Page 438 - Encyclopedia of Nursing Research

PHYSIOlOGY n 405

explain how the human body maintains or Understanding the physiology of health
restores homeostasis. As principle and coin- and disease has the potential to affect the
vestigators, nurses are engaged in physiolog- economics of health care, particularly in P
ical research to discover biological processes managing complications from acute ill-
that support and restore function across the ness and preventing or slowing progres-
life span. sion of dysfunction from chronic illness.
Physiological research is linked to the Aggregated physiological data can be use-
metaparadigm of nursing through the con- ful in identifying groups who may respond
cepts of person and health (Meleis, 2007). to specific interventions. To illustrate, many
Although some might argue that a physiolog- nurse researchers have contributed to man-
ical approach to understanding human health agement of hypertension and diabetes.
is reductionist, physiology provides impor- Preventing and managing complications
tant understanding about components, path- from these two common, chronic, and poten-
ways, and processes of homeostasis, building tially debilitating conditions has the poten-
knowledge about the relationships between tial to significantly impact the economics of
health and human experiences. Humans use health care.
physiological mechanisms to maintain and The explosion of information about
restore health. Holism implies that all aspects molecular influences in physiology since
of human experience— physiological, psycho- completion of the genome project has pro-
social, spiritual, behavioral, and environmen- vided new insights into homeostasis at
tal—are valuable and interactive. the microscopic level. Nurses need to
Nurses commonly deal with the physi- access and use this information in educa-
ological needs of patients and this aspect of tion, research, and practice (www.nursing-
nursing care is accepted by society (Meleis, world.org/MainMenuCategories/ethics
2007). A physiological perspective is con- Standards/Genetics_1/essentialNursing
nected directly and consistently with nurs- CompetenciesandCurriculaGuidelinesfor
ing education and practice (Ignatavicius & GeneticsandGenomics.aspx; Competencies
Workman, 2009; McCance, Huether, Brashers, and Curricula Guidelines established by
& Rote, 2010). Since its establishment as a Consesnsus Panel, 2009). To illustrate, tests
unique institute at the National Institutes to identify infecting organisms using poly-
of Health, the National Institute of Nursing merase chain reactions or protein-based
Research has championed physiological assays provide results in less than 24 hours
research under initiatives to explore and com pared with 48 to 72 hours for traditional
build biobehavioral knowledge for practice microbiology culture techniques. Appre-
(Rudy & Grady, 2005). Further, articles about ciating the biological science that devel-
physiological research are used by nurses oped these diagnostic strategies contributes
as well as other disciplines (Burns, Yucha, to effective test selection and interpreta-
& Wiss, 2004). Knowledge from investiga- tion by bedside and advanced practice
tions into physiological phenomena is val- nurses.
ued by agencies that fund nursing research, Physiologic nursing research embraces
professional nursing societies, and the indi- multi- and interdisciplinary research. Resea-
viduals that receive nursing care. The prepa- rch in a collaborative research team envi-
ration and support of nurses who engage in ronment is recognized as beneficial across a
physiological inquiry continues to be some- variety of disciplines (Kher, 2010). Identifying
what controversial as does the acceptance of and testing biomarkers for rapid diagno-
researchers who engage in laboratory and sis and evaluation of interventions appears
basic science that is not directly linked to to be a trend among funding organiza-
nursing practice. tions. early diagnosis and targeted, effective