Summary: The Importance Of Quality Of Life In Nursing
An important theory used in nursing practice is health-related quality of life. Each individual has a different idea of what might be considered a “good” quality of life, and this individual opinion needs to be taken into account when planning care for patients throughout their lifetime. One of the most important times in which this theory can be applied is when planning end of life care. Each patient needs to decide for themselves what they want in their final weeks, days, and hours, and healthcare providers need to help fulfill these wishes for every patient. Quality of life is also important when managing chronic disease, and patients need to be able to reach their optimal balance between living their lives and treating their disease.
Historical …show more content…
It has been described in these arenas as living a good life and having joy or happiness in one’s life (Sandau, Bredow, & Peterson, 2013, p. 210). Quality of life began being discussed academically in the fields of sociology and psychology in the 1970s, and has since spread to areas such as business, economics, politics and healthcare (Sandau et al., 2013, p.211). The idea of quality of life in nursing care has been shaped by the philosophies of Florence Nightingale, and the World Health Organization considers psychosocial care and quality of life to be a right of individuals receiving physical health care (Sandau et al., 2013, p.211). Health-related quality of life has become an increasingly prevalent area of focus in healthcare, especially in the management of chronic and terminal …show more content…
(2013, p. 212) as multidimensional, temporal and subjective. The multidimensional aspect of quality of life describes how it encompasses multiple aspects of a person’s life, including physical, psychological, social, spiritual, and mental (Sandau et al., 2013, p.212). Quality of life is also temporal, meaning that it changes over time as different aspects of life change or the patient’s perception of these aspects change (Sandau et al., 2013, p.212). This concept is also very subjective, and determined only by the individual. This can cause problems when quality of life is being determined by someone other than the patient themselves, as can be the case when the patient is in a compromised mental state, such as a coma or is otherwise unable to
Historical …show more content…
It has been described in these arenas as living a good life and having joy or happiness in one’s life (Sandau, Bredow, & Peterson, 2013, p. 210). Quality of life began being discussed academically in the fields of sociology and psychology in the 1970s, and has since spread to areas such as business, economics, politics and healthcare (Sandau et al., 2013, p.211). The idea of quality of life in nursing care has been shaped by the philosophies of Florence Nightingale, and the World Health Organization considers psychosocial care and quality of life to be a right of individuals receiving physical health care (Sandau et al., 2013, p.211). Health-related quality of life has become an increasingly prevalent area of focus in healthcare, especially in the management of chronic and terminal …show more content…
(2013, p. 212) as multidimensional, temporal and subjective. The multidimensional aspect of quality of life describes how it encompasses multiple aspects of a person’s life, including physical, psychological, social, spiritual, and mental (Sandau et al., 2013, p.212). Quality of life is also temporal, meaning that it changes over time as different aspects of life change or the patient’s perception of these aspects change (Sandau et al., 2013, p.212). This concept is also very subjective, and determined only by the individual. This can cause problems when quality of life is being determined by someone other than the patient themselves, as can be the case when the patient is in a compromised mental state, such as a coma or is otherwise unable to