Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia Middle Range Theory Application - Research Paper Example

? Middle Range Theory Application Middle Range Theory Application An informed application of the provisions of the caring theory developed by Kristen M. Swanson could help in reducing and mitigating the impacts of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). The theory supplies the structural and theoretical approaches that might help in combating the nosocomial infection, which remains one of the deadliest pneumonia complications that affect patients who are routinely subjected to ventilators while at the hospital (Acton, 2011). Multiple studies have established that it is possible to reduce the impacts of this disease through a proper administration of nursing processes that reduce the capacity of the disease to affect the health and comfort of the patient or any other vulnerable individual or groups. An assessment of some of the features of Swanson’s theory might suffice in order to explore its efficacy in the process of handling VAP. The tasks of caring and the promotion of human dignity are the central philosophies on which Swanson’s theory of caring is anchored. Swanson’s theory expands the aspect of nursing beyond the mechanics of professional processes between the caregiver and the patient to incorporate higher levels of commitment and responsibility on the part of the nurse (Peterson & Bredow, 2008). The caring theory entails a marked departure from conventional and traditional theories such as the medical model, the Nightingale model, and other theories that place the process of nursing within the province of professionalism. This theory acquires its relevance from the fact that it involves fewer concepts. The theory is also considered as user-friendly in the sense that it involves adaptable concepts (Peterson & Bredow, 2008). The adaptability of its concepts are essentially important in the task of maintaining some substantive approaches towards the management of multiple health challenges. This theory shifts the focus of nursing from the casual skills of the caregiver to the personality, character, and resolve of the individual nurse. The theory of caring promotes a special kind of relationship between the client and the nurse in a way that unites the entire healing process into a meaningful whole. This theory is based on specific aspects of healing that require some inner connection of processes that provide the healing force to the client. This theory distinguishes itself from other theories of nursing in the sense that it infuses some element of behaviorism within the entire discourse of nursing. The relationship between the nurse and the client is revised to one that captures some aspect of utilitarian kinship between the two. Notably, this theory invents new concepts to incorporate into the aspect of healing. The theory invents the essence of the environment as a complex and fluid environment that determines, to a significant degree, the levels of success in the nursing process. The environment, as defined in this theory, is not limited to the physical essence of the term. The environment, according to Swanson, is situational. It could vary from the definition of an individual to a community. Furthermore, the meaning of the environment could be altered to capture the body of the client as it relates to other parts of the same. On this note, this theory sought to situate the meaning of environment from the conventional sense of the term in order to give broader meaning to the element of value nursing practices. The environment, as understood within this definition, has the potential to affect and be affected by the client. The complexities of nursing are explored as consequences of the interaction between the environment and the nursing process. The processes that determine the nature of professionalism between the nurse and the client must take place in a supportive environment that provides the synergies that operationalize the various aspects of the process. Swanson’s theory lays emphasis on the aspect of informed nursing. In the theory of caring, it is important for the nurse to engage in the skillful application of his or her professional skills in order to impact significantly on the process of nursing. Another key consideration that the theory seems to make relates to the manner in which the process of nursing is dependent on the attitude of the nurse. The nurse must adopt a knowing attitude in order to connect meaningful with the task of care. There is compelling evidence that the theory of caring incorporates professionalism, behaviorism, and social intelligence in the process of providing quality nursing care to the clients. The theory derives its strength from past-randomized clinical trials that showed that caring interventions have significant positive impacts on the patient and serves to lessen the impact of a disturbed mood. This theory is brought out in a consistent and logical manner that offers fresh insights into the aspect of nursing. Its value lies in the fact that it can extend its application utility to multiple other discourses that require the direct intervention of meaningful nursing care. The application of the caring theory for the treatment of VAP within the theoretical framework of the must necessarily involve an inquiry into the nature of the disease. Medical studies have argued in favor of hygiene as one of the ways by which VAP could be handled. The nursing practitioner should seek out for all the avenues and ways by which VAP occurs among humans. Such processes include an assessment into the various aspects and facts, which connect with matters on causes, prevalence, and levels of vulnerability. It might be necessary to investigate the occurrence of this disease in terms of some of the issues that continue to affect the most vulnerable groups within nursing institutions. Nurses should promote practices that would minimize the levels of infection of the disease to the vulnerable groups. This practice is within the requirements of the theory of caring, which requires them to adopt proactive approaches that are essentially aligned towards the mitigation of all possible adverse situations on the vulnerable groups. Within the context of the theory of caring, the nurse practitioner should begin by appreciating the need to minimize the rates of infection of VAP to the patients under her care. Some of the issues that should be embraced include the level of commitment on the part of the nurse, the level of knowledge possessed by the nurse, the desire to regulate the environmental factors, and the level of connection with the patient. It is therefore important for the nurse to assess the situation in a manner that reflects of these goals. Some of the issues that tie within the element of the theory of caring are often affected by the level of professionalism, and the organizational structure of the institution. As a result, it is necessary for the nurse to focus on the most appropriate interventionist measures that would help mitigate the impacts of VAP within the nursing institution. The theory of caring proposes the cultivation of close and workable social relationships between the nurse and the client. Such a relationship would assist the nurse in delving into the feelings of the patients in order to attend to the underlying challenges. This theory provides that the nurses should promote habits that would ease their associations with the patient. On this note, it would be necessary for the nurse to seek some closer connections with the patient in order to detect and treat VAP at the earliest point possible. This would be much more necessary in situations where the patient has lost the power to communicate due to illness or some other incapacitating factor. By developing some form of closeness and commitment to the patient, the nurse will be able to detect the occurrence of VAP and carry out interventionist measures at the earliest point of infection. Knowledge on the manifestation of the disease would be crucial in the process of developing a diagnosis. Generally, VAP manifest itself in terms of fever and chills, discomfort, uneasiness, and general malaise. The symptoms may also include coughing and the production of greenish phlegm. Some patients are likely to show loss of appetite, shortness of breath, chest pains, nausea, and vomiting (Acton, 2011.. A nurse must delve deeper into all possible knowledge that relate to these symptoms in order to carry out meaningful interventionist therapies on the clients. The interventionist approach of the nurse at this point should involve a combination between professional aspects of nursing and the social aspects as prescribed in Swanson’s theory. According to Swanson, the ability to go beyond casual professionalism often marks the hallmarks of the theory of caring as spelt out within the general philosophy. However, one of the most important aspects of nursing with relation to VAP should be considered in light of preventive approaches. Inquiries into the interventionist approaches of VAP have found out that it is possible to check against the occurrence and spread of the disease by engaging in certain measures that would lower the incidence of the disease. Further, the tenets of Swanson’s theory favor a participatory approach in which the patient becomes an active participant in the intervention process. One of the approaches would be the regulation of the environment in a way that would prevent the rates of infection of the disease to the vulnerable persons or groups. The process of enhancing hygiene should be understood within the context of the influence of environmental factors to the healing process. Swanson’s theory proposes a wide range of factors that could be used in establishing proper nursing care for patients. When properly applied, this theory could provide resourceful methods remedies and cautions against some of the challenges that are prevalent in the field of nursing. The theory is structured and explained in ways that could be relied upon to increase the efficiency in the functions of nursing as they apply to different situations and areas. The task of combating, containing, and preventing VAP is one that should involve multiple approaches. These approaches are generally designed to foster proper management of the nursing situations towards the general objectives of healing and the promotion of human dignity as spelt out in the underlying philosophy of nursing. References Acton, A. (2011). Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia: New Insights for the Healthcare Professional. New York: ScholarlyEditions. Peterson, S. & Bredow, T. (2008). Middle-Range Theories: Application to Nursing Research. New York: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Read More