Metaparadigm of Nursing

A metaparadigm is commonly described as a set of concepts and propositions that set forth a general statement of a discipline. The central focus of the profession of nursing is developed around the idea of providing different dimensions of care to individuals in need by use of science and the promotion of health. As follows, nurses must always take a holistic approach towards the care of their clients and in order to maintain the same approach among all clients; the metaparadigm of nursing was developed. The metaparadigm of nursing was first developed by Florence Nightingale and has since been adopted by all nursing professionals. This is a general concept that has developed over time to define the discipline of nursing. The structure for the knowledge of nursing was developed from the four concepts of this metaparadigm. These four basic concepts are as follows; the Person, Environment, Health and Nursing. In this paper each concept will be further considered on how these influence the discipline of nursing and nursing practice.
The first paradigm may refer to a person, families or a social group who are involved in the nursing. Individuals cannot be thought of exclusively without the consideration of their families and communities that surround them. The person comes to define him/herself by the way one views oneself in interaction with their social group. A nurse’s care must extend beyond the patient and must involve the patients entire support network. The nurse must be mindful of the person’s subjective experiences about wellness, beliefs, values and personal preferences and should involve the person in decisions affecting his/her treatment and recovery. Therefore the person has a more proactive role and is in control of their own wellbeing and their choices are considered and respected by the nurse. This greatly influences the way nurses approach people throughout their giving of care. Without proper communication, taking into consideration the wishes of the