Application of Borrowed Theory to Problem and Conclusion

Application Borrowed Theory to Problem
Hauwa Belel
Grand Canyon University: NUR-502
November 22, 2016
Brief Summary of the Problem
Preventing wound infection is a top priority to improve health outcomes and patient safety. Pender’s Health Promotion Model has previously been used to promote health behaviors (McEwen, & Wills, 2014). Wound care improves wound healing and prevents wound infections, and nursing theories are important to implement best practices. Wound infection affects the wound healing process, and wound assessment should consider the location of wounds, description of dressing, pain assessment and the type of wounds. Infection control surveillance is also critical to reducing infection and maximizing infection prevention. Efforts to improve to prevent wound infection improve patient safety when there is wound management. Additionally, using evidence base to inform decisions in wound management should be prioritized to prevent wound infection and improve the quality of care.
Borrowed theory and identified problem
Borrowed theories draw knowledge from other disciplines and are applicable in nursing since knowledge is shared across these disciplines (McEwen, & Wills, 2014). The germ theory borrowed from biomedical sciences was proposed by Louis Pasteur in 1858, and has overtime been used to explain the cause of infections and diseases (McEwen, & Wills, 2014). Pasteur proposed that germs and microorganisms do cause infectious diseases, and this influences medical care since efforts are made to reduce infections, prevent complications and even death (McEwen, & Wills, 2014). The Germ theory is applicable in wound infection prevention, as there is a need to identify and understand how sanitation and patient safety influence patient outcome. The theory has been applied when identifying causes of infections, transmission and this facilitates prevention and management of infections.
History of the borrowed theory's origins
Pasteur first focused on the causes of fermentation and putrefacation, and identified living organism that facilitated the process (Magner, 2009). After boiling liquids Pasteur found that that did not ferment, arguing that the process of decay and fermentation was related to microorganisms, and heating potentially killed some of the microorganisms (Magner, 2009). The work of Pasteur challenged conventional belief that fermentation was only associated with chemical processes (Magner, 2009). Pasteur and Robert Koch further identified bacterial microorganisms that increased the risk of infection, and caused diseases. Germs were thought to multiply and increased the risk of infection, and this would form the basis for understanding infection control/prevention.
Previous application of the borrowed theory
The Germ theory has been applied to prevent surgical site infections, and also been integrated in studies focusing on reducing wound infections where there is emphasis on maintaining sanitary conditions. Jakobsson, Perlkvist, & Wann‐Hansson (2011) point out that sanitation methods has had a positive effect in the practice of surgery where skin, wound infection and disinfecting surgical materials has reduced the risk of infections. The asept...