The Circle of Caring Model is a unique approach to patient care and incorporates both traditional medical and nursing approaches while at the same time using an openness to other approaches (Dunphy, Winland-Brown, Porter & Thomas, 2015). It was created based on the day-to-day practice of advanced nursing in primary care. It really is an expansion of the already created medical and nursing models. This model includes both a holistic and creative approach to patients and making sure the patient has an individualized therapeutic plan and uses a version of a holistic nursing assessment to gain information from the patient such as their life situation, strengths, and weaknesses (Dunphy et al, 2015). It combines standard medical diagnostic language for treatment but also uses labeling of the patients concerns. This model produces a view of the problem-solving that is used in primary care but can also be applied to acute care or in other community settings. The Circle of Care Model includes patience, advocacy, courage, commitment, authentic presence and knowing which are all components of the caring process (Dunphy et al, 2015). Since this model uses the patient’s point of view on their own health and components from their life to see how the factors are affecting the patient’s health, it gives a very unique method to assessing and treating patients.

Holistic nursing uses the approach of treating and healing the whole person. Instead of viewing the patient as their illness, it uses the theory that is it important to address all components of the patient such as their body, spirit, emotions, mind, and environment (Nursing Theory, 2016). Holistic nursing theories try to use all of these components because they are what make up the patient, so if the patient is going to be treated the nurse needs to understand each of them and how they can affect the patient’s overall health. This leads to the nurse having an understanding of interconnectedness and how everything in the patient’s life is connected. This understanding helps the nurse be better aware of their patient, their patients’ needs and the care that will need to be provided. Holistic nursing is incorporated into the Circle of Caring model and was used as the building foundation.

The biomedical nursing model has been used for centuries in clinical practice and helps systematically address health concerns in patients who are sick. This model helps guide physicians in their assessment, diagnosis, treatment and use critical thinking to ensure that patients have the best outcomes (Mazzotta, 2016). It is used to educate nurses on medical directives, assessments, advanced nursing skills, polices, algorithms and procedures. There is also a curative focus in this model and emphasis is placed on evidence-based practice with measurable outcomes (Mazzotta, 2016). Biomedical and technology play a significant role in influencing nursing practice and provide nurses with the opportunities to acquire knowledge and empirical evidence. Biomedical nursing model does not capture all of what it means to be ill and using technology through this model does not come close to the empathy shown through the human touch. Patient’s emotional, cultural, psychological and spiritual needs also need to be met but are not a part of a biomedical nursing model. Using the biomedical nursing model is important to help guide the nurse in practice. But this model should not be used alone because it focuses on treating the patient’s illness only and not the whole patient. This is why it was used as part of the building foundation for the Circle of Caring model. Combining both biomedical nursing with holistic nursing theories is essential in treating the whole patient and providing the best patient care.

References

Dunphy, L. M. H., Winland-Brown, J. E., Porter, B. O., & Thomas, D. J. (2015). Primary Care: The Art and Science of Advanced Practice Nursing (4^th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis Company.

Mazzotta, C. P. (2016). Biomedical approaches to care and their influence on point of care nurses: a scoping review. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 6(8), 93-101.

Nursing Theory. (2016). Holistic nursing. Retrieved from https://nursing-theory.org/theories-and-models/hol…