NCM 103 Fundamentals of Nursing Practice

Study Notes

Understanding human beings is crucial for delivering individualized, holistic, ethical, and quality nursing care.

Atomistic Approach: Emphasizes knowledge about the structure of the human body.
Holistic Approach: Framework for observing human behavior in relation to society.

Capacity for Abstract Thought: Ability to think and conceptualize beyond concrete information.
Family Formation: Importance of familial relationships in human development.
Territoriality: Natural tendency to establish and maintain a personal territory.
Language Use: Ability to use verbal symbols, crucial for cultural development and communication.

Biological Being: Composed of two systems:
- Subordinate System: Internal, constantly interacting with a changing environment (Roy).
- Super ordinate System: External, includes society and community.
Unified Whole: Human beings are interconnected parts functioning together to achieve specific purposes (Rogers).
Non-sum of Parts: A person is more than just the sum of their physical parts, possessing unique characteristics (Rogers).
Subsystems and Suprasystems:
- Subsystems include cells, tissues, organs, and systems within the body.
- Suprasystems encompass family, community, and society, all influencing the individual.
Unity of Functioning: Man is biologically, symbolically, and socially active, engaging in self-care for well-being (Orem).

Similarity Among All:
- Anatomically similar and sharing 14 fundamental needs (Henderson).
Individual Similarities:
- Interests, hobbies, beliefs, cultural background, gender, race, profession, and body structure contribute to individual identity.
Uniqueness of Individuals: Everyone possesses distinct personality traits that define their uniqueness.

Biological, Psychological, and Social Being:
- Irreplaceability and diversity among individuals emphasize that no two people think or experience life the same way (Roy).
Spiritual Being:
- Human beings possess spirituality, believing in a higher power and endowed with virtues of faith, hope, and charity.

Individuals engage in complex reparative processes to combat disease, while being somewhat passive in influencing their environment or the care provided by nurses (Nightingale).