Theoretical and Ethical Basis of Advanced Nursing Practice

 Current events in the world surrounding COVID-19 give us a spell-binding view of government officials attempting to protect the populace, while medical personnel use all available techniques for saving lives. The ethical dilemma grows as people demand to try ‘whatever works,’ while scientists cling to standards of practice, with theory and ethics being plastered all over the daily news. As scientists and medical professionals, we cling to theory and ethics to keep us grounded in a world looking to us for the answers. Yet, even as the best minds in the world put their ideas to work in meeting the needs of the people, as nurses, it dawns upon us that in the history of modern medicine, never has there been such need to examine the theoretical and ethical basis of advanced nursing practice as now. This paper explores nursing theory in the light of nursing metaparadigm, grand and middle range nursing theories, complexity science, and ethical principles. Phenomenon of Interest Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in the United States, psychiatric issues among the elderly have become even more complicated as caregivers, families, and patients with dementia battle, not only against a frightening disease and a tanking economy; but against increasing depression and anxiety (Dong & Bouey, 2020). It has long been known the social environment in which patients with dementia live is an important factor in their behavior and quality of life (Zuidema et al., 2007). Even in the midst of all the chaos, and yes in many ways because of it, it is imperative to find strategies to meet the needs of elderly patients with dementia. Activities, social interaction, and changes to their environments help do just that by addressing behaviors in a non-pharmacological way (Inventor et al., 2018). Current evidence reveals that music is a useful intervention in such patients (Pedersen et al., 2017) and that music has a positive effect on