Two Vulnerable Populations and Two Nursing Theories

From a healthcare perspective we see vulnerability as a person’s susceptibility to disease, whether that disease is from a mental, physical, or sociological standpoint. De Chesnay & Anderson (2012) explain the idea of an entire population being vulnerable as “a public health concept that refers to vulnerability by virtue of status: that is, some groups are at risk at any given point in time relative to other individuals or groups.” The chronically mentally ill and the elderly go under this definition of vulnerable populations and could be helped by two conceptual models of nursing. Because those with mental illness usually have increased risked for being unable to identify, manage, or find ways to maintain health I felt that Roger’s Science of Unitary Beings may be of help to this vulnerable population. The elderly over time have a greater risk of being unable maintain a healthy way of life, because of increased risk of developing self-care deficits that occur due to the aging process. Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory focuses on assisting the patient to overcome any lack in ability to the best of that individual’s capacity. Roger’s Science of Unitary Human Being’s was created by Martha Roger’s whose view of human beings were that they “are dynamic energy fields who are integral with the environment and who are continuously evolving” (Creasia & Friberg 2011) This theory puts forth the idea that illness arises because an individual or groups’ patterns of living are no longer in harmony with the environment’s patterns. A chronically mentally ill person may not take the best actions for themselves and other’s because of an altered view of reality that clashes not only sociologically with others, but could be of harm to their physical health through lack of being unable to recognize that which will keep or make them healthy. Different holistic environments and treatments could be created to promote a mental pattern that would be more in tune with a

References: Creasia, J. L., & Friberg, E. E., (2011) Theories and frameworks for professional nursing practice. In M. Iannuzzi (Eds.), Conceptual foundations: the bridge to professional nursing practice (pp. 95-116). St Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby de Chesnay, M. & Anderson, B. A. (2012). Vulnerable populations: vulnerable people.   Caring for the vulnerable: Perspectives in nursing theory, practice and research. (pp.  3-14).  Burlington, MA. Jones & Bartlett Learning.