NU 500 Discussion Question 1

Discussion Question/Prompt  [Due Wednesday]

Using the readings from McEwen and Wills (2019) chapter 19: application of theory in nursing research, address the following for your initial discussion post:

Complete a library search for a peer-reviewed journal article that integrates nursing theory and research. Discuss the relationship between theory and research in nursing.

According to McEwen & Wills (2019) research validates and modifies nursing theories. Theories provide the foundation for nurse scientists to explore significant problems in the field of nursing (McEwen & Wills, 2019). When a theory is tested through research, the results of the study can be used to verify, modify, disprove, or support a theoretical proposition (McEwen & Wills, 2019). The peer reviewed article I chose to research is by Ozan, Okumus & Lash (2015) entitled Implementation of Watson’s theory of human caring: A case study. 

Present the article and discuss the nursing theory used, as well as the benefits of nursing theory in nursing research. Be sure to supplement your discussion with personal and professional experiences.

Ozan et al. (2015) completed a case study which applied the Watson’s Theory of Human Caring to an infertile woman receiving in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. The nurses implemented the ten carative factors while providing care, with the goal of having the patient reach the phase of “health-healing-wellness” (carative factor #7) (Ozan et al., 2015). Infertility can initiate a life crisis in couples, and even more so in the woman battling this diagnosis (Ozan et al., 2015). This affects a woman psychologically, socially, and culturally (Ozan et al., 2015). Even after countless in vitro fertilization treatments, it may take years of treatment before fertilization is achieved (Ozan et al., 2015). It is imperative that health care professionals continuously assess a woman’s mental state who is undergoing in vitro treatments because of the emotional and physical stress these treatments can have on the body and mind (Ozan et al., 2015).

Additionally, evidence suggests that a woman cannot become pregnant, or it is more difficult for her to conceive, if she is under emotional distress while having in vitro treatments (Durgun-Ozan & Okumus, 2013). A study by Fawcett et al. (2001) suggests that nursing care based off of nursing-specific theories which provide holistic care, and include an individual nursing assessment, observation, and profound attention to a woman’s individualized problems is essential for women undergoing unsuccessful IVF (Fawcett et al, 2001). A research study by ArslanÖzkan, Okumus & Buldukoglu (2014) suggests that nursing care based off of Watson’s theory of Human Caring decreased the negative impact of infertility in women receiving IVF. The purpose of this study was to utilize Watson’s theory of Human Caring while preparing to tell an infertile woman about an unsuccessful IVF treatment attempt and support her in her decision to retry (Ozan et al., 2015). The researchers concluded that Watson’s theory of Human Caring hones in on qualities that strive for healing and love in stressful, situations; thus, the theory can be very effective in allowing IVF nurses to provide care for patients that result in hope, respect, trust, and compassion (Ozan et al., 2015).

Nursing theory is beneficial to research because it provides the framework for variables and statements in which research studies can be designed (McEwen & Wills, 2019). Watson’s theory of Human Caring is particularly beneficial because nurses are now becoming more like robots, task oriented instead of realizing that the human being that is being cared for, has feelings and emotions that need to be considered. As a float nurse, I hear many patients complain about staff siting at the nurse’s station instead of answering call lights. The innate act of human caring has seemed to fade in nursing practice. That is why, theories such as Watson’s theory of human caring are beneficial because it provided the foundation for research studies which ultimately dictate nursing care and nursing practice. Patients deserve to be cared for, and loved.       

References

Durgun-Ozan Y. & Okumus H. (2013). Experiences of Turkish women about infertility treatment: A qualitative study. International Journal of Basic and Clinical Studies 2: 56-64.

Fawcett J., Watson J., Neuman B., Walker P.H. & Fitzpatrick J.J. (2001). On Nursing Theories and Evidence. Journal of Nursing Scholarship 33: 115-119.

McEwen, M. & Wills, E. (2019). Theoretical basis for nursing (5th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 9781496351203.

Ozan, Y.D. ,PhD., B.S.N., Okumus, H., & Lash, A.A., PhD,R.N., F.A.A.N. (2015). Implementation of Watson’s theory of human caring: A case study. International Journal of Caring Sciences, 8(1), 25-35. Retrieved from https://prx-herzing.lirn.net/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/1648623555?accountid=167104

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