BIOMEDICAL MODEL & NURSING

Biomedical Model and Nursing



Introduction1

Discussion2

Role of Nurses2

Confidentiality and Consent3

Interview Summary4

Pathogenesis of Pain5

Past Medical History6

Evaluation of Pain8

Pharmacological Management9

Complementary Alternative Methods9

Conclusion11

Biomedical Model and Nursing

Introduction

Biomedical model emphasize on the physical scenarios like physiology, biochemistry and pathology of a disease. It does not involve the perception of patient or the impact of mind on the disease state. Its central idea is to treat the disease not the whole person, it means the thoughts and patient's perception has no importance or role in curing a certain ailments and consists mainly on the specific reasons due to which the pathological condition occurred and to treat with the drugs specific for the treatment or the agents that can recover the pathology or the disturbed condition of bodily functions like antibiotics for treating infections (Pearson, Vaughan & Gerald, 2005, pp 47-48).

George Engel was the first person who introduced the Biopsychological model in 1977. In contrast with biomedical model, this model talks about the psychology, biology and sociological attributes which are used and performed in the medical world. This model basically helps in understanding the disorder and how to achieve the desired outcome that is complete cure from the disease at the end. It also explains the health care pattern in an appropriate and rational way. A model must consider the patient, the social scenario in which he resides, and the complementary system by society in order to deal with the untoward effects of the ailment (Campbell, Rohrbaugh, 2006, pp 6-20).

Discussion

Role of Nurses

According to biomedical model, doctors are the main health care providers as they are associated with the process of diagnosis. Biomedical model says that the doctors are the primary health care practitioners; it further says that cure is the only option for treating ailment. While the nurses are associated with the phenomenon of care provision. This model explains that the function of nurses is to provide care that deals with the physical care not the emotional care.

Nurses are the health care professionals that provide appropriate care physically and emotionally both to the patient according to his or her specific condition, up till his or her stay in the hospital and sometimes they provide care at home. According to the Royal College of Nursing, the purpose of nursing encompasses several aspects that give a holistic insight into the nursing profession. These include promoting and maintaining health, caring for individuals with compromised health, assisting recovery, facilitating independence, meeting needs and improving well being. Furthermore, the practice of nursing maintains specific prerequisites, among which education and knowledge of applying learned concepts is vital. Nursing skills must aptly provide direct patient care. Nurses must possess a portfolio of numerous skills including leadership skills, experience, empowering patients, communication skills, teamwork and compassion (Royal College of Nursing, 2003, p.11).

The World Health Organization (WHO) advocates competency as an imperative component of the nurse's skills set. In the WHO 2000a: Glossary, competency implies “a framework of skills reflecting knowledge, attitudes and psycho-motor elements” (World Health Organization, ...