Four Nursing Metaparadigms

Abstract

This paper focuses on the four nursing paradigms which are comprised of person,, hea!t~ en11ironment, and nursing. Each metaparadigm plays a key role in the nursing process and is essential when providing patient care. The paper compares and contrasts three nursing theorists' individual interpretations of the four nursing metaparadigms. Jean Watson is a modern day theorist who developed the Theory of Human Caring. Her focus is on the holistic approach to healing and believes that in order for a person to be fully healed, it is imperative to include the healing of the mind, body, and the soul. Florence Nightingale was a 1911 century nursing theorist who paved the way for the nursing profession today. Armed with her war experiences, Nightingale created some of the most innovative ideas of her time and focused on the importance of environment. Dorothea Orem was a 2(Jh century nursing theorist who created a self. care model. She believed that it was the duty of the patient to take charge of their own health to prevent potential ailments. The information obtained from these theorists was used to create our own personal definitions of the four nursing metaparadigms. These personal definitions were then applied to a patient scenario to exemplify their applicability to the nursing process.