Nursing Metaparadigm

American Nurse Association (2015) defines nursing as “the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, facilitation of healing, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations.”

The metaparadigm of nursing involves the person, health, environment and nursing. These four components are the key areas of focus when it comes to patient care.

The first part of the metaparadigm of nurse theory is person that not only refers to the patient himself or herself, but it also includes the patient’s family members and friends, groups, communities, and populations. These social connections and relationships provide strength, hope, and meaning to a person’s life that heals them holistically.

The second component of the metaparadigm of nurse theory construction is health. Health refers to the person’s well-being and access to healthcare. A person’s health consists of physical, intellectual, emotional, psychological, and spiritual wellness. A nurse nurtures the patient and empowers him or her to manage their own health to the best of his or her abilities so that he or she may live in optimal health (Grand Canyon University College of Nursing and Health Care Professions Philosophy, 2016).

The third element is the environment that includes everything around a person that influence his or her illness as well as recovery. The environment is composed of the variety of internal, external, as well as social factors such as physical and mental state, financial state, geographic location, culture, religious affiliations, social support, and personal relationships (Nurse Groups, n.d.). It is very important for the patient to be in an environment that is contributory to his or her holistic recuperation.

The final of the metaparadigm of nursing theory is nursing. Nursing refers to all the specific skills that an individual must acquire to become a nurse including medical knowledge, technical skills, critical thinking, leadership, communication, teaching, physical agility, and practical nursing care. While applying these skills, a nurse must show compassion for his or her patients. A lack of empathy for patients will likely have a detrimental effect on the patients’ health and recuperation.

All in all, all above aspects of the patients’ care should coexist in an individual to become a complete nurse. A nurse can be sure that he or she is providing the best care possible for the patient, if he or she combines these components and treat the patient as whole rather than an illness or a body.

The Components of a Nursing Metaparadigm

Patients are continually changing within an ever-evolving environment. This creates a situation which requires the nurse to be aware of four major concepts that are part a nursing philosophy and theory. These four major concepts are part a nursing metaparadigm that includes the person, health, environment, and nursing (Blais & Hayes, 2016, p. 101). These four elements are major areas of focus involved in patient care which are interrelated, interdependent, and interactive with each other.

The first component of the metaparadigm is person or client which refers to the patient a nurse is caring for and is the receiver of care. This also includes the patient’s family, friends, communities, and populations which are social networks and relationships that help promote hope, strength, and healing to the patient. A patient’s spiritual and social needs are also considered in addition to their health care needs. As nursing professionals, we must serve our patients and also those networks that support our patients in which helps with our patient’s healing. The outcome of the patient’s health can be related to how the patient interacts with their social and physical connections. The person or client is an individual and unique with their own beliefs and values who should be treated with respect and dignity. Nurses keep an open mind and refrain from bias or judgement regardless of the patient’s religion, beliefs, or differences. The patient’s privacy must always be maintained. As nurses we must stop and listen to the patient while allowing them to express their feelings and concerns in order to build trust in addition to including them as part of the treatment team for the best possible outcome for their particular situation. As nursing professionals, we help the patient understand that their health and the care provided is our main focus.

The second portion of the metaparadigm is the environment. This includes everything around the patient that may affect their illness and their recovery. Providing a therapeutic environment directly impacts the patient and healthcare staff in addition to affecting a patient’s health status. Safety, support, and health help increase a positive patient outcome and provide a therapeutic effect. Noise, space, lighting, ventilation, and smell in and around the patient’s environment can directly affect the patient’s health. Initiating a subtle change can create a positive change in environment, that results in improved outcomes for the patient. Providing a therapeutic environment will improve healing for the patient and make the healthcare experience more pleasing in addition to resulting in more positive patient outcomes. Internal, external, or social factors may also influence the patient’s health and may include culture, personal relationships, geographic location, financial state, religious affiliations, social support, physical, or mental state. In order to recover, a patient must be surrounded by an environment that is pleasing to them, provides comfort, peace, and a helpful, holistic atmosphere that promotes health and healing. As nurses, we must try to provide the best possible environment available. Sometimes we may need to ask family or friends to allow time for privacy for the patient and focus on rest and relaxation. Some patients may require a patient room closer to the nursing station for safety reasons or they may need a full-time sitter to help maintain their safety. Other patients may require a bariatric bed or toilet to accommodate their needs. Patient needs may also include help from social workers or clergy. Patients sometimes come from very unsanitary environments which may contribute to illness and health problems. Once patients enter a clean environment such as a hospital, their health status improves with treatment and results in improved health and healing. Educating patients and family about unsanitary conditions and environments can help them understand the relationship between illness and environment as factors that influence their health status.

The third element of the metaparadigm is health which is the primary factor in patient care. Restoration and maintenance of health is a main focus of healthcare. Health relates to the patient’s access to healthcare and their well-being over their lifetime. Access to health care services can change over a lifetime with changes in job placement, insurance access, socioeconomic status, or geographic location. A patient’s health includes intellectual, physical, psychological, emotional, mental, and spiritual components in addition to genetic makeup which influence a patient’s well-being. It also includes the patient’s approach to stress and coping. Health is ongoing and changing often which should be monitored and evaluated on a routine basis which can prevent future illness and save resources and time. Nurses encourage patients to manage their own health as best as possible in order to live with favorable health. Maintaining health and wellness is a primary focus for healthcare today. Patients are encouraged to follow healthy diets, reduce stress, begin a workout regimen, cease smoking, and decrease the amount of alcohol consumption to promote a healthier lifestyle.

The final component of the metaparadigm is nursing. This element includes a large number of nursing skills, medical knowledge, technology, professional judgement, communication, critical thinking, leadership, teaching, and practical nursing care. Nurses play a critical role by building trusting relationships with their patients that include a positive rapport, provide holistic care, and provide education to their patients and families. As nursing professionals, we must have great compassion and empathy to assist and encourage recovery for our patients. Nurses have a mutual relationship with their patients and provide a safe and caring environment for healing. This component includes high standards for service to provide patient healing and well-being while always being an advocate for the patient. Nurses must educate and teach their patients about procedures and habits that will provide their patients an improved quality life. Nurses treat existing illness while helping prevent future illnesses with patient care, treatment, and education.

Understanding the full power and purposes of these four concepts makes up the metaparadigm. This creates a necessity for nurses to provide a more complete and well-rounded experience during the treatment and recovery phase of patient care. By utilizing all four of these components, the patient receives the best possible care that allows them to recover faster and, in the process, educate them for the future. We must be more consistent in the care of patients and always maintain high standards so that every patient experience results in positive healthy outcome.