his health from deteriorating. What is more is that the theory dictates that there are self-care requisites that a patient should meet. The inability to achieve these essentials creates a self-care deficit, a point at which the nurse provides support modality. The nature of this nursing theory makes it the best fit model in Duran’s case.

Additionally, Duran needs to learn how to take care of his diabetes at home with the help of his wife. The nursing theory allows the nurse, Jenny, in this case, to involve the clinic’s medical team in coming up with a plan that could be used to keep Duran’s Diabetes in check. She could also educate Duran and his wife about Diabetes, and the insulin shots to ensure Duran’s holistic well-being. Moreover, Orem’s Model of Nursing also takes into consideration the patient’s environment, as well as the family and culture. These factors often influence an individual’s health and would have to be considered before coming up with a plan for Duran’s self-care.

Furthermore, this theory is most applicable because of its ability to be applied in different settings, nursing situations, and patient needs. That is, the approach has various concepts and principles that can be used, and can be adaptable depending on the changes in the patient’s condition. Therefore, Duran and Jenny can work together to ensure that the best care is available for Duran’s state. Any changes in Duran’s health could also be taken care by relying on the various principles provided by this model.

Additional Information to Collect

Jenny requires collecting more information about Duran and his family so that she can know how to tailor the self-care plan. Orem’s Model of Nursing suggests that the nurse considers the family of the patient (Nursing Theory, n.d.). In addition to identifying that Duran lives with his wife and that they lost their daughter, Jenny would also want to know the knowledge that the two have on diabetes. Therefore she would ask Duran whether he has been given any additional information about diabetes, the best diet for these patients. Moreover, she would also want to find out the information that Duran has on self-care, such as behaviors that he is expected to avoid to prevent his diabetes from becoming worse.

Furthermore, Jenny would also be concerned with getting some information about Duran’s culture. There are various cultural believes concerning diabetes, as well myths and misconceptions about this disease that are fueled by one’s culture. Knowing Duran’s culture will enable Jenny to know which matters she is supposed to enlighten Duran. Jenny will also want to know whether Duran will be able to get the necessary support from his community and those around him if his wife is not in a position to administer the insulin shots.

Initiating a Plan of care

The self-care deficit nursing theory suggests that the nurse looks at the self-care requisites that the patients should meet on his own (Nursing Theory, n.d,). Therefore, initiating a plan of care would require that Jenny begins by educating Duran and his wife about diabetes. She could inform the two on what diabetes is, its causes, and factors that accelerate its development. In addition, she should also educate Duran on insulin shots and how their use in keeping diabetes in check. The nurse could also educate Duran on the importance of following the directions given concerning insulin to ensure that his health improves.

Additional information could be provided on prevention needs. It entails letting the patient know about some of the behaviors that need to be avoided, which could be harmful to his health. Information concerning the recommended diet should also be made available to the patient. For example, there are foods that diabetic patients are not allowed to consume, while there are other foods that they are supposed to increase their intake. Such information will be very beneficial to Duran, as it will enable him to take care of himself without the assistance of his nurse at home.

Taking into consideration Duran’s stress level arising from the loss of his daughter, Jenny could also incorporate stress coping mechanisms into the program. Therefore, Jenny could suggest that Duran attends counseling sessions, which could help him talk out his pain with a professional. Duran’s wife could also go through the counseling to ensure that she too is not stressed and is in a position to take care of her husband. With lower stress levels, Duran will manage to engage in self-care and receive the necessary support from his wife.

The Use of a Different Model

The use of a different model would require that Jenny asses Duran and plan differently. For example, the Neuman’s nursing theory, which suggests that patient care is from a holistic perspective, could be used (Neuman, n.d.). The theory holds that three levels o prevention must be engaged to ensure that the patient’s health improves. These levels include primary, secondary, and tertiary, which are all incorporated in the same plan and customized based on the needs of each patient.

Therefore, instead of concentrating on the patient’s ability to engage in self-care, the theory concentrates on different interaction variables that affect a patient. This approach focuses mostly on a patent’s stress level and its effect on the patient’s ability to gain knowledge of the disease and its control. Jenny would assess the level of stress that Johnny is undergoing and his ability to learn about diabetes and insulin. The plan would incorporate prevention activities and intervention efforts.

References

Nursing Theory. (n.d.). Dorothea Orem - Nursing Theorist. Retrieved from http://nursing-theory.org/nursing-theorists/Dorothea-E-Orem.php

Neuman. (n.d.). Neuman Systems Model. Retrieved from http://www.neumansystemsmodel.com/news/newspage1.htm#Neuman