Nursing Metaparadigms

One nursing metaparadigm that is relevant to my nursing practice is the person or human being. According to Nikravan-Mofrad (2015), human beings are biological creatures that have both the mind and soul and have needs that should be met. Human beings are unique creatures as they are rational, social, emotional and are capable of exploring several options and make informed decisions. The aspect of a person is important in nursing practice as nurses rely on the nurse-patient relationships to understand the needs of each patient and develop a care plan to address these needs. It is also important to note that patients are human beings and that their needs including those related to health are influenced by both internal and external factors.

Various nursing theorists have attempted to define and interpret the person’s metaparadigm. One such theory is Jean Watson’s Human Caring which suggests that patients need holistic care in terms of spiritual, physical, emotional, and psychological aspects. Hence, nurses should not just provide physical care, but should also meet spiritual and emotional needs to help them actualize all their needs. According to this theory, human beings are made up of mind, body, and soul and caring moments should address all these needs (Nikfarid et al., 2018). In addition, a person’s wholeness is valuable and the nurse should always provide care with respect.

In contrast, Dorothy Orem’s theory focuses on a person’s ability to perform self-care to enhance their health and wellbeing. Orem considers a person to have physical, social, and psychological dimensions and that the person can learn self-care skills to meet any needs that they have (Shah et al., 2013). Human beings can also do personal reflections and evaluate their surroundings to promote their wellness. From a personal perspective, human beings are capable of attaining optimal health only if their spiritual, emotional, psychological, and physical needs are met.