Description
Betty Newman’s Systems Model Discussion
Introduction
Developed in the 1970s by Betty Neuman, the Neuman Systems Model is a unique and open-system-based perspective that provides a comprehensive framework that emphasizes the holistic approach to understanding and caring for individuals. This followed the recognition that people exist within various levels of internal and environmental (external) influences. According to Montano (2020), the model emphasizes the interrelationships between different metaparadigms, mainly consisting of the individual, environment, health, and nursing. The model evaluates how individuals respond to stressors and the factors that influence their ability to adapt, maintain, or restore balance and stability within their systems. Overall, this model provides a broad, holistic, and systems-based approach to nursing that integrates a factor of flexibility.
Metaparadigms
As already noted, the Neuman Systems Model has four metaparadigms. Human beings encompass a client system that interacts with the internal and external environmental forces and comprises the physiological, psychological, sociocultural, developmental, and spiritual aspects. Note that the human aspect constantly changes as it moves toward a dynamic state of system stability or illness. The second component, the environment, broadly encompasses the factors that affect or are affected by the system, including internal, external, and created factors. Health defines the degree of system stability, or a state of well-being, viewed as a continuum from wellness to illness. Nursing constitutes a holistic approach employed to enable a system to adapt, adjust, retain, restore, or maintain a state of health and wellness.
Application of the Model in Clinical Practice
The model can successfully be applied in managing patients presenting with a myriad of stressors, for example, chronic illnesses and psychological challenges. The model has been used to facilitate holistic patient assessment in clinical practice by considering an individual’s physical, mental, emotional, and social health and well-being (Başoğul & Buldukoğlu, 2020). This usually results in the identification of the presenting and underlying healthcare issues that could compromise individual health and well-being. The diagnosis forms a basis for the implementation of appropriate nursing interventions. It also enables continuous monitoring and evaluation of a patient’s health status and outcomes, thereby providing a basis for continuous improvement in the short and long term.
Application in Advanced Practice
The model can be utilized by nurse practitioners (NPs) in their advanced roles in a number of ways. It can be used to conduct a holistic assessment of patients, considering their physical, psychological, social, and environmental factors. It can also be used to facilitate individualized care planning as practitioners better understand the client’s stressors and lines of resistance. Thus, practitioners can develop personalized interventions that address the presenting individual’s specific needs in addition to promoting adaptation. For example, according to Başoğul & Buldukoğlu (2020), Newman’s Systems Model was successfully applied in managing depressed patients through individually tailored psychoeducation interventions, with optimal outcomes. The model can also guide practitioners in providing well-tailored patient education and empowerment, for example, on techniques for proper patient management besides enabling patients to actively participate in their healthcare decisions. It can also guide advanced practitioners in collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to address distinct aspects of patient care and well-being.
How to Evaluate the Care Plan
Evaluating the care plan involves assessing the effectiveness of the implemented nursing interventions in promoting patient stability and wellness. Key approaches should include monitoring patient outcomes, for example, changes in their health status, symptom management, and their ability to cope with stressors (Akhlaghi et al., 2021). The effectiveness of the model can also be determined by assessing patient satisfaction levels, which include their perception of the care received and their involvement in decision-making. Besides, it can be determined by monitoring a patient’s adherence to the recommended treatment plans and assessing the sustainability of the assessments in the long term.
Conclusion
The above-discussed model provides a suitable framework for understanding the existing complexities of human health and guiding nursing practice. NPs can use the model in clinical practice to deliver comprehensive, individualized, and patient-centered care that better responds to the presenting patient’s needs, thereby promoting optimal health and well-being. The importance of constantly evaluating the effectiveness of Neumann’s systems model cannot be overemphasized.
