According to Walker and Avant (2011), theory construction involves defining attributes that distinguish one concept from another. Concept analysis can help nurses understand how their definitions of concepts can differ from those of the populations they serve. For example, Brush, Kirk, Gultekin, and Baiardi (2011) used this methodology to determine the defining attributes of overcoming and how individual difficulties may vary between service providers and homeless mothers. Furthermore, this study also looked at the antecedents and consequences of overcoming. Antecedents were described as events that take place because of a concept and could open new methods of thinking, and consequences were empirical referents that were used to measure the …show more content…
While the women in the study often spoke about overcoming their situation, some of their behaviors did not show attributes of the concept. Brush, Kirk, Gultekin, and Baiardi (2011) went on to declare that by defining antecedents, attributes, and consequences of concepts, nurses are able to design interventions that promote physical, psychological, and environmental health outcomes. In other words, nurses need to clarify the concept they are studying (in this case, overcoming) in order to design effective interventions.
Pain management is an important nursing skill that requires a proactive approach. The video presented a very humorous version of the variability in which each respective patient experiences pain and focuses on the concept of pain assessment in the Emergency Room (Lesalad, 2007). A shared understanding of pain management is important in nursing to aid effective communication, develop knowledge, and enable the development of tools to evaluate the quality of pain management in practice. In addition, the video was a good reminder that pain is subjective and the quantitative number a patient states should be an informative tool that is utilized for effective pain management.
Cousley, Martin, and Hoy (2014) described concept analysis as being the groundwork for nursing theory. Concept analysis was formally presented during my undergraduate nursing education. However, the application of concept analysis didn’t begin until I started my career as a nurse. Walker and Avant (2011) taught me that the purpose of concept analysis is to clarify and promote mutual understanding among colleagues, provide a precise definition that has validity, and accurately aids in intervention