NR 501 Week 3: Steps of Concept Analysis
NR 501 Week 3: Steps of Concept Analysis
Definition of concept: The concept this author has selected for analysis is caring. The caring concept is found in the nursing Theory of Human Caring, this Nursing Theory was developed by Jean Watson. According to Chamberlain College of Nursing (CCN) concept and theory analysis are dominant instruments that benefit and bring light to the nursing practice. There are eight steps to carry out when developing a concept analysis. These steps will be discussed by the writer during this discussion question.
The concept of interest for this discussion question is Caring. Caring and nursing are two terminologies that are impossible to be separated. According to Lindberg, Fagerstrȍm, Sivberg, & William (2014) caring is the basis of nursing and is firmly connected to ethos, whereas nursing primarily relates to actual work done by the nurses.
Caring is the core of nursing
and is closely connected to ethos, whereas nursing mainly
relates to the actual work done by the nurses
According to Lindberg, Fagerstrȍm, Sivberg, & William (2014) caring quality encompass respect for patient self-determination, practice aspect of nursing, caring relationships that nurses and patients establish and the health and wellness attitude. In other words, it is crucial in caring to have an understanding of the culture, attitude, variability, relationship, action and acceptance.
To provide a description of one antecedent and one consequence of the concept we could start by stating that nursing education is of paramount importance for the profession. The achievement of nursing accomplishments is a key antecedent for nursing. In order for a nursing student to become an RN the candidate ought to complete and be successful in completing nursing school as well as achieving passing scores on the board exam. The student nurse must fulfill a set of clinical practice hours in the clinical settings in which the student will achieve the necessary clinical skills where they will apply the theoretical content learnt in the classroom setting. Once the nursing student accomplishes the degree and becomes a professional registered nurse, and get a job, there is a necessary training period to confirm that this newly graduated nurse is self-sufficient, confident and has adequate skills that is safe to care for patients.
Identification of at least one empirical referent is how the concept of caring may be measured or assessed (CCN, 2017). Caring may be challenging to define and measure, since judgement and perception depends on both, the person providing and receiving the care. At the institution I currently work patient satisfaction is measured by a survey. This survey is mailed to patients at their home or by a telephone call survey after care is provided. This is a convenient tool that is able to set and maintain good quality standards within an institution.
There are many variations and perceptions of caring that may cause difficulties to explain in the sense of nursing, and can be perceived differently across cultures (Lindberg, Fagerström, Sivberg & Willman, 2014). This writer selected the concept of caring, focusing specifically on the care nurses provide to patients utilizing Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring.
References
Chamberlain College of Nursing. (2017). NR-501 Week 3 Development of Nursing Theory and Concept Analysis [Online lesson]. Talley, IL: DeVry Education Group
Lindberg, C., Fagerstrȍm, C., Sivberg, B., & William, A. (2014). Concept analysis: patient autonomy in a caring context, Journal of Advanced Nursing 70(10), 2208-2221. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.chamberlainuniversity.idm.oclc.org/doi/10.1111/jan.12412/epdf (Links to an external site.)
caring is certainly an important concept and is central to the experience of nursing! Watson’s theory of human caring will support your exploration of caring very well.
Possibly the most difficult aspect of a concept analysis is that of choosing an empirical referent.
In research, there are many surveys, tools, and “instruments” that are used to capture the presence of a concept. Sometimes quality measures can also capture the presence of a concept. However, while there may be an implication that a concept such as caring is involved, it may not specifically or precisely measure that concept in particular. Surveys such as the Patients’ Perspectives of Care Survey (HCAHPS) measures many aspects of the hospital experiences but not “caring” as we usually define it conceptually. It does measure the quality of interactions in terms of communication, attentiveness to needs (especially to pain management) and discharge education. while this may occur, perhaps more easily supported in a caring environment and in caring interactions, the survey does not actually measure caring as it is often defined in theory.
One of the major activities in research is to test the validity of a research “tool”…with the question being….does it measure what it is supposed to measure?
Fortunately, WE don’t have to do that. For example, Watson and associated developed a research tool which empirically measures caring as is defined in the theory of human caring (DiNapoli, Turkel, Nelson, & Watson, 2010).
How fortunate for us!
Reference
DiNapoli, P. P., Turkel, M., Nelson, J., & Watson, J. (2010). Measuring the Caritas Processes: Caring Factor Survey. International Journal for Human Caring 14(3), 15-20.
