The systems theory is an abstraction from reality, and health workers have to apply it without forgetting that they work with people. DeNisco and Barker (2016) describe Henderson’s theory, which identifies fourteen basic human needs that are common in all patients. Nurses have to work with the physical, mental, and spiritual health of patients as well as other aspects of their well-being. The satisfaction of patient needs is critical to the success of care regardless of whether the person voices their discomfort over specific aspects. As such, nurses have to know essential patient issues and requirements without being told.
Lastly, advanced practice nurses act as leaders in the advancement and evolution of nursing science, and so, they have to be intimately familiar with the nature of knowledge. Butts and Rich (2018) discuss the concept of emancipatory knowledge, which enables one to view a situation from the outside and propose improvements that promote wellness. The profession has evolved significantly over the last century with the help of the concept, as the emergence of advanced practice nursing shows, but there are still many barriers to it in the U.S. and worldwide. Medical leaders have to be ready to address these issues satisfactorily.
References
Butts, J.B., & Rich, K.L. (2018). Philosophies and theories for advanced nursing practice (3rd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett.
DeNisco, S.M., & Barker, A.M. (2016). Advanced practice nursing: Essential knowledge for the profession (3rd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett.
Zaccagnini, M., & Pechacek, J.M. (2019). The Doctor of Nursing Practice essentials: A new model for advanced practice nursing (4th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett.