Abstract
This discussion focuses on the Interpersonal Theory developed by Peplau in terms of personal beliefs and values. Essentially, it is a reflective discussion that seeks to evaluate how the theory resonates with my ideologies of the nursing practice. Importantly, it was established that the application of interpersonal theory is consistent with my ideology of socialization and satisfaction of patients’ needs. In addition, the discussion shows that the application of this theory can increase socialization, improve openness, and facilitate collaboration among nurses to share ideas.
Background
The nursing practice and research have undergone a profound transformation over the recent past years. In this regard, the researchers focus on the application of theories when conducting their practice. This discussion seeks to focus on Peplau’s Interpersonal Theory in terms of how it resonates with personal theories and values.
Chosen Theory Guiding the Practice
Peplau indicated that nursing evolves through four distinct stages, including orientation, identification, exploitation, and resolution (Bradby, 2012). In essence, the theorist suggested that nursing is a practice that develops when an individual goes through academic, therapeutic, and interpersonal experiences. This statement implied that nurses develop an interpersonal relationship with the patients when a need presents itself.
Essentially, this is one of the theories that resonate with my practice in nursing based on various reasons. From a personal perspective, nursing is a subset of human social interactions with each other. As such, a nurse should have proficient socialization skills to help patients and get along with them easily and open up (Fawcett & Madeya, 2013). Indeed, Peplau stated that one of the seven roles of nurses is counseling the patients to solve psychological issues. Evidently, the value of socialization between nurses and patients has been reflected in the interpersonal theory. The stipulation helps the personnel to accomplish some of the roles stipulated within its frameworks such as counseling, leadership, and teaching.
What Nursing Theories are Consistent with My Believes and Values?
Apart from Peplau’s model of interpersonal interactions between nurses and patients, other theories resonate with my values. Out of these, two crucial theories relate to the critical and main values of my practice. The first one is known as Orlando’s Theory of nursing. Fundamentally, it states that the role of a nurse is meeting the patients’ interests rather than their personal opinions and needs. The second theory is known as Levine’s Four Conservational Principles. Indeed, this model expresses the opinion that nurses should be adaptive to various conditions of work and respond to them appropriately.
What do I hope to Achieve Using this Theory?
With the application of this theory in light of accomplishing the different roles of nursing, various predicted achievements might arise. First, since the theory considers nursing as a practice that arises due to existing needs, it will be helpful to ease the burden felt when conducting the various nursing activities. The understanding that nursing is necessary to solve patients’ needs implies the relevance of nursing and its existence if defined by meeting those wants. Otherwise, ignoring those needs invalidate the importance of nursing and its entire rationale. This theory, therefore, plays a fundamental role when it comes to discharging quality services and increasing commitment (Kneisl & Trigoboff, 2013).
Second, the theory has emphasized the need for an interpersonal relationship between the nurse and patients to enable an effective discharge of services. As a result, it is evident that careful consideration of interpersonal theory will increase the commitment to develop socialization skills. In essence, socialization is a core factor of successful nursing practice. Indeed, it ensures that the nurse has good relationships with the patients to reinforce effective care. As a result, it is predicted that the use of this theory will increase socialization at a personal level.
In addition to the nurse-patient relationship, the application of this theory in the nursing practice will purportedly lead to strengthened relations between nurses. In this regard, if the nursing practice arises from the existence of a need, the bonds among nurses can increase in case they understand the essence of this theory. Indeed, there is a need for nurses to cooperate and share ideas to improve their skills (Masters, 2012). As such, if the nurses understand the need to work in collaboration with each other, they will also develop stronger relationships among themselves. Objectively, this can only happen in the full conceptualization of this theory as well as the acknowledgment of the need to collaborate.
Usage of Theory to Describe Practice
In essence, the theory can be used to describe and rationalize the ideologies of my practice. Importantly, the emphasis on socialization and consideration of patients are within my motivations. On the other hand, the theory indicates the importance of embracing sociable practice to facilitate quality care. Indeed, the two statements are consistent with each other. As a result, it cannot be disputed that the theory exemplifies and justifies my approach to the nursing practice.
Use of Theory to Practice for Self and Patients
Indeed, one of the most crucial uses of this theory is the ability to strengthen the social relationships between the nurse and patients. As a result, the application of the theory will enable the patient to provide sensitive and personal information freely. This ideology is important in cases of psychological treatments that focus on counseling and teaching patients among other aspects. At the same time, the nurses will be able to obtain as much information as possible to give the appropriate advice to patients. One of the most critical problems that occur in counseling is the unwillingness of the patients to provide all relevant information to the nurses.
As a result, the personnel give the wrong advice due to a lack of some information that might have been hidden by the patient. In that regard, it cannot be disputed that the nurses will be able to give services of more quality and ease their work.
References
Bradby, M. (2012). Status passage into nursing: Another view of the process of socialization into nursing. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 8, 1220-1225.
Fawcett, J., & Madeya, S. (2013). Contemporary nursing knowledge: Analysis and evaluation of nursing models and theories (3rd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis.
Kneisl, C., & Trigoboff, E. (2013). Contemporary psychiatric-mental health nursing. Boston: Pearson.
Masters, K. (2012). Nursing theories: A framework for professional practice. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.