Emergency-room nurses use social theories to help patients.
Emergency nursing theory arose out of the need to apply social concepts to changes in healthcare, according to Lori Schumacher and Cynthia C. Chernecky, the authors of "Saunders Nursing Survival Guide." Important concepts in this field include patients' rights, use of the professional self, and coping with death and bereavement.
Patients Rights
Patients' rights are an important topic in emergency nursing. One of the foremost principles that nurses are taught is that patients, whenever capable, should make their own healthcare decisions. This principle is often put to the test in emergency rooms, however, as patients may not have the capacity to choose between medical options without assistance.
Professional Self
Use of the professional self is another key theory in emergency nursing. This concept says that the relationship between nurse and patient, in addition to the medical care given, can have an effect on the outcome of treatment. Unfortunately, these professionals do not always have a great deal of time to use "self" in such settings owing to the chaotic nature of emergency rooms.
Death and Bereavement
Since emergency-room nurses see more instances of death than many other types of medical professionals, another key theory describes the importance of having coping mechanisms in place to deal with the inevitable bereavement process that takes place when patients are lost.
Tags: another theory, emergency nursing, emergency rooms