Reply to at least two classmates outside of your own initial post thread. In Mo

Reply to at least two classmates outside of your own initial post thread.
In Module Five, complete your two response posts by Sunday at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Day Time.
Demonstrate more depth and thoughtfulness than saying things like “I agree” or “You are wrong.” Guidance is provided for you in the discussion prompt.
In my nursing practice, I have never prioritized theory-based nursing because I’ve often perceived it as something reserved for the educational realm of nursing. Although I do recognize the interconnectedness of theory-based and evidence-based practice, I’ve tended to view theory-based approaches as relevant only when introducing new protocols or when supported by evidence-based research.
Theory-guided nursing has sometimes felt intimidating to me because it involves implementing actions and values that may or may not yield successful outcomes. Practice frequently emerges independently of theory, and possessing theoretical knowledge doesn’t necessarily assure proficient practice (Saleh, 2018). As healthcare providers, our primary goal is to deliver the highest quality care to our patients, and without concrete evidence to support a particular nursing method, it’s often placed on the back burner. My practice has, at times, suffered from a lack of awareness regarding the existence of practice theories, even when they apply to my work. However, this doesn’t mean that I haven’t unintentionally incorporated them into my practice. Gaining knowledge of these theories and intentionally applying them can provide a solid rationale for our actions, especially when educating patients and training new nurses in our field. The ability to effectively translate knowledge into practice is a key factor in achieving successful outcomes and patient safety (Fathi et al., 2023). By sharing our experiences with theories, we can encourage our peers to investigate and apply these theories in their practice as well.
I’ve come to realize that many nursing theories are already unconsciously woven into our daily practice. For instance, Virginia Henderson’s Need theory is something I learned a lot about during this course. However, after further research, I’ve recognized that I’ve been instinctively applying this framework to promote healing in my patients. The Needs theory has three main assumptions for nurses to follow, along with 14 basic needs to assist patients to become more independent. The main idea is that nurses should provide just enough support to promote autonomy (Nursing Theory, 2023). On my unit, we often receive post-operative spinal surgery patients to correct scoliosis. Our approach involves encouraging them to start ambulating from day zero post-op, turning every two hours, and effectively using their PCA pumps. We teach them proper body mechanics and allow them to demonstrate these techniques first with our assistance and then with their parents, as they will be the primary support system once the patient goes home on post-op day three. This approach aligns perfectly with Henderson’s Need theory, emphasizing the promotion of independence in patients, which I’ve found to be highly effective in their recovery process.
I plan to continue to educate myself on the theories that surround the nursing practice and implement them as I progress in my advanced nursing practice. It is my responsibility to stay up to date on past and current developments in nursing to provide high-quality care. This will be accomplished by continuing to implement Virginia Henderson’s needs theory to all my patients being able to provide a rationale to the family, and my peers, a creating a realistic plan of care for them to follow