HOMEOSTASIS: AN EXPLANATION BY DAVID FEREBEE, UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA, NU 503, ADVANCED NURSING THEORY
Fig. 1 Room Temperature Homeostasis
The Theory of Homeostasis
The theory of homeostasis was first introduced by physiologist Claude Bernard in the 20th century. His idea is that a living organism must be capable of maintaining its internal environment in order to survive. Walter Canon, a 20th century physician and Dr. Eugene Yates, another physician, also contributed to the theory. This theory can be applied to nursing and homeostasis relates to the cells, tissues, organs, and organism as a whole (McEwen & Wills, 2011).
Human beings must maintain a constant state of metabolism, temperature, respirations, hemodynamics, and fluid-balance to survive. This can be compared to the thermostat in a home that is set at 70 degrees Farenheit (Fig. 1). If the room temperature falls below 70 degrees, the heater turns on, the heating unit produces heat that is blown into the room, and the ambient room temperature will rise to 70 degrees. The rise in temperature in turn causes the heat to shut off until the temperature drops below 70 degrees and the process starts over again. The balance in room temperature is homeostasis.
An example of homeostasis in the human organism is the body's need to maintain a "normal" core temperature. The normal temperature for the human body is around 98.6 degrees Farenheit. If the person becomes ill with a fever and the core body temperature rises to 102 degrees, the body reacts with perspiring, or sweating, to try and cool the body to the baseline core temperature of 98.6 degrees. If a person is outside in frigid temperatures, the body temperature falls, the body reacts by shivering to try and warm the body back to the optimum core temperature. This is how the human body maintains homeostasis as it relates to body temperature.
Another example of homeostasis within the body is the interaction of the immune system with a foreign body. The writer will give a simplified explanation of a much more complicated bodily process. If a person gets a splinter in their finger, the body responds with the inflammatory process which immediately works to surround the splinter to help seperate the splinter and "wall it off" from the rest of the body. This results in an inflammatory process that prevents major infection within the body and protects the body from foreign objects. In other words, the process helps maintain homeostasis. If the body has to deal with a much more serious foreign body such as a bullet, the body reacts in the same way, but has more difficulty maintaining the homeostasis.
The theory of homeostasis was first introduced by physiologist Claude Bernard in the 20th century. His idea is that a living organism must be capable of maintaining its internal environment in order to survive. Walter Canon, a 20th century physician and Dr. Eugene Yates, another physician, also contributed to the theory. This theory can be applied to nursing and homeostasis relates to the cells, tissues, organs, and organism as a whole (McEwen & Wills, 2011).
Human beings must maintain a constant state of metabolism, temperature, respirations, hemodynamics, and fluid-balance to survive. This can be compared to the thermostat in a home that is set at 70 degrees Farenheit (Fig. 1). If the room temperature falls below 70 degrees, the heater turns on, the heating unit produces heat that is blown into the room, and the ambient room temperature will rise to 70 degrees. The rise in temperature in turn causes the heat to shut off until the temperature drops below 70 degrees and the process starts over again. The balance in room temperature is homeostasis.
An example of homeostasis in the human organism is the body's need to maintain a "normal" core temperature. The normal temperature for the human body is around 98.6 degrees Farenheit. If the person becomes ill with a fever and the core body temperature rises to 102 degrees, the body reacts with perspiring, or sweating, to try and cool the body to the baseline core temperature of 98.6 degrees. If a person is outside in frigid temperatures, the body temperature falls, the body reacts by shivering to try and warm the body back to the optimum core temperature. This is how the human body maintains homeostasis as it relates to body temperature.
Another example of homeostasis within the body is the interaction of the immune system with a foreign body. The writer will give a simplified explanation of a much more complicated bodily process. If a person gets a splinter in their finger, the body responds with the inflammatory process which immediately works to surround the splinter to help seperate the splinter and "wall it off" from the rest of the body. This results in an inflammatory process that prevents major infection within the body and protects the body from foreign objects. In other words, the process helps maintain homeostasis. If the body has to deal with a much more serious foreign body such as a bullet, the body reacts in the same way, but has more difficulty maintaining the homeostasis.
Another example of the body's constant work to maintain homeostasis is blood glucose levels within the body. Normal blood glucose levels in the human body are usually within a range between 70 and 110 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl). The liver and pancreas work in harmony to raise and lower the blood glucose levels to maintain blood glucose levels within the normal range (Fig. 2). The pancreas secretes insulin which, through a complicated process, helps to lower the levels of glucose in the bloodstream. The liver secretes glycogen which helps to raise blood glucose levels when needed. So, these two organs help to maintain the blood levels of glucose within the body and promotes homeostasis.
There are many other examples of the body's ability to maintain homeostasis. In reality, all systems within the body work to maintain the body's homeostasis. Sleeping, eating, exercising, and breathing are part of maintaining human body homeostasis. Homeostasis concepts are usually described via organ systems such as the respiratory system, immune system, endocrine system, and cardiovascular system (McEwen & Wills, 2011).
Homeostasis is used in procedure areas such as cardiac cath labs, electrophysiology labs, and pre/post procedure areas. In the cardiac cath lab, there is constant monitoring of the patient's cardiovascular system and respiratory system. When a patient is brought into the cath lab, their baseline respiratory rate, heart rate, blood pressure, central arterial pressure, and pain level is measured. During the course of the procedure, these areas are continuously monitored. If any of these systems or levels fluctuate, action is taken to return them to their baselines. For example, a patient may come in with a blood pressure of 120/80 and a heart rate of 75 beats per minute. During the procedure the blood pressure drops to 80/50 and the heart rate drops to 50. The physician orders atropine to be given and intravenous fluid rate is increased. The patient returns to normal baseline homeostasis within five minutes. Another patient may have no chest pain upon arrival but during the course of the procedure develops 6/10 chest pain. Pain medication and nitroglycerin sublingual is given and the patient's pain is relieved. These are some of the examples of maintaining homeostasis in the writer's areas of practice.
In conclusion, homeostasis is a biomedical theory that can be applied to the field of nursing. The healthy human body is in a state of homeostasis, but homeostasis can be affected by many external and internal issues such as cancer, diabetes, environmental temperature, and fever to name a few. The body's ability to fight off diseases and environmental changes determines the level of homeostasis that the person achieves.
References:
McEwen, M. & Wills, E.M. (2011). Theoretical basis for nursing (3rd ed.), (pp. 308-309). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health / Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
There are many other examples of the body's ability to maintain homeostasis. In reality, all systems within the body work to maintain the body's homeostasis. Sleeping, eating, exercising, and breathing are part of maintaining human body homeostasis. Homeostasis concepts are usually described via organ systems such as the respiratory system, immune system, endocrine system, and cardiovascular system (McEwen & Wills, 2011).
Homeostasis is used in procedure areas such as cardiac cath labs, electrophysiology labs, and pre/post procedure areas. In the cardiac cath lab, there is constant monitoring of the patient's cardiovascular system and respiratory system. When a patient is brought into the cath lab, their baseline respiratory rate, heart rate, blood pressure, central arterial pressure, and pain level is measured. During the course of the procedure, these areas are continuously monitored. If any of these systems or levels fluctuate, action is taken to return them to their baselines. For example, a patient may come in with a blood pressure of 120/80 and a heart rate of 75 beats per minute. During the procedure the blood pressure drops to 80/50 and the heart rate drops to 50. The physician orders atropine to be given and intravenous fluid rate is increased. The patient returns to normal baseline homeostasis within five minutes. Another patient may have no chest pain upon arrival but during the course of the procedure develops 6/10 chest pain. Pain medication and nitroglycerin sublingual is given and the patient's pain is relieved. These are some of the examples of maintaining homeostasis in the writer's areas of practice.
In conclusion, homeostasis is a biomedical theory that can be applied to the field of nursing. The healthy human body is in a state of homeostasis, but homeostasis can be affected by many external and internal issues such as cancer, diabetes, environmental temperature, and fever to name a few. The body's ability to fight off diseases and environmental changes determines the level of homeostasis that the person achieves.
References:
McEwen, M. & Wills, E.M. (2011). Theoretical basis for nursing (3rd ed.), (pp. 308-309). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health / Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.