3303: Week 2
In Unitary Human Caring Science: Caritas Light on Virtues/Values (CVLV) as modes of being
#1 Embrace/Love: Practice loving kindness and equanimity. #2 In-spire/Be: Encourage hope, belief, spirit. #3 Trust: Cultivate spiritual practices toward transpersonal presence. #4 Nurture: Sustain human caring relationships. #5 Forgive: Allow expression of feelings, authentically listen. #6 Deepen: Use all ways of knowing, practice art and science. #7 Balance: Authentic teaching-learning, caring coaching #8 Co-create: Co-create healing environment on all levels. #9 Minister: Respectfully assist with basic needs as sacred acts. #10 Open: Attend to spiritual, mysterious, unknown; allow for miracles
Metaphysics
(1) a branch of philosophy about one's worldview—for example, ontology of being; and (2) a branch of philosophy beyond the physical, inviting non-physical reality into our worldview and notions of being human.
Domain of nursing
gives nurses a comprehensive perspective that allows us to promote health and healing in all healthcare settings
Worldview/Paradigm 2: Meaning, culture, emotional, social reality to...."caritas processes"
-"Face", nursing situation -Spirit filled person -Inner subjective meaning -Compassion, heart centered presence, authenticity -Connectedness, relationship, toward unity and oneness -Mature converging of art/science/humanities/spirituality, caring, healing/health= Caring-Heart Science
Worldview/Paradigm 3: Unitary/TransformativeVirtual/QuantumUnitary Caring Science
-Caritas Veritas: Light on virtue/values -Science and spirit meld in a oneness of being
Worldview/Paradigm 1: Physical, concrete, ordinary reality, moving from..."carative factors"
-Case -Patient -Diagnosis -Performance/Doing -Medical/clinical views of humanity (objective/ disconnection) -Industrial/mechanistic models
Meditation/Contemplative Practice: Begin with the Conscious Breath/Posture
-Center: Intention and attention -Ground -Breath: lengthen and deepen; Add pause at top and bottom of breath cycle -Call forth the highest good: align with Source/ Creator/All -Visualize/Feel Love expanding, potentiating, radiating (relax) life force energy. -Balance in the "slip stream", ride the wave of life force energy... of inner peace, joy, bliss, contentment
How can chakras be influenced to function in a balanced and integrated way
-Change your brain waves so that you can enter this subconscious system (ANS) •Gamma-fastest wave, motor functions, higher mental, flow of expansion •Beta-thinking, analyzing, attention on outer world; normal waking state, concentration, focus, five physical senses integrated, worry (P/D, ordinary consciousness) •Alpha-calmly place attention on inner world, relaxed, light mediation, super learning, creative (I/I subconscious, light trance state) •Theta-light sleep, deep meditation, creative, recall, insight, intuition, fantasy ( U/T super consciousness) •Delta-Deep, dreamless, non-REM sleep, unconscious, best state for renewal, immune system function, restoration, health, healing, rejuvenation
Focused Attention techniques. (Particulate/Determinate Paradigm)
-Concentration -EEG in the beta-2 (20-30 Hz) and gamma (30-50 Hz) frequency bands -Associated with voluntary sustained control of attention to keep it focused on the object of meditation (candle, breath)
Chakras
-Energy centers also controlled by ANS -Each center has its own frequency, intent/consciousness, glands, hormones, chemistry, brain, and mind. -Can be influenced to function in a balanced and integrated way.
Transcendental Meditation Research Reports
-Intellectual and emotional intelligence increased -Enhanced resilience to stress and anxiety -Loving kindness prevailed -Presence, authenticity, integrity, and caring facilitated appreciation of "the good, the true, and the beautiful in relationships -Enhanced Intuition, imagination, creativity -Growth, evolution within self
Open Monitoring techniques. (Interactive/Integrative Paradigm)
-Mindfulness-based -Dispassionate non-evaluative monitoring of ongoing experience -Frontal theta (5-8 Hz) EEG, and occipital gamma (30-50 Hz) EEG
Transcendental Meditation Experience: Ocean Metaphor
-Ocean waves on surface of ocean (Concentrative meditation) -Chaotic and choppy -Might look at a single wave (particle), rather than the (whole) ocean -Dive beneath surface (Mindfulness meditation) -See bubbles of activity -Dynamic motion (thoughts, emotions, push-pull waves of force) -Deep dive (Transcendental meditation) -Stillness of the depth -Absolute Pure Consciousness •Warmth, LOVE pervades •Actual physical experience -Stabilization of coherent frequency -Resets energy/spirit
Automatic Self-Transcending techniques. (Unitary/Transformative Paradigm)
-Reduced mental activity and relaxation -Effortless transcending of the meditation process itself -Alpha-1 (7-9 Hz) EEG -Automatically lead to the experience of "consciousness itself", the screen of awareness without any objects of awareness, a low-stress state called transcendental, pure consciousness, pure awareness.
Holistic Nursing Metaparadigm and Areas of Focus
-person -healing/health -practice -environment/situation -nursing roles -self-reflection, self-development, self-care
Types of Meditation
1. Focused Attention techniques. (Particulate/Determinate Paradigm) 2. Open Monitoring techniques. (Interactive/Integrative Paradigm) 3. Automatic Self-Transcending techniques. (Unitary/Transformative Paradigm)
World view/Paradigm Reflects One's Values & Values Determine One's Behaviors
1st world view is objective, concrete and measurable/quantitative. -(As in "caring" as a research variable e.g. doing tasks) 2nd world view is subjective, contextual, qualitative. -(As in "caring" e.g. individuals, families, communities: emotion and meaning) 3rd world view is holistic and universal (innate, felt, tacit, intuitive) -(As in "caring" e.g. having love and compassion in a spiritual sense)
Metatheory
A metatheory is an area of study that looks at the relationships of various components that make up the knowledge of a discipline. These include philosophical, theoretical, and empirical components and provide a broad overview of discipline. Metatheory is used to derive theories and theoretical concepts
Phenomenon
A phenomenon is the term, description, or label given to describe an idea or responses about an event, a situation, a process, a group of events, or a group of situations. Phenomena may be temporary or permanent. Examples of phenomena of nursing include caring, self-care, and patient responses to stress.
Body-mind:
A state of integration that includes body, mind, and spirit.
Oneness:
A unified state, wholeness, not separate; identity in harmony with beings and/or nature.
Context of Quantum Physics according to Dr. Nassim Haramein
According to Dr, Nassim Haramein, a quantum physicist, a more holistic understanding or worldview is emerging wherein each "part" is intimately connected to all other parts and is synergetically integral to the organism or system as a whole. The emerging Connected Worldview vs the disconnected worldview of earlier times, is founded upon this understanding. The model of Unified Physics gives us a simple, rational basis for it. This worldview is based upon a scientific model that says that: -The complexity of the universe (and certainly of biological structures) does not support ideas of a purely random and disorganized model of reality; -There is a fundamental organizing framework that is fractally and holographically present throughout, with similar patterns and geometries found at all scales; -There is a balance between entropy (tendency towards degenerative disorganization) and negentropy or syntropy (tendency towards generative organization, which Nassim Haramein also calls "centropy", referring to an organizing movement towards the center in contrast to the disorganizing, radiative movement of entropy); -The universe is filled with self-organizing (syntropic) systems; -There is no such thing as a closed system in isolation from the rest of the universe; -The underlying structure of spacetime has a feedback/feedforward loop wherein information is exchanged throughout the whole holographically. Thereby, a focus on holistic approaches was formulated. The whole is greater than, and unpredictable from, the sum of parts. The Cosmos is synergistic! We learn to "trust" this aspect in our harmonic compassionate relationships. It is energetically too costly to fight when we can collaborate/work together for a win win situation. This last point is key to understanding Unified Physics and how this new worldview unifies the scientific and spiritual experiences that have been so apparently split in our cultures.
Interpersonal neurobiology:
An interdisciplinary field in which the mind is recognized as energy and information flowing within the brain, throughout the body and nervous system, and is also shared energy between and among people. In interpersonal neurobiology, a healthy mind is cultivated not only within each person but through the quality of relationships and community health/well-being.
Social Support
Another area of interest in PNI is how the environment influences health and wellness. The social environment is integral to wellness. Loneliness is a risk factor for coronary heart disease (Valtorta, Kanaan, Gilbody, Ronzi, & Hanratty, 2016). Women with close female friends have better breast cancer outcomes, developmental stages are positively met for those who live in supportive families, and the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome are less for those with meaningful social support
Pragmatic Theory of Truth
Another view is the pragmatic theory of truth, which indicates that something is true if it is useful and workable for the purpose intended.
Leininger's Culture Care Theory
As early as the 1950s Madeleine Leininger recognized the need to focus on culture in nursing as she predicted that nursing and health care would become more global. She blended her background in anthropology with nursing to form her middle-range theory of cultural care diversity and universality. Human caring varies among cultures in its expressions, processes, and patterns. Social structure factors such as a patient's politics, culture, and traditions are significant forces affecting care and influencing the patient's health and illness patterns. Think about the diversity of patients and their nursing care needs. The major concept of Leininger's theory is cultural diversity, and the goal of nursing care is to provide a patient with culturally specific nursing care. To provide care to patients of unique cultures, nurses safely integrate their cultural traditions, values, and beliefs into a plan of care. Leininger's theory recognizes the importance of culture and its influence on everything that involves a patient, including health beliefs, the role of family and community, and dietary practices.
Assumptions
Assumptions are the "taken-for-granted" statements that explain the nature of the concepts, definitions, purpose, relationships, and structure of a theory. Assumptions are accepted as truths and are based on values and beliefs. For example, Watson's transpersonal caring theory has the assumption that a conscious intention to care promotes healing and wholeness
Mindfulness/mindful awareness:
Awareness arising through non-judgmental, present moment purposeful attention in the service of self-understanding and wisdom. One can practice mindfulness during everyday activities, like walking, eating, breathing; mindfulness is enhanced by meditation practice but is not contingent on it.
Neurotransmitters:
Chemicals that facilitate the transmission of impulses through nerves in the body.
Concepts
Concepts can be abstract such as emotions or concrete such as physical objects. For example, in Meleis and colleagues' theory of transitions, abstract concepts include coping and adapting, while Nightingale described concrete concepts such as physical conditions and health care environments. Theories use concepts to communicate meaning.
Cosmology
Cosmology is the branch of metaphysics that addresses the nature of the universe (Watson, Smith, and Cowley 2018 in press). It addresses questions about the universe that are beyond the scope of science, yet it is subsumed under the branch of metaphysics that is beyond physics. Cosmology per se is beyond the focus of the philosophy of science addressed here, although cosmology is increasingly becoming a focus of concern regarding the universe itself and how it serves as the larger sacred context. Our collective story of the universe is allowing for either the infinite evolution of humanity or a totalizing of a human-planet universe.
Orem's Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory
Dorothea Orem's Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory is commonly used in nursing practice. When applying this grand theory, a nurse continually assesses a patient's ability to perform self-care and intervenes as needed to ensure that patients meet physical, psychological, sociological, and developmental needs. According to Orem, people who participate in self-care activities are more likely to improve their health outcomes. Nursing care becomes necessary when patients are unable to fulfill biological, psychological, developmental, or social needs. Nurses continually assess and determine why patients are unable to meet these needs, identify goals to help them, intervene to help them perform self-care, and evaluate how much self-care they are able to perform. For example, a patient may need a nurse to bathe or feed him or her while acutely ill but, as his or her condition improves, the nurse encourages the patient to begin doing these activities independently.
Context of Medicine: Eras according to Dr. Larry Dossey
Era I, which can be called "mechanical medicine" and which began roughly in the 1860s, reflects the prevailing view that health and illness are totally physical in nature, and thus all therapies should be physical ones, such as surgical procedures or drugs. In Era I, the mind or consciousness is essentially equated with the functioning of the brain. Era II began to take shape in the period following World War II. Physicians began to realize, based on scientific evidence, that disease has a "psychosomatic" aspect: that emotions and feelings can influence the body's functions. Psychological stress, for example, can contribute to high blood pressure, heart attacks, and ulcers. This was a radical advance over Era I. The recently developing Era III goes even further by proposing that consciousness is not confined to one's individual body. Nonlocal mind -- mind that is boundless and unlimited - is the hallmark of Era III. An individual's mind may affect not just his or her body, but the body of another person at a distance, even when that distant individual is unaware of the effort. You can think of Era II as illustrating the personal effects of consciousness and Era III as illustrating the transpersonal effects of the mind. It's important to remember that these eras are not mutually exclusive; rather they coexist, overlap, and are used together, as when drugs are used with psychotherapy, and surgery is used with prayer.
Peplau's Interpersonal Theory
Hildegard Peplau is considered the mother of psychiatric nursing; the focus of her middle-range theory includes interpersonal relations among a nurse, a patient, and a patient's family and developing the nurse-patient relationship. According to Peplau, nurses help patients reduce anxiety by converting it into constructive actions. They develop therapeutic relationships with patients that are respectful, empathetic, and nonjudgmental. The following phases characterize the nurse-patient interpersonal relationship: preorientation (data gathering), orientation (defining issue), working phase (therapeutic activity), and resolution (termination of relationship). In developing a nurse-patient relationship, the nurse serves as a resource person, counselor, and surrogate. For example, when a patient seeks help, the nurse and patient first discuss the nature of any problems, and the nurse explains the services available. As the nurse-patient relationship develops, the nurse and patient mutually define the problems and potential solutions. When the patient's original needs are resolved, new needs sometimes emerge. This middle-range theory is useful in establishing effective nurse-patient communication when obtaining a nursing history, providing patient education, or counseling patients and their families.
Core Value 1. Holistic Philosophies, Theories, and Ethics
Holistic nursing is recognized as a nursing specialty by the American Nurses Association. As a specialty, holistic nursing attracts individuals who seek to promote a deeper understanding of a caring integrated approach to facilitating health, wellness, and well-being and healing the mind, body, spirit, and emotion of the whole person. Core Value 1 is rooted in a rich history of care guided by holistic philosophies, theories, and ethics. These foundations define the who and why of holistic nursing. Holistic nursing celebrates a way of being that values connection with others and the environment. c
Stress: Living in Survival Mode
Hormones of stress (adrenalin) -Draw energy from the light field and turn it into chemistry. -The light field shrinks. Body cells and systems communicate by chemical interactions and by this field of coherent light that carries a message/information. Causes the environment within and around the cell to give instructions to other cells and biological systems.
Homo conscious:
Human consciousness evolution that awakens interconnection/interbeing, embodied awareness of self, and connectedness to all life (human, animals, minerals, plants) and the Earth. This consciousness activates and is activated by cultivating collective wisdom, embodying beloved community, acting with a global ethic, protecting all life forms and our planet.
Trauma
Intrusive flashbacks or even intentional thinking back trigger a wave of the same emotions and chemicals experienced during trauma. Early trauma is recognized as having a significant effect on health. Autoimmune diseases develop; the particular disease is dependent upon genetics, environment, and lifestyle. Children who experienced trauma have higher levels of cortisol in their hair, and in a 2015 study, this translated directly to significantly more childhood disease compared to those who were not traumatized
This is an easy technique for increasing your heart-brain coherence that can be done anytime, anywhere.
Just follow these easy steps: • Step 1: Start with heart-focused breathing. Take slow deep breaths and imagine that the breaths are flowing in and out of your heart. • Step 2: Activate a positive feeling. Think of something you're very grateful for, or someone you love a lot.
Nightingale's Environmental Theory
Known as the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale is credited with developing the first nursing theory. The focus of Nightingale's grand theory is a patient's environment, which Nightingale believed nurses should manipulate (e.g., ventilation, light, decreased noise, hygiene, nutrition) so that nature is able to restore a patient to health ( McEwen and Wills, 2019 ). Through observation and data collection, she linked the patient's health status with environmental factors and initiated improved hygiene and sanitary conditions during the Crimean War. Nightingale taught and used the nursing process, noting that "vital observation [assessment] ... is not for the sake of piling up miscellaneous information or curious facts, but for the sake of saving life and increasing health and comfort"
Neuropeptides:
Messenger molecules produced at various sites throughout the body to transmit body-mind patterns of communication.
Stress and Disease
Metabolic syndrome is a group of risk factors that increase the likelihood of significant chronic health problems, such as diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. There are five risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome. They include a large waistline, an increased triglyceride level, a low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, hypertension, and hyperglycemia. For an individual to be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, he or she must have at least three of these risk factors. This syndrome is quite complex, but an underlying factor is low-grade inflammation. Prevention of metabolic syndrome will protect the individual from these major life-threatening diseases. Lifestyle changes, weight and stress management, lowering cholesterol with medication and diet, increasing activity, and self-care are all recommended for those at risk.
Mindful Breathing During Nursing Practice
Nurses who wish to be more present with their patients, to practice self-care, and to awaken to the simple sacredness of everyday nursing practice may want to practice mindful breathing each moment, as in the following exercises.
Nursing Theory
Nursing Theory is a conceptualization of some aspect of nursing. It describes, explains, may predict or reveal probabilities or patterns of relationships, and/or prescribes nursing care A nursing theory conceptualizes an aspect of nursing to describe, explain, predict, or prescribe nursing care ( Meleis, 2018 ). Theories offer a perspective for assessing your patients' situations. They also help you organize, analyze, and interpret data. For example, if you use Orem's theory in practice, you assess and interpret data to determine patients' self-care needs, deficits, and abilities in the management of their disease. Orem's theory then guides your development of patient-centered nursing interventions.
Psychoneuroimmunology:
Often called the science behind holistic care, this is a branch of research that strives to understand the connections between the mind and the body.
Ontology
Ontology is the philosophical study of the nature of being, becoming, existence, or reality as well as constituting the basic categories of being and categories related to being
Meditation:
Originally based in spiritual traditions, now recognized in both religious and secular forms of a variety of practices including insight, open awareness, cultivating compassion and concentration. Through dedication, meditation practice evolves over time and is known to provide self-regulation health benefits and is a pathway for personal and spiritual transformation.
Epigenetics
Our genes are not fixed; we are not simply genetically determined. Our genes are modulated by our inner environment—the emotional, chemical, mental, energetic, and spiritual landscape—as well as our outer environment—the social and ecological systems in which we reside. Genes may be activated or deactivated by the meaning we assign to an experience. Truly we are formed and molded by the thoughts that stimulate the formation of neural pathways that either reinforce old patterns or initiate new ones.
Paradigm
Pattern of beliefs used to describe the domain or discipline. A paradigm is a pattern of beliefs used to describe the domain of a discipline. It links the concepts, theories, beliefs, values, and assumptions accepted and applied by the discipline
What's LOVE/COMPASSION got to do with it?
Raises frequency pattern within the energy/spirit complex high enough to enter transcendent states of bliss that shift physical reality (via coherence/resonance patterns)...shift chemistry, physics and flow dynamics.
Sleep
Relevant to the connection between thoughts, behaviors, and health is sleep. Restricting sleep to 4 hours a night results in higher blood pressures and reduced function of the entire cardiovascular system. Inflammatory markers increase in the blood, amplifying any chronic pain or inflammatory diseases. Cells begin showing insulin-resistant behaviors that are known to lead to diabetes. Appetite increases and activity decreases, predisposing the individual to obesity. Those who are sleep deprived develop less immunity from vaccines, implying impaired immune function.
Traumatic stress response:
Response that occurs when the normal stress response is altered as a result of overwhelming and/or ongoing stress.
Hawkins' Scale of Consciousness
Scale 0-1000 Positive emotions are thought to have high frequencies and negative emotions low frequencies. Dr. David Hawkins MD; PhD has developed a "scale of consciousness"[v], associated with different emotional states. I can meditate, watch my thoughts and emotions, and I can tune into my bodily sensations. These practices have helped me release energy blockages, allowing life to flow through with less resistance. What we resist persists.
Mindfulness for Patients
Simple relaxation techniques such as deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, imagery, and affirmations are mindfulness practices. Once learned, patients can use them independently anytime, anywhere, and whenever needed. Pain is often accompanied by other symptoms, such as anxiety and stress.
Receptors:
Sites on cell surfaces that serve as points of attachment for various types of messenger molecules.
Stress
Stress is described as a feeling of being overwhelmed, worried, or run down. Stress can affect everyone regardless of age, socioeconomic status, gender, or profession. An overabundance of stress reduces the function of the immune, cardiovascular, neuroendocrine, and central nervous systems. Stressors are the triggers of stress and are a normal part of life. We are required to adapt, and when stress is perceived, the organism is physiologically prepared to attack or flee from the threat.
Implications of Stress
Stress management training and life coaching are part of the nurse's role in promoting wellness. Being aware of how personality, environment, social support, and other factors influence the holistic being will help the nurse assess and enhance those factors. The field of psychoneuroimmunology is demonstrating that holism is a solid measurable science that is the fuel behind changing how nurses provide care to their patients.
Chronic stress:
Stress that is of long duration, lasting weeks, months, or longer and having a far greater impact on health than acute stress.
Distant stress:
Stress that may have happened a long time ago (such as from childhood sexual abuse or being in a war) but that still causes a stress response and is linked to impaired immune response and increased incidence of autoimmune disease.
Interbeing:
Term/word describing the interdependence and interconnectedness of all things coined by Nhat Hanh. Nothing exists as a separate, independent self; everything arises from infinite interconnections.
Gut microbiome:
The bacteria, fungus, and other live organisms in our gut form the microbiome and influence our physical and mental health, and imbalance in this biome appears to be part of the trigger for many other diseases.
Coherence Theory of Truth
The coherence theory of truth has to show internal consistency within its context. It does not necessarily have to correspond to reality, but it must be coherent within its own paradigm.
Acute stress:
The experience of reacting to something that is stressful but time limited. The stress will diminish.
Emotions
The extent of the interactions that a living system can have with its environment outlines its cognitive domain. Emotions are not just an accompaniment of perception and behavior but are an inherent part of the cognitive domain. For example, an anger response to a situation initiates an entire pattern of physiologic processes. Emotions are not nebulous clouds around us; rather they each trigger unique chemical combinations that are molecules—molecules of emotion. Our emotions and feelings are sources of vital information to our physical body. Emotions are life-regulating phenomena that help maintain our health by making adaptive changes in our body states, and these form the basis for feelings.
Personality and Wellness
The field of PNI began in cardiovascular rehabilitation, and back in the late 1980s, it was noticed that people with cardiovascular disease tend to have controlling personalities and are quick to anger. Stress and anger management training became part of the treatment regimen in response. Personality traits are thought to be well established and difficult to change by adolescence and are both genetic and environmental. Researchers have since been finding links to personality traits and specific disease.
Quantum Physics
The field of quantum physics in health examines the very tiny atomic level of interaction between the self and the environment. Molecules of emotions give off chemical, electrical, and subatomic waves that influence other bonds within the molecules. Thoughts induce emotions, and chains of protein twirl and change to something else and the cell changes. A better understanding of quantum physics in health will help us demonstrate the importance of intention, kindness, self-talk, and true presence in healing.
Limbic-hypothalamic system:
The major anatomic modulating link connecting the brain/mind and the autonomic, endocrine, immune, and neuropeptide systems. Activated by stressors.
Medical Praxis
The medical, more scientific use of the meaning of praxis often refers to the simple, literal transfer of cognitive and psychomotor skills into practice, as well as a transfer of knowledge into action. Praxis often indicates action beyond theory or the opposite of theory. It is something practical—that is, practical praxis.
Epigenetics:
The study of how genes produce their effect on the phenotype of the organism.
Conceptual framework
The term conceptual framework is often used synonymously with paradigm. A conceptual framework provides a way to organize major concepts and visualize the relationship among phenomena. Different frameworks provide alternative ways to view the subject matter of a discipline and represent the perspective of the author. For example, the grand theorists all address similar concepts in their respective theories, but each theorist defines and describes the concepts in a different way based on the theorist's own ideas and experiences
Theory-Based Nursing Practice
Theory generates nursing knowledge for use in practice, thus supporting evidence-based practice (EBP).
Theory
Theory is the foundation for the art and science of nursing Theory, research and practice are bound together in a continuous interactive relationship A theory helps explain an event by defining ideas or concepts, explaining relationships among the concepts, and predicting outcomes. In the case of nursing, theories are designed to explain a phenomenon such as self-care or caring.
Aletheia Theory of Truth
Theory of Truth. This view is related to beauty, harmony, essence; it is tied to the subjective, inner life of being-belonging. The ontology of Unitary Being is tied to criteria as a source for truth. In other words, truth is not knowledge per se; rather, it is an ontological question. However, in Western science, truth has been interpreted as an epistemological issue. The notion of truth and what counts as truth and knowledge informs and imprints our methods as well as what is legitimate as methods, what counts as knowledge, and what is credible in terms of truth statements.
Stress Response
There is a cascade of hormones and chemicals that begins when the brain decides there is a threat. This is the fight-or-flight response, enacted when the body moves into a sympathetic state, preparing to expend energy, and shutting down nonessential systems. One of those nonessential systems that shuts down could be the production of natural killer cells that attack mutating cancer cells.
Microbiome
There is also increasing evidence that we can use probiotics to help persons suffering from a variety of illnesses. These include not only bowel disease like irritable bowel syndrome but also psychiatric illness or diabetes. Researchers can now discern which strains of gut bacteria affect the nervous system and even map the exact pathways through which specific gut bacteria influence the brain
Walking Meditation
Walking as if one is planting peace with each step is the essence of walking meditation. This practice can be especially helpful during times of trauma and crisis, and it can be done to center yourself in the most challenging and traumatic of circumstances.
Energy Centers
We embody many different frequencies within which need to function/braid/knit together in constructive ways for health and healing to happen. Cells, organs, systems, environment, etc Nerve centers, glands We embody many different frequencies within which need to function/braid/knit together in constructive ways for health and healing to happen. Cells, organs, systems, environment, etc
Prescriptive theories
address nursing interventions for a phenomenon, guide practice change, and predict the consequences. Nurses use prescriptive theories to anticipate the outcomes of nursing interventions. Prescriptive theories direct nursing actions toward an explicit goal. Wiedenbach's prescriptive theory of the helping art of nursing conveys the purpose of nursing through three components: to motivate the patient, to facilitate efforts to overcome obstacles, and to develop nursing action based on the immediate situation.
The nursing metaparadigm
allows nurses to understand and explain what nursing is , what nursing does , and why nurses do what they do. The nursing metaparadigm includes the four concepts of person (or human beings), health, environment/situation, and nursing. Person is the recipient of nursing care, including individual patients, groups, families, and communities. The person is central to the nursing care you provide. Because each person's needs are often complex, it is important to provide individualized patient-centered care.
Shared theory
also known as a borrowed or interdisciplinary theory, explains a phenomenon specific to the discipline that developed the theory. For example, Piaget's theory of cognitive development helps to explain how children think, reason, and perceive the world. Knowledge and use of this theory help pediatric nurses design appropriate therapeutic play interventions for ill toddlers or school-age children. Knowles' adult learning theory helps a nurse plan and provide appropriate discharge teaching for a patient who is recovering from surgery.
Practice theories
also known as situation-specific theories, bring theory to the bedside. Narrow in scope and focus, these theories guide the nursing care of a specific patient population at a specific time. An example of a practice theory is a pain-management protocol for patients recovering from cardiac surgery. Practice theories are less abstract and are often easier to understand and apply than the grand and middle-range theories.
Grand theories
are abstract, broad in scope, and complex; therefore they require further clarification through research so that they can be applied to nursing practice. A grand theory does not provide guidance for specific nursing interventions. Instead it provides the structural framework for general, global ideas about nursing. Grand theories intend to answer the question "What is nursing?" and focus on the whole of nursing rather than on a specific type of nursing. The grand theorists developed their works based on their own experiences and the time in which they were living, which helps to explain why there is so much variation among the theories. Grand theories address the nursing metaparadigm components of person, nursing, health, and environment.
Middle-range theories
are more limited in scope and less abstract. They address a specific phenomenon and reflect practice (administration, clinical, or teaching). While grand theories take a wide-angled lens perspective to nursing, middle-range theories expand on specific concepts or phenomena in a specific field of nursing such as uncertainty, incontinence, social support, quality of life, and caring. For example, Kolcaba's theory of comfort encourages nurses to meet patients' needs for comfort in physical, psychospiritual, environmental, and sociocultural realms. Like many middle-range theories, Kolcaba's theory was based on the works of a grand theorist—in this case, Nightingale. Middle-range theories are also sometimes developed from research, nursing practice, or the theories of other disciplines
Acute Stressors
are short term and boost immune function.
Descriptive theories
are the first level of theory development. They describe phenomena and identify circumstances in which the phenomena occur. For example, theories of growth and development describe the maturation processes of an individual at various ages. Descriptive theories do not direct specific nursing activities or attempt to produce change but rather help to explain patient assessments.
Input
for the nursing process is the data or information that comes from a patient's assessment.
Environment/situation
includes all possible conditions affecting patients and the settings where they go for their health care. There is a continuous interaction between a patient and the environment. This interaction has positive and negative effects on a person's level of health and health care needs. Factors in the home, school, workplace, or community all influence the level of these needs. For example, an adolescent girl with type 1 diabetes needs to adapt her treatment plan to adjust for physical activities of school, the demands of a part-time job, and the timing of social events such as her prom.
Resilience
is defined as our ability to keep moving forward despite challenges or how we bounce back from negatively stressful situations. Negative stressors can trigger our sympathetic nervous system's infamous fight-or-flight response. We know this feeling - heart pounding, palms clammy, short shallow breathing, and wanting to run away. Our level of resilience can help us stay in a more balanced parasympathetic state with a slow and steady heartbeat, positive emotions, and the ability to access all of our mental faculties.
Heart Rate Variability (HRV)
is the amount of time between heartbeats. If your HRV is consistent and steady, you are in a parasympathetic state of calm. If your HRV is erratic and choppy, you are in a sympathetic state of arousal - the stress response. HRV has been linked to brain activity, and this linkage has implications for our physiological regulation related to many components of our health, including heart disease, working memory, and emotional regulation
Output
is the end product of a system; in the case of the nursing process it is whether the patient's health status improves, declines, or remains stable as a result of nursing care.
The content
is the product and information obtained from the system. For example, patients with impaired bed mobility have common skin care needs and interventions (e.g., hygiene and scheduled positioning changes) that are very successful in reducing the risk for pressure injuries.
Domain
perspective of a profession or discipline The domain is the perspective or territory of a profession or discipline ( Meleis, 2018 ). It provides the subject, central concepts, values and beliefs, phenomena of interest, and central problems of a discipline. The domain of nursing provides both a practical and theoretical aspect of the discipline. It is the knowledge of nursing practice and nursing history, nursing theory, education, and research. The domain of nursing gives nurses a comprehensive perspective that allows you to identify and treat patients' health care needs in all health care settings.
Components of a theory
phenomenon, concepts, definitions, and assumptions
Feedback
serves to inform a system about how it functions. For example, in the nursing process the outcomes reflect the patient's responses to nursing interventions. The outcomes are part of the feedback system to refine the plan of care. Other forms of feedback in the nursing process include responses from family members and consultation from other health care professionals.
Chronic Stressors
that are perceived as never ending can have a significant impact on psychological and physical health.
Epistemology
the study of knowledge, the nature and process of knowledge. It also guides our ontological view of our relation to knowing, developing/creating/co-creating knowledge. Epistemology informs our consciousness about what counts as knowledge, how we know, and sources of knowing/knowledge.
Distant stressors
traumatic experiences and might include the experiences of war or childhood sexual abuse; these can lead to posttraumatic stress disorder. Distant stressors have the potential to continue to influence immune functioning because of the sheer length of their influence. Distant stressors are often also chronic stressors, and cortisol levels remain high for long periods after the experience.
Correspondence Theory of Truth
truth as objective, concrete, and physical. To be considered truthful, something has to correspond with reality data.
