Lifespan Development in Nursing
Content: Respond to ONE of the following content related prompts based on the reading this week:
1. You have been asked to speak with Nursing Students about Baltes’s Lifespan Perspective. Choose 3 of Baltes’s 5 principles that you intend to discuss with the class. In your presentation, be sure to discuss professional and/or personal examples from the principles that you have selected. Additionally, provide examples of age-graded, history-graded, and non-normative graded influences. Explain the importance of this information as it relates to the field of Nursing. (USLO 1.1)
2. In your own words, describe in detail ONE of the following theories on development: Psychoanalytic (Freud & Erikson), Learning (Behaviorism & Social Learning), Cognitive (Piaget & Vygotsky), or Contextual (Bronfenbrenner). How might this theory help inform your nursing practice during one of the developmental periods of the lifespan? Be sure to identify one developmental period and provide at least one example. (USLO 1.3, 1.4)
3. Think about and provide a brief description of your previous developmental stage and your current developmental stage. What has changed in the different areas of domain (physical, psychosocial, and cognitive)? If you don’t want to use yourself, consider someone you know very well and use an alias if you prefer. (USLO 1.2; USLO 1.3)
Lifespan Development in Nursing
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Which prompt are you responding to?,
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Which three principles of Baltes’s Lifespan Perspective will you discuss?,
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Can you provide personal or professional examples for these principles?,
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What are examples of age-graded history-graded and non-normative influences?,
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Why is this information important in Nursing?
Comprehensive General Answer (Prompt 1 Chosen):
Response to Prompt 1: Baltes’s Lifespan Perspective for Nursing Students
In my presentation to nursing students, I would focus on three of Baltes’s five principles of the Lifespan Perspective:
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Lifelong Development
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Multidirectionality
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Plasticity
1. Lifelong Development:
This principle highlights that human development continues throughout the entire lifespan—from infancy to old age. For example, as a nurse, I have observed older adults in rehabilitation settings who continue to gain physical strength and independence after strokes or surgeries, proving that development does not stop in later years. Personally, I’ve experienced cognitive growth in learning new technologies for healthcare documentation as an adult learner. This principle is crucial in nursing, where patients of all ages experience physical, emotional, and cognitive changes requiring tailored care.
2. Multidirectionality:
Multidirectionality means that development involves both gains and losses. For instance, an elderly patient may lose mobility but gain wisdom and emotional regulation. In pediatric care, a child may improve in language skills but struggle temporarily with emotional self-regulation. In my nursing practice, this reminds me to focus not only on patients’ limitations but also on their strengths and potential for growth.
3. Plasticity:
Plasticity refers to the brain’s and body’s ability to change in response to experiences. A patient recovering from brain injury may regain certain skills through therapy, showing the adaptability of humans. Personally, I’ve seen plasticity in patients recovering from emotional trauma through counseling and community support programs. This is key in nursing, where promoting recovery and adaptation is part of everyday work.
Examples of Influences:
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Age-Graded Influence: Learning to walk in toddlers or retirement in older adults.
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History-Graded Influence: The COVID-19 pandemic affecting people of all ages worldwide.
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Non-Normative Influence: A young adult unexpectedly diagnosed with cancer.
Lifespan Development in Nursing
Importance in Nursing:
Understanding these principles helps nurses view each patient as a unique individual influenced by various developmental factors. It promotes compassionate, individualized care and encourages nurses to recognize both the challenges and strengths in every stage of life. It also helps in patient education, goal setting, and long-term care planning across the lifespan.