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Relevance of sociology to health conclusion
Importance of sociology in health
Sociology and health care
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Sociology is the study of human social behavior, communities and society. It involves the evolution of society and human behavior and it focuses on how society can change human behavior based on interaction with each other (Bennett, B., 2009 p.2). Nursing is a health care profession which concentrates in supporting individuals, their families, and societies as a whole in preserving, attaining and improving best possible health and functioning (Kozier, et al., 2010 pp. 8-9). Sociological knowledge plays a dynamic and elementary role within nursing profession. Besides medical knowledge a nurse needs to be socially aware of a client’s social values. In today’s society, nursing goes further than focusing on health related problems to incorporate a much wider definition of both unhealthiness and individuality in our society. Sociology provides us with the information on the nature of health and sickness, details of the social causes of diseases and loss of life. It also helps directly or indirectly to produce an insightful practitioner, which then becomes proficient in informed decision making. In this assignment I will discuss how sociological concepts, such as Interactionist theory, Conflict theory, and Feminist theory helps nurses to gain the knowledge that they use to follow their professional ethics.
Interactionist theory involves studying human behavior based on human interaction in society and how that interaction shapes human beings and society (Bennett, B., 2009 p. 34). Nurses are significantly involved in giving rationale to life, sickness and death. Sociology allows nurses to inquire the morals and viewpoint of their professional and the organizational environment. They get the required insight by using Interactionist T...
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...ogical studies they can provide quality care to their clients. Sociological studies assist nurses to understand and establish how to set goals to help clients, families, and communities in achieving, improving and persevering best possible health and functioning. Therefore, sociological concepts such as Interactionist theory, Conflicts theory and Feminist theory help nurses to gain the comprehension that they need in order to adhere to their professional morals and provide quality care.
Works Cited
Bennett, B. (2009). Sociological Perspectives: An Introduction to the Sociology of Life and Living and Death and Dying, Canadian Edition, Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson
Kozier, B., Erb, G., Berman, A., Snyder, S., Bouchal, D., Hirst, S., Yiu, L., Stamler, L., Buck, M., et al. (2010). Fundamental of Canadian Nursing 2nd Edition, Toronto: Pearson Canada Inc
Loiselle, C. G., Profetto-McGrath, J., Polit, D. F., Beck C. T., (2007). Canadian essentials of nursing research (2nd ed.) Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Taylor, C. (2011). Introduction to Nursing. Fundamentals of nursing: the art and science of nursing care (7th ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
K. Lynn Wieck, RN, PhD, FAAN, is the Jacqueline M. Braithwaite Professor, College of Nursing, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX, and CEO, Management Solutions for Healthcare, Houston, TX; Jean Dois, RN, PhD, NEA-BC, FACHE, is the System Director for Quality and Nursing, CHRISTUS Health System, Houston, TX; and Peggy Landrum, RN, PhD, is Clinical Professor, College of Nursing, Texas Woman 's University, Houston,
Sharp (1994) was one of the first to critic the idea of the inclusion of sociology within nursing practice, arguing that nursing as a whole is a “action-orientated profession”, therefore nurses should only be concerned with the knowledge of how to perform tasks, rather than acquiring the theoretical knowledge of sociology. However, Porter (1995) was in favour of this inclusion, arguing that health not determined on the assessment of an individual’s physical state, but can in fact be determined by factors such as social and cultural, factors in which nurses should both be educated in and understand. Porter goes on to explain that in turn, this would allow nurses to care for patients in a holistic and individualised
The term nursing ethics means that the nurse has an obligation judge what is right and wrong in her or his duties as guided by the profession or the moral principles that govern the profession and as prescribed by the professional body. Nursing ethics initially encompassed virtues that were desired in a nurse. At the time, these virtues included physician loyalty, commitment to high moral character and obedience. Evolvement of nursing profession gradually made nurses embrace patients’ advocacy. As patient advocates, nurses work as part of an interdisciplinary team to provide patient care. Nursing ethics have kept pace with the advancement of the nursing profession to include a patient-centered focus, rather than a physician-centered focus.
Throughout this philosophy paper, I have explored what nursing is based on my personal values and beliefs as it relates to the body of work in nursing. I value the importance of holistic nursing and the care of patients being individualized for them and their family. Also, effectively collaborating among health care professionals to ensure quality care for patients. Additionally, the importance of health promotion as one of the main roles of nurses is being a teacher, since promoting health prevents illness and increases the level of health in clients. These principles will serve as a guide for my personal standards of nursing practice.
I still believe that this profession revolves around the nursing metaparadigm, which involves the aspects of nursing, health, the person, and the environment (Bender & Feldman, 2015), but I now see that it is also grounded in critical thinking. This critical thinking allows for nurses to gain a deeper understanding into each aspect of the metaparadigm and without this aspect or lack thereof, Arli, Bakan, Ozturk, Erisik, and Yildirim (2017) believes that the care being provided could be negatively affected. Moreover, while reflecting on what my philosophy entails, I first inquired into what I believe nursing to be. For me, nursing is a profession unlike any other and contrary to what I used to believe in first year, only those who are registered under the College of Nurses can be a part of this profession. It is important to remember that although anyone can help bandage a cut, this does not mean that they are a nurse or part of the profession. The difference between how nurses bandage a cut and everyone else is that nurses do so in a way that is more therapeutic and patient-centred. Next, while exploring my beliefs on the concept of health, I noticed that they parallel the beliefs I had during my first year. To me, health is a holistic concept that will always convey a different meaning for each person. As a result of these differences, nurses must engage in conversation with patients about their perception(s) of their current state of health and what health means to them so that care can be guided accordingly. From here, I thought about the concept of the person and how I originally believed that a patient could only be a single, holistic individual who has specific needs that must be cared for. Despite still agreeing with this, my definition of who the person is has expanded to also encompass the patient’s family and even their community if either/or are said to be within the
St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Ackley, B.J., Ladwig, G.B., & Flynn Makic, M. (2017). Nursing diagnosis handbook (11th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier University.
What is the philosophy of nursing? Many of the nursing theorists have different answers to this question, but all of them share the main concept and idea of nursing: a philosophy, which focuses not on the treatment of a disease but on the wholeness of human being. Florence Nightingale concentrated on the surrounding environment of the patient and how it affected the patient’s health (Creasia & Friberg, 2011). Her findings had incredible impact on the philosophy of nursing today. Along the environment factors Betty Neuman believed that nursing should be primarily concerned with appropriate actions in stress-related situations to help patients, their families, and society achieve and sustain wellness (Creasia & Friberg, 2011). The ideas of Jean Watson focused first on the commitment to self to be able to commit to others. A philosophy of nursing addresses four different meta-paradigm concepts known as client, health, nurse, and environment (Creasia & Friberg, 2011). In the movie Wit, Emma Thompson’s character Vivian Bearing was treated like a test subject with no sense of human dignity, respect and decency. The movie started with Dr. Kelekian telling Vivian that she had stage four-metastic ovarian cancer and that the treatment involved a vigorous course of therapy. There was no explanation to what that meant. He simply told her diagnosis in medical terms. The human factor was not present at all, and the rapid decline in her health was thanks to the lack of empathy, kindness, and humanity. The only character that was on the human side in the hospital, the one that had the understanding of basic human decency and cared for Vivian’s condition was the nurse Susie. She was caring, companionate, provided comf...
One of the goals of nursing is to respect the human rights, values and costumes of a patient and his or her family and with the community as a whole. The International Council of Nurses states that nursing practice can be defined generally as a dynamic, caring, helping relationship in which the nurse assists the client to achieve and maintain optimal health. As health care providers, we have some fundamental responsibilities such as to promote health, to prevent illnes...
Spark Ralph, S. & Taylor, C. M. (2011). Nursing diagnosis reference manual (8th ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Ethics govern our relationships with others. Ethics and morals are very similar, in that both deal with questions of right and wrong. Societal or cultural norms determine ethical behavior whereas moral behavior depends on the individuals own sense to decide about what is right and wrong (Ethical Dilemma Scholarly Peer-review Journal, 2017). In nursing, ethical dilemmas are ethically controversial situations experienced through the healthcare professional’s obligation to inform the patients, support participation in patient decision making and patient advocacy. The goals of healthcare professionals are inherently ethical and involve protecting patients from harm while providing care that benefits them (Kim, Han & Kim, 2014).
Compared with medical professionals, nurses appear to be reluctant to rely on professional rationales for their actions, preferring to use managerial justifications and implementing ‘top down’ approach to care. (Adamson, 2013). When a gap in nursing care is perceived, theory is often used to improve these outcomes. Theory provides an overall vision and understanding of the profession of nursing by offering guidance. Not only in nursing, but theory can be applied to any profession as it serves as a tool for guidance of practice. The legitimacy of a profession is based on its ability to generate and apply theory (McCrae, 2012). Without nursing theory, nursing would be a profession guided by by medicine and physicians. Theory guides nurses by shaping its professional boundaries and helps nurses make decisions on current and potential patient needs.
Potter, P. A., & Perry, A. G. (2009). Fundamentals of nursing (Seventh ed.). St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby Elsevier.
The ‘sociological imagination’ helps us to make sense of the connections between history, biography and place (Mills 1959) Sociological imagination in relation to nursing practise enables a nurse to look beyond a common sense explanation of a patient and look at the development of a more c...