Paper Example on General Systems Theory

Ludwig von Bertalanffy established the general systems theory. Ludwig felt the need of developing a theory that will assist in research of different disciplines. According to Ludwig if several subjects would focus their theory development and research they would be in a position of identifying principles and laws that would be applied to many systems. Many of the systems concepts have significantly evolved and are incorporated into everyday language that people use. Systems can be open or closed. General systems theory is considered to be a science of wholeness (Bertalanffy & L, 2015, p. 9). Nurses tend to use several systems in their practice. It has been used in conducting nursing research and development of nursing theories.

The general systems theory is applied by the nurses to help determine and evaluate information to help individuals and their families to achieve the goal of living a healthy life. The nurses use this theory in their practice to ensure that all the body systems of a patient are working correctly and as well as to identify and correct potential threats that could affect the stability of the patient. A nurse who usually applies the general systems theory in their practice tends to be concerned with all aspects of the life of the patient (Bertalanffy & L, 2015, p. 16).

The general systems theory is important in the nursing practice since it ensures the flow of information among the various subsystems in the healthcare Centre. For organization systems to be able to exchange information different communication mechanisms are required to be in place. It provides an environment where a nurse can continuously interact with the patient to easily gather relevant information regarding the patient. The nurse is also able to interact with other physicians within the healthcare environment who help each other in seeking guidance on the appropriate way of treating a patient (Bertalanffy & L, 2015, p. 19).

The general systems theory principles are of great importance in nursing since they are used to explain the current treatment practices in oncology and to prevent tumor lysis syndrome. One of the principles used in nursing is that organisms that exist in a system that is open such as cells tens to aim for equilibrium. For example changes in an environment which are temporary will result in the organism reacting to compensate for the change and maintain equilibrium. This is, for example, one of the reasons that nurses administer cancer treatments such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy are administered in small dosage over time (Bertalanffy & L, 2015, p. 25).

In conclusion, General systems theory plays a significant role in the nursing practice. Most of the nursing theories have been drawn from the general systems theory of Ludwig. The nurses use the principles of the general systems theory to assist individuals to live a healthy life through evaluation of their condition and knowing the right medication to administer o them. The General systems theory help the nurses to have a good flow of information in the working environment.

References

Bertalanffy, & L. (2015). General system theory: Foundations, development, applications. New York: Braziller.