NR 501 WEEK 7 DISCUSSION, APPLICATION OF NURSING THEORY

NR 501 WEEK 7 DISCUSSION, APPLICATION OF NURSING THEORY Hello classmates and Dr. Wass I have witnessed how the current epidemic crisis that we all experienced as a nation has brought the best and worst in humanity. Nobody wanted this to happen, but it did. Now that we are fighting for our survival against an enemy that is invisible, our responsive capability and adaptability as individuals are being put to the test. For this reason, I have chosen to utilize as a nurse manager and a future nurse educator Sister Callista Roy’s Adaptation Model of Nursing as a guide to resolving the issue of addressing the-almost-hourly changes in the instructions and guidelines given to the nursing staff on what personal protective equipment (PPE) to use to protect themselves from being exposed to the Covid19. In a month since having our first Covid19 patient in our hospital, ninety percent of the patients admitted are now either positive or considered persons under investigation for the Covid19 disease. This, plus the increasing volume of patients puts so much stress in our nursing staff due to the lack of personal protective equipment to wear, the increasing number of staff that are starting to get sick from the virus, the increased nurse-to-patient ratio, the fear of possibly dying and leaving behind their family and the reality that things will get worse before it even starts to get better. In the absence of having proper PPE, individual clinicians are struggling with ethical decisions about how to protect themselves, their families, their patients, and their communities. They should not have to make these difficult decisions in isolation at the same time as they try to deal with rapidly growing numbers of patients (Maguire, et al., 2020). Sister Callista Roy created the Adaptation Model, a conceptual deductive theory, which focuses on both physiological and psychosocial adaptations of nurses and patients environment (McEwen & Willis, 2011). The issues being experienced by the staff are relevant to my specialty track as I guide my staff in navigating through these issues by keeping them informed of the plans concerning the use of PPEs as they focus on patient care and to assist them in adapting to the changes made from their usual routine. Roy also combines spirituality within her model to illustrate how adaptation is integrated with health through four modes of functioning including psychological, self-concept, role function and interdependence (Tourville, C. and Ingalls, K, 2003). According to Roy, adaptation is the outcome observed when responses to environmental changes are positively experienced. As described by Tourville and Ingalls (2003), Roy’s model is based on the assertion that a person’s ability to adapt is a “positive response” for life development and maturity related to physical needs and quality of life. By being visible in the unit, helping out the staff in any which way I can, assisting the staff in dealing with patient and family inquiries, by listening to their complaints and concerns, and providing emotional support all contributed to alleviate the stress and fear that the staff is experiencing. Currently, we are still experiencing a shortage and inadequate PPEs for the staff. Weekly supplies from donors and from the government are being delivered inconsistently. Lastly, by incorporating my nursing philosophy in reminding the staff that God is the greatest physician and healer, it is my prayer that everyone will develop a prayerful attitude and take time to ponder the status of their spiritual connection with God in this time of crisis and beyond. WilRoc References: Maguire, B., Shearer, kirsty, McKeown, J., Phelps, S., Gerard, D., Handal, K., … O'Neill, B. (2020). The Ethics of PPE and EMS in the COVID-19 Era. Journal of Emergency Medical Services. McEwen, M.& Wills, E.M. (2011). Theoretical Basis for Nursing (3rd edition) Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams& Wilkin. Tourville, C. and Ingalls, K. (2003). The living tree of nursing theories. Retrieved from SHU eReserves-NU433.