Social Issues as Neuman Systems Model Client Systems

Social Issues as Neuman Systems Model Client Systems Teri Aronowitz, RN; Ph. D; APRN; FNP-BC Jacqueline Fawcett, RN; Ph. D; Sc. D (hon); FAAN

Neuman Systems Model Client Systems � Individuals � Families and other groups � Communities � SOCIAL ISSUES Few Applications Many Applications

Purpose � To discuss various possible meanings of a social issue And � To offer a framework that can be used to analyze and evaluate a Neuman Systems Model-based social issue as the client system

Sources of Data � Oxford English Dictionary Online ◦ One definition found � CINAHL – 1937 – May 2015 ◦ Three articles and one dissertation retrieved � Dissertations and Theses – 1861 – April 2015 ◦ Seven additional dissertations and one master’s thesis retrieved

Sources of Data � Survey of 15 Neuman Systems Model Trustees and Betty Neuman ◦ What is the meaning or definition of a social issue within the context of the Neuman System Model? ◦ What are some examples of a social issue within the context of the Neuman System Model? �Responses from Betty Neuman and four Trustees

Sources of Data – Definitions of Social Issue � Five definitions ◦ One from the Oxford English Dictionary Online ◦ One from Betty Neuman ◦ Three from other Trustees

Definitions of a Social Issue – Oxford English Dictionary Online � An issue that is somehow related to society ◦ An issue is “A mater or point which remains to be decided; a matter the decision of which involved important consequences” ◦ Society refers to “Association or interaction with or between people”

Definitions of Social Issue – Betty Neuman � The socio-cultural variable serves well planning for an “ISSUE” (as a client system using the model concepts and processes ).

Definitions of Social Issue – Trustees � An issue that has opposing sides and affects society ◦ A situation that has the potential to influence members of a society ◦ A social problem or conflict extending beyond an individual’s control or geographic region ◦ A nursing team working together on a social matter

Sources of Data – Examples of Social Issues � Three relevant journal articles � Eight dissertations and one master’s thesis � Betty Neuman � Four Trustees

Examples of Social Issues – Literature �A health policy about sexuality education is social issue that is a client system � Poverty and lack of access to early, appropriate, and affordable health care � Family issues, caregiver burden, financial equilibrium, attendant care, social integration, and cultural beliefs

Examples of Social Issues – Literature � Social difficulties and social problems associated with overeating that leads to overweight and obesity � Eating behaviors and obesity � Sexually � Early transmitted HIV in Black women sexual initiation among Thai adolescents

Examples of Social Issues – Literature � Fatigue experienced by people with a medical diagnosis of diabetes mellitus � Pre-hypertension as a new risk factor for cardiovascular disease � Caregiver burden

Examples of Social Issues – Literature � Baccalaureate nursing students’ interactions with their instructors � The clinical learning environment

Examples of Social Issues – Betty Neuman � Yugoslavians’ acculturation in Australia following migration from their homeland

Examples of Social Issues – Trustees � Unaccompanied minors from Mexico and Central America who are seeking asylum in the United States � Practice guidelines within a psychiatric institution to guide implementation of the Neuman Systems Model as the framework for care

Examples of Social Issues – Trustees � Suicide, such as the Japanese notion of ‘kamikaze’ � Poverty, hunger, overpopulation, female genital mutilation, terrorism toxic waste landfills, nuclear proliferation

Framework for Analysis and Evaluation of a Social Issue as a Neuman Systems Model Client System Questions for Analysis of a Social Issue as a Neuman Systems Model Client System What is the social issue? What historical factors influenced articulation of the social issue? What sociological factors influenced articulation of the social issue? What political factors influenced articulation of the social issue? What economic factors influenced articulation of the social issue?

Framework for Analysis and Evaluation of a Social Issue as a Neuman Systems Model Client System Questions for Evaluation of a Social Issue as a Neuman Systems Model Client System To what extent has the social issue been studied? What are the findings of studies of the social issue? To what extent have the study findings been used as evidence for Neuman Systems Model-guided nursing practice? To what extent have the study findings been incorporated into the curricula of Neuman Systems Model-guided nursing education programs?

Recommendations � Provide an explicit definition of a social issue � Explicitly identify the social issue of interest as a client system

Thank you � Your thoughts? � Your questions?