Uncertainty in Illness Theory Essay

Uncertainty in Illness Theory Essay

Uncertainty in Illness Theory Essay

Uncertainty in Illness Theory

Uncertainty in illness theory is a middle-range nursing theory developed by Merle H. Mishel. The theory focuses on persons. It describes how patients and caregivers undergoing acute and chronic disease experiences perceive and cope with uncertainty. The purpose of this paper is to describe the theory, including its purpose, major concepts, and application.

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The Purpose of the Theory

The uncertainty in illness theory seeks to offer a comprehensive framework for viewing the experience of persons with acute and chronic diseases and coordinating nursing interventions to foster optimal adjustment. The theory explains the tension linked with the diagnosis and treatment of major diseases or chronic conditions and the processes by which people evaluate and respond to the uncertainty associated with the experience of these diseases (Alligood, 2017). Furthermore, the theory explains the significance of professional caregivers in offering information and supporting people to understand and manage uncertainty.

Major Concepts of the Theory

The major concepts of uncertainty in illness theory are: Uncertainty, Cognitive Schema, Stimuli Frame, Symptom Pattern, Event familiarity, Event congruence, Structure providers, Inference, Social supports, Cognitive capacities, Illusion, and Adaptation. Uncertainty is the inability to determine the meaning of illness-related events. Mishel defined cognitive schema as an individual’s subjective interpretation of disease, treatment, and hospitalization (Alligood, 2017). Stimuli frame is the outline, composition, and structure of the stimuli that an individual perceives, which are then planned into a cognitive schema. Symptom pattern is the level to which symptoms occur consistently enough to be viewed as having a pattern or configuration. Besides, event familiarity is the level to which a situation is habitual or repetitive or has predictable cues (Alligood, 2017). On the other hand, event congruence is the consistency between the anticipated and the experienced during an illness. Structure providers are the available resources that assist the individual in interpreting the stimuli frame.

Inference is the measurement of uncertainty using related, recalled experiences. Social supports impact uncertainty by helping a person to interpret the meaning of events.

Cognitive capacity is a person’s capacity to process information, allowing them to understand conditions in which an illness occurs and to recognize or assess uncertainty in illness (Alligood, 2017). Illusion is the belief constructed out of uncertainty. Lastly, adaptation represents biopsychosocial behavior within peoples’ defined range of typical behavior.

A Concept from the Theory That Is Most Applicable To Practice

Uncertainty is a major concept in the uncertainty in illness theory. Mishel defined uncertainty as the inability to establish the meaning of illness-related events. This occurs when the decision-maker cannot allocate definite value to objects or events or predict outcomes accurately. The concept applies to my practice as an ER nurse since many patients rushed into the ER usually demonstrate an inability to determine the meaning of their illness (Taş Bora & Buldukoğlu, 2020). Therefore, the ER nurse must implement measures to manage uncertainty in patients. This is by helping patients gain knowledge, solve problems and view their health problems as manageable. This can contribute to improved communication between patients and the ER staff. As an ER nurse, I can help patients manage uncertainty in illness through nursing interventions like connecting the expectations and experiences of patients and their families and assisting them in understanding the treatment’s rationale (Taş Bora & Buldukoğlu, 2020). Furthermore, I can create a familiar therapeutic environment, increase patients’ knowledge level, and reinforce their sense of autonomy and self-control.

Conclusion

The uncertainty in illness theory offers a comprehensive framework to view the experience of persons with acute and chronic diseases. Mishel defined uncertainty as the inability to determine the meaning of illness-related events. Therefore, the nurse must identify measures that can help patients manage uncertainty.

References

Alligood, M. R. (2017). Nursing theorists and their work. Elsevier.

Taş Bora, S., & Buldukoğlu, K. (2020). Using the Uncertainty in Illness Theory to provide care for the caregiver: A case report. Journal of Psychiatric Nursing, 11(1), 70–77. DOI: 10.14744/phd.2019.44365

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Incorporate the following questions into an organized scholarly narrative with citations.  Organize the content using (sub)headings of below Organizing questions/objectives:

Explain how your selected theory (Uncertainty in illness Theory PAGE 447) can be applied to your clinical practice. Be sure to address it in terms of:

Briefly introduce the purpose of the theory chosen (using your own words.)

Briefly introduce its major concepts of the theory chosen (this question might be easier for you who choose a consistent theory/model in the past several modules.)

Select at least one concept from the theory that is most applicable to your practice and give its definition

Note: you may copy graphic theory/model with proper citation in answering Q2 (check the word count depending on the graph’s file type [suggest to scan it as a pdf to save word count.] It may only be counted as 1 word or many words).

ATTACHED PDF BOOK, THEORY CAN BE FOUND IN PAGE 447

Uncertainty in illness Theory