Using the Roper-Logan-Tierney model in neonatal transport

In recent years approaches to nursing practice have changed. Nursing theorists have advocated the need for nursing practice to be carried out using a systematic rather than an intuitive approach. A process of nursing has been developed as a method of organizing and delivering nursing care. This change in nursing practice has resulted in the need to establish a knowledge base that relates specifically to nursing. Conceptual models of nursing, advocated by nursing theorists, have come into use in Ireland, the UK and the USA. These models aim to promote greater understanding of people and their nursing needs. They advocate a certain approach to nursing and attempt to define nursing as a role independent from other health care roles. The need to develop a knowledge base specific to nursing remains a central tenet of the profession (Aggleton and Chalmers, 2000). Nursing models serve to provide this knowledge base through the description of the nature of people, health, environment and nursing. The aim of this article is to explore the use of the Roper-Logan-Tierney (RLT) nursing model in a neonatal transport setting. The first section provides an overview of the model. The second section describes the background information on a selected patient, followed by a detailed assessment of this patient using the activities of living. The final section evaluates the use of the model in this clinical situation with reference to literature on the topic.