Metaparadigm Of Nursing Essay

To define nursing and to argue that nursing is a distinct profession, we must frame nursing as a distinct discipline. A set of skills or activities alone would not define a nurse, as these skills or activities are not unique to nursing. A nurse and by extension nursing itself is greater than the sum of skills or activities. Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, was the person who defined nursing as a distinct discipline. Ms. Nightingale believed that the focus of nursing should be a person’s health and natural healing process, instead of illness or restitution (Smith & Parker, 2015).

What makes something a unique discipline, i.e. a distinct profession? A discipline can be defined as a set of specific philosophies, theories, research, concepts and findings that echoes said …show more content…
In other words, a domain is an area of expertise, focus, or boundaries within which a discipline will operate. Nursing domain concerns itself with phenomena of interest, redressing problems, methodology and defining members role.
Fawcett used the term metaparadigm to define nursing as a distinct profession. According to Fawcett, nursing is a study of the interrelationship between the four concepts of metaparadigm, namely; person, environment, health, and nursing (Smith & Parker, 2015). Several other definitions of nursing domain range from holistic care to relationship between health-environment to client-nursing. Each providing their own rational to clarify and define nursing as a distinct profession.
Nursing has developed its own specific language, traditions, communication networks, values and beliefs and system of education. These components facilitate communication, develop networks, create a history of literature and provide continuing education for the members of the nursing profession. Together these components define and provide professional structure to nursing and help make nursing a distinct