Environment is the metaparadigm concept I find most significant to my nursing practice. Working in behavioral health, I come in contact with individuals who are being affected by internal and external situations.

Environment is the metaparadigm concept I find most significant to my nursing practice. Working in behavioral health, I come in contact with individuals who are being affected by internal and external situations. Some are homeless, substance abusers, have had severe trauma inflicted on them, or currently having hallucinations or delusions due to schizophrenia, mania, and bipolar. Usually, the environment in which they live has influenced their need for inpatient care. They may not have access to basic needs such as food or clean water. Some are unable to properly care for themselves, are not eating, showering, or taking their necessary medications.

Nightingale’s theory focuses on environment and requiring fresh air, water, cleanliness and sunlight. Orem’s self-care deficit theory focuses the patient being self-reliant and being able to meet their own needs, but only under certain conditions, including environmental conditions. Nightingale and Orem both understood environment affected the patient, but their definitions of environment were different. Nightingale defined her theory on the physical environment of basic needs air, water, and sunlight. Orem defined her theory using the environment which was provided to the patient. The environment could be where or how the patient lives that is affecting their ability to care for themselves.

Jenny J. (1991). Self-care deficit theory and nursing diagnosis: a test of conceptual fit. Journal of Nursing Education, 30(5), 227–232. https://doi.org/10.3928/0148-4834-19910501-10

Zborowsky, T. (2014). The Legacy of Florence Nightingale’s Environmental Theory: Nursing Research Focusing on the Impact of Healthcare Environments. Health Environments Research & Design Journal (HERD) (Vendome Group LLC), 7(4), 19–34.

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