Neuman’s System Model. Overview

Neuman’s System Model. Overview

A person (client) is an open system influenced by external and internal stressors.

System influencers comprise an environment that can be internal, external, and created.

Health and illness are the opposite states of the system. Health is possible when the system is stable and has enough energy to maintain itself.

The task of nursing is to maintain the system’s stability through the assessment of stressors and assistance to the client in adjustments to them.

The client-client system consists of several protection lines against stressors and variables present in each circle in the system. The system is influenced by intrapersonal, interpersonal, and extrapersonal stressors.

Following the theory, prevention should be a critical intervention made by nurses. Neuman identified three types of prevention: primary – stress prevention; secondary – response to stress and strengthening of protection lines; tertiary – readaptation, reeducation, and support of the system’s stability.

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Stressors for Sgt. Johns

Considering the situation of Sergeant Johns from the point of view of Neuman’s Systems Model, it is essential to determine which stressors affect him as a client. The most apparent stressors are that Eddie suffers from physical injuries – a broken leg and brain injury cause pain and inconvenience in everyday life. Insomnia is also a significant stressor, which does not allow the man to restore energy and keep his system at the required healthy level. The way the sergeant is trying to solve insomnia is a few cans of beer. Although this measure allows him to sleep for several hours, alcohol is an additional stressor for the body.

Other influential factors relate to sociocultural variables. Eddie is concerned about the health of his wounded friend and cannot visit him. Moreover, he is not able to return to work yet due to injuries.

While the case does not indicate any psychological symptoms due to the bomb explosion, distress, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder are common among veterans. For this reason, the nurse must take into account the sergeant’s potential need for additional psychological assistance.

Care Plan for Sgt. Johns

According to Neuman Systems Model, the nursing process includes the following steps:

• Collect all available data to determine stressors;
• Validating data with the client;
• Selecting nursing diagnoses and prioritizing them;
• Setting goals together with the client and taking prevention as an intervention into account.

Based on the stressors that affect the sergeant, it is crucial to focus on their elimination, prevention, and strengthening of the sergeant’s resilience.

Conclusion

Nursing theories and models offer different approaches to treating patients. Their understanding and study encourage research and evidence-based practice.

The use of Roy’s Adaptation Model and Neuman’s Systems Model to analyze the case of Sgt. Eddie Johns made it possible to pay attention to factors other than physical ones that are also significant for health.

Focusing not only on physical injuries but also on the environment, patients’ feelings, and their unique position contribute to more successful treatment.

References

Lotfi, M., Zamanzadeh, V., Valizadeh, L., & Khajehgoodari, M. (2019). Assessment of nurse–patient communication and patient satisfaction from nursing care. Nursing open, 6(3), 1189-1196. Web.