What is "The Nursing Model?"

[RNDude2012]

I constantly read that NPs are trained under "The Nursing Model," while PAs and MD/DOs are all trained under the "Medical Model." I understand what the medical model is. However, I do not understand what the nursing model is. Is it less science-based? Is it more "holistic?" Does the term "holistic" imply that NPs have science-based diagnostic skills that are lesser than, which leads to them focusing on the whole? Threads over on the "doctors" forum seem to think so.

I'm proud to be a nurse, and I love science. I'm honestly just wondering what the differences between the nursing model and the medical model are.

[PG2018]

Who knows really?

Medical model implies problem-focused, biological origins.

Nursing model implies holistic, typically psychosocial "care."

Realistically, both disciplines are in fact holistic, both used problem-focused assessments (nursing probably less so), and they are both psychosocial in nature (medical less so).

As an APRN, I do my best to maintain a medically-oriented practice.

[lhflanurseNP, APRN]

I also practice more medically-oriented practice. The nursing model is steeped in nursing theory regarding caring as PsychGuy points out. Do we ignore this basis of our nursing experience/education? No, but as a NP, we are guided by the "standards of care" for treating patients. Somehow, I do not believe that taking care of a patient with hypertension and ONLY addressing diet, exercise, and stress management will fly when medications are the standard of care. Does this mean we do not include diet, exercise and stress management in our plan of care? No, but we will utilize the guidelines set forth for treating a patient with hypertension as well as educate them on diet, exercise and stress management.

[BirkieGirl]

Nursing model =care

Medical model=cure

It is simply a reference as to how the two professions approach health, wellness, and patient care. While physicians tend to look at only the specific problem at hand and contemplate a pathway to cure, nurses look at the entire person, diagnosis PLUS everything else and strive to care for the whole person.

[Aromatic]

its nursings attempt to distance itself from medicine and nothing more really.

[offlabel]

Nursing model =care

Medical model=cure

It is simply a reference as to how the two professions approach health, wellness, and patient care. While physicians tend to look at only the specific problem at hand and contemplate a pathway to cure, nurses look at the entire person, diagnosis PLUS everything else and strive to care for the whole person.

That is as good a definition that I've heard, but it implies that nurses pay a lot of attention to issues that are not really relevant to the problem at hand and also that there is a much longer relationship time frame. That is appropriate for bedside nursing when literally hours and hours are spent with admitted patients or kids at school or whatever. Nurses spend way more time with patients than doctors do.

The rub comes when the nurse enters advanced practice and the "nursing model" of care becomes as improbable as it is impractical.

[Aromatic]

its more useful as a nurse than as an aprn, and more useful in primary care than specialty situations. most md and do schools actually teach people to be holistic too... at least in primary care settings. Whether or not xyz wants to be is a personal decision.

Some nursing texts take it a little too far though lol.

This discussion brings back memories of care plans....

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

In my experience, many providers of all types practice some sort of holistic care. In the ICU setting, there is a bigger emphasis on family involvement and ensuring respect and dignity in patients who are often in a helpless state and unable to speak for themselves. That on top of the fact that critical care always approaches care in a systems-based, head to toe manner makes our specialty truly holistic. However, in typical nursing fashion, some of us tend to invoke holistic care as in "what would Jean Watson do?" instead of "how would you or your loved one want to be treated?".

[Buyer beware, BSN]

its nursings attempt to distance itself from medicine and nothing more really.

Yes. It's an inane attempt to differentiate nursing from all other healing arts that has no practical or theoretical place in the 3D space we know as sensory reality that is perceived through all the known senses and processed with rational thought.

It is also as elucidated in the above paragraph just as nearly incomprehesible to most and referred to often by student Ph.Ds and DNPs alike in doctoral dissertations when they've become slap happy and run out of intellegent coherent assertions to make in a futile attempt to defend the indefensible.

Does that make sense?

[Aromatic]

Yes. It's an inane attempt to differentiate nursing from all other healing arts that has no practical or theoretical place in the 3D space we know as sensory reality that is perceived through all the known senses and processed with rational thought.

It is also as elucidated in the above paragraph just as nearly incomprehesible to most and referred to often by student Ph.Ds and DNPs alike in doctoral dissertations when they've become slap happy and run out of intellegent coherent assertions to make in a futile attempt to defend the indefensible.

Does that make sense?

yeah we always get announcements where I'm in school at about DNPs doing projects. have yet to see one that really makes any sense. I think one was about feelings regarding asthma inhaler use

feelings regarding asthma inhaler use

lololololololol. pretty sure only feeling they have is FK YA I CAN BREATH AGAIN GIVE ME AIR K THNX

i guess nursing though probably isn't the only field guilty or forced differentiation.