Introduction
Nursing is a profession that has been in existence for centuries, and its definition has evolved. Dorothea Orem and Katharine Kolcaba are two of the most influential nurses in the field, and they offer notable explanations of this activity. By comparing and contrasting these definitions with my own, I will better understand the evolution of my understanding of nursing, while additional research demonstrates that current nursing development depends on political, ethical, and legal issues.
Various Definitions of Nursing
It is reasonable to begin by commenting on how Orem and Kolcaba defined nursing. Dorothea Orem’s (1995) Theory of Self Care is based on the idea that individuals can care for themselves and that nursing helps individuals do it. Nursing is aiding someone in carrying out tasks that promote health, recovery, or a peaceful death and that they would carry out on their own if they had the requisite strength, will, or knowledge (Orem, 1995). This definition focuses on the idea that nursing should help people achieve the highest level of autonomy possible. Kolcaba’s (1994) Comfort Theory is based on the idea that comfort is a basic human need and that nursing should provide it to individuals to promote health and healing. Being in a state of comfort is being free from physical and mental stress and experiencing a sense of well-being defined by feelings of safety, security, and happiness.
The two definitions above have notable similarities and differences that deserve attention. Orem and Kolcaba are unanimous in that nurses can contribute to people’s improved well-being and that patients should participate in their own care. However, the two rely on different aspects because Orem highlighted the importance of self-care, while Kolcaba emphasized nurses providing comfort. Furthermore, Orem comments on self-care, while Kolcaba considers physical and mental domains. When comparing this information to my definition of nursing, it seems that I have incorporated the two approaches. I believe that nursing implies creating comfort conditions to improve the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of patients and motivating them and their families to engage in self-care.
Current State of Nursing
The current state of nursing is one of immense complexity and diversification. Nursing has witnessed a few changes over the past few decades, and some of them have profoundly affected the profession, its image, and its future. The political influences on nursing have been both positive and negative. On the one hand, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 provided greater access to health services and improved the quality of care for many patients (Chait & Glied, 2018). On the other hand, the ACA was harmful because many hospitals were closed, which resulted in increased unemployment among nurses. In addition to that, some states issued regulations that made overtime mandatory for nurses (Chait & Glied, 2018). It is not surprising that this fact led to increased fatigue and stress among healthcare professionals.
The image of nursing has transformed in recent years, and it is now seen as a profession that requires a high level of education and expertise and is valued by the public. The presence of nurses in the media and the increasing number of nursing specializations have helped this because people have an overall positive opinion of the nursing profession. This outcome is additionally achieved because nurses rely on various professional standards to ensure that their activity is appropriate and of high quality. These guidelines are the Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice, the Code of Ethics, and the Nursing Code of Conduct (Stievano & Tschudin, 2019). The necessity to adhere to these standards and other federal and state laws presents the leading legal and ethical expectations that these medical professionals should meet.
The future of nursing is one of continuing change and growth. As the population ages, the demand for nurses will continue to grow. In addition, innovation is becoming increasingly important in care delivery, and nurses must be prepared to use new technologies and adapt to the changing healthcare environment. Nurses should strive for excellence in their practice and advocacy for their patients. Furthermore, one should state that current nurses face numerous problems, including staffing shortages, a lack of employer support, inadequate payment, discrimination, and workplace violence. There is a reasonable hope that all or at least some of these problems will be solved in the near future.
Conclusion
Dorothea Orem and Katharine Kolcaba offered important definitions of nursing that helped shape my understanding of the profession. These definitions emphasize the importance of autonomy, self-care, and providing comfort, physical care, emotional support, and education. I have encompassed these aspects to emphasize the importance of promoting comprehensive care to individuals, families, and communities. Nursing has undergone many changes in recent years, which has shaped the current state of the profession. Numerous political, ethical, and legal issues affect nursing, and these processes provide medical professionals with specific expectations to meet. Population aging demonstrates that the future will face a growing demand for nurses and their qualifications, while the current scientific and technological progress offers reasonable hopes that all the problems will be solved.
References
Chait, N., & Glied, S. (2018). Promoting prevention under the Affordable Care Act. Annual Review of Public Health, 39, 507-524. Web.
Kolcaba, K. Y. (1994). A theory of holistic comfort for nursing. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 19(6), 1178-1184. Web.
Orem, D. E. (1995). Nursing: Concepts of practice (5th ed.). Mosby.
Stievano, A., & Tschudin, V. (2019). The ICN code of ethics for nurses: A time for revision. International Nursing Review, 66(2), 154-156. Web.