Analyze Your Nursing Practice Psychiatric Issues Of Part ✓ Solved
Analyze Your Nursing Practice Psychiatric For Issues Of Particular I
Analyze your nursing practice (psychiatric) for issues of particular interest or concern to you. Identify one issue as the focus of your application of theory to practice. Review the learning resources to identify specific middle range theories that may apply to your practice issue. Choose at least two middle range theories that might be most relevant and valuable in addressing your practice issue. Search the Walden University Library for scholarly articles that address application of middle range theories to practice issues. Consider how to frame your focus practice issue in terms of the middle range theories that you have selected.
With these thoughts in mind … The assignment: Write an explanation of your practice issue. Then, describe two middle range theories that are most valuable in addressing this issue and explain why. Be specific and provide examples.
Learning resources: McEwen, M., & Wills, E. M. (2019). Theoretical basis for nursing (5th ed.). Wolters Kluwer. Chapter 10, “Introduction to Middle Range Nursing Theories” (pp. 207–222); Chapter 11, “Overview of Selected Middle Range Nursing Theories” (pp. 223–252).
Sample Paper For Above instruction
Introduction
In psychiatric nursing practice, addressing complex mental health issues requires a nuanced understanding of both patient needs and appropriate theoretical frameworks. This paper focuses on medication adherence among psychiatric patients, a significant concern due to its impact on treatment outcomes and overall patient well-being. Applying relevant middle range nursing theories offers valuable insights for improving intervention strategies, enhancing patient engagement, and promoting recovery.
Practice Issue Description
Medication adherence remains a persistent challenge in psychiatric nursing. Many patients with mental health disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depressive disorder struggle with consistently following prescribed medication regimens. Factors influencing adherence include medication side effects, stigma, lack of insight into their illness, and complexity of medication schedules. Nonadherence often leads to relapse, hospitalization, and deterioration of mental health. As a psychiatric nurse, I observe frequent nonadherence, which underscores the importance of effective theoretical approaches to enhance patient compliance and health outcomes.
Middle Range Theory 1: The Health Belief Model
The Health Belief Model (HBM) is a valuable middle range theory that explores how individuals’ perceptions influence health behaviors. It posits that a patient’s beliefs about susceptibility to illness, severity, benefits, and barriers can predict their engagement in health-promoting actions, such as medication adherence (Becker, 1974). For instance, a patient who perceives the severity of their condition and believes the medication significantly reduces symptoms is more likely to adhere.
Applying the HBM in psychiatric practice involves assessing patients' perceptions and beliefs about their illness and medication. For example, a nurse might educate a patient about the risks of nonadherence, addressing misconceptions, and emphasizing the benefits of consistent medication use. Tailoring interventions to modify perceptions, such as reducing perceived barriers or increasing perceived benefits, has been shown to improve adherence rates (Osborn et al., 2020).
This theory is valuable because it directly targets patient beliefs, which are central to behavior change. Incorporating HBM into practice encourages a patient-centered approach that fosters motivation and understanding, ultimately promoting sustained medication adherence.
Middle Range Theory 2: The Transtheoretical Model of Change
The Transtheoretical Model (TTM) or Stages of Change model describes how individuals progress through different stages of behavioral change: precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance (Prochaska & DiClemente, 1983). Recognizing a patient’s current stage allows nurses to tailor interventions appropriately.
In psychiatric nursing, the TTM is instrumental in addressing medication adherence by helping patients move from ambivalence to sustained behavioral change. For example, a patient in the contemplation stage may be aware of the need to take medication but hesitant due to side effects. The nurse’s role is to provide information, support, and motivation suitable for that stage, guiding the patient toward action.
Using the TTM, interventions can be designed to match the patient’s readiness level. For example, motivational interviewing techniques are employed to resolve ambivalence and facilitate progression through the stages. This targeted approach enhances the likelihood of long-term adherence by supporting patients at their unique motivational points (Miller & Rollnick, 2013).
Discussion and Rationale
Both theories offer comprehensive frameworks for understanding and influencing medication adherence. The HBM emphasizes modifying beliefs and perceptions, directly addressing cognitive barriers. Meanwhile, the TTM focuses on behavioral change processes, recognizing that patients are at different readiness levels (Miller & Rollnick, 2013; Osborn et al., 2020). Integrating these theories enables psychiatric nurses to develop personalized interventions, improving compliance and reducing relapse.
These theories are supported by empirical research. Studies demonstrate that interventions based on HBM components effectively improve adherence (Gadallah et al., 2019). Similarly, TTM-based strategies have shown success in facilitating health behavior change in mental health populations (Norcross et al., 2021). Applying these frameworks within psychiatric practice enhances theoretical grounding, guiding evidence-based clinical decisions and improving patient outcomes.
Conclusion
Applying middle range nursing theories such as the Health Belief Model and the Transtheoretical Model provides practical pathways to address medication adherence issues in psychiatric nursing. By understanding patients' beliefs and readiness to change, nurses can tailor interventions that foster engagement, improve compliance, and ultimately support recovery. Future practice should emphasize integrating these theories into routine assessments and personalized care planning to enhance mental health outcomes.
References
- Becker, M. H. (1974). The health belief model and preventive health behavior. Health Education Monographs, 2(4), 324-508.
- Gadallah, M. A., Ibrahim, M. A., & Nashed, R. M. (2019). Effectiveness of health belief model-based education program on medication adherence among patients with chronic illnesses: A systematic review. Journal of Health Education Research & Development, 7(1), 112.
- Miller, W. R., & Rollnick, S. (2013). Motivational interviewing: Helping people change (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.
- Norcross, J. C., Prochaska, J. O., & DiClemente, C. C. (2021). Stages of change. In J. C. Norcross, G. R. Gill, & S. Gill (Eds.), Psychotherapy relationships that work: Evidence-based responsiveness (2nd ed., pp. 255-274). Oxford University Press.
- Osborn, R., Frey, M., & Willis, G. (2020). Applying the health belief model to improve medication adherence. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 52(6), 644-651.