Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Ethical Issues01:27

Ethical Issues

2.5K
Nurses are essential in patient care, upholding the ethical principles of their profession and effectively navigating ethical dilemmas. Neglecting ethical issues can lead to inadequate patient care, compromised therapeutic relationships, and moral distress among healthcare workers.
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
2.5K
Concepts of Health and Illness01:29

Concepts of Health and Illness

19.5K
Health is a condition of the body, mind, and spirit where an individual remains free from illness. Similarly, wellness is an active state, including living a lifestyle that promotes physical, mental, and emotional health. Physical health is critical for the overall well-being and can be affected by lifestyle, activity level, diet, and behavior. The highest attainable standard of health is a fundamental and universal human right. Consider Lisa, a fifteen-year-old born with congenital...
19.5K
Dimensions of Health and Illness01:21

Dimensions of Health and Illness

12.0K
The factors influencing the health-illness continuum can be internal or external and may or may not be under conscious control. They are related to the following eight human dimensions, and each dimension is interrelated to one other.
12.0K
Ethical Dilemmas II01:30

Ethical Dilemmas II

2.8K
Resolving an ethical dilemma in healthcare involves a systematic approach that considers every aspect of the issue, respecting both the patient's needs and values and the healthcare professional's ethical obligations. Here are potential steps to resolve an ethical dilemma:
2.8K
Ethical Dilemmas I01:17

Ethical Dilemmas I

2.4K
Ethical dilemmas in nursing are of utmost importance, as they often arise from the tension between adhering to core ethical principles and the practical realities of healthcare delivery. These dilemmas require nurses to navigate complex situations where competing ethical considerations pull them in different directions.
Let us explore some examples to understand the potentially complex moral decisions nurses face.
Take the case of caring for minors, particularly in areas related to reproductive...
2.4K
Nursing Ethical Principles II01:27

Nursing Ethical Principles II

2.6K
Ethical principles are essential in guiding nurses to fulfill their responsibilities, focusing on the quality of nursing care and decision-making. These principles, including autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and fidelity, shape the ethical framework within healthcare settings.
Consider the following scenario, which illustrates how these principles are applied in the care of Mr. John, a fifty-year-old teacher diagnosed with metastatic liver cancer.
Initially, Mr. John's...
2.6K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

A Two-Level, Multidimensional Framework for Understanding and Treating Clinician Fatigue.

Health care analysis : HCA : journal of health philosophy and policy·2026
Same author

Riluzole use and reasons for non-use in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The New Zealand medical journal·2026
Same author

Toward More Precise Health Care Through Relational Mapping.

Journal of evaluation in clinical practice·2025
Same author

Reframing bradykinesia in Parkinson's disease: the mixed blessing of slow and variable movement.

Disability and rehabilitation·2025
Same author

Navigating Dual Logics in Long-Term Post-Acute Care: A Framework for Person-Centered Integration.

Journal of the American Medical Directors Association·2025
Same author

10 Limits to Forgiveness in Health Care.

Health care analysis : HCA : journal of health philosophy and policy·2025
Same journal

"Wouldn't It Be Easier to Be Burned at the Stake?": Schizophrenia and Deinstitutionalization in <i>Bitter Medicine</i>.

Perspectives in biology and medicine·2026
Same journal

The Mental Health Crisis of Rural America: Understanding Supply and Demand.

Perspectives in biology and medicine·2026
Same journal

The Final Act of Care: Accuracy in Cause of Death Statements.

Perspectives in biology and medicine·2026
Same journal

Making Fun of Medicine: Resisting Medicine's Principalities.

Perspectives in biology and medicine·2026
Same journal

Courage, Conviction, Resolve: The Story of Dr. Gui Xi'en.

Perspectives in biology and medicine·2026
Same journal

Magnanimity in Medicine: The Role of an Ancient Virtue in Health Care.

Perspectives in biology and medicine·2026
See all related articles
  1. Home
  3. Existential Competence: Redefining Clinical Excellence Beyond Health Optimization.
  1. Home
  3. Existential Competence: Redefining Clinical Excellence Beyond Health Optimization.

Related Experiment Video

Using Visual and Narrative Methods to Achieve Fair Process in Clinical Care
14:32

Using Visual and Narrative Methods to Achieve Fair Process in Clinical Care

Published on: February 16, 2011

25.0K

Existential Competence: Redefining Clinical Excellence Beyond Health Optimization.

Stephen Buetow

    Perspectives in Biology and Medicine
    |March 30, 2026

    View abstract on PubMed

    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Clinicians can improve patient care by developing existential competence, a skill that helps align medical decisions with patients' life values and purpose, fostering overall well-being beyond just health metrics.

    More Related Videos

    Treatment Model for Young Patients with Psychogenic Erectile Dysfunction and Resultant Infertility
    04:22

    Treatment Model for Young Patients with Psychogenic Erectile Dysfunction and Resultant Infertility

    Published on: May 30, 2025

    1.3K

    Related Experiment Videos

    Using Visual and Narrative Methods to Achieve Fair Process in Clinical Care
    14:32

    Using Visual and Narrative Methods to Achieve Fair Process in Clinical Care

    Published on: February 16, 2011

    25.0K
    Treatment Model for Young Patients with Psychogenic Erectile Dysfunction and Resultant Infertility
    04:22

    Treatment Model for Young Patients with Psychogenic Erectile Dysfunction and Resultant Infertility

    Published on: May 30, 2025

    1.3K

    Area of Science:

    • Medical Ethics
    • Patient-Centered Care
    • Philosophy of Medicine

    Background:

    • Healthcare decisions often prioritize measurable health outcomes over patient-valued aspects like autonomy and quality of life.
    • This disparity can create conflict between clinical goals and patient-centered meaningful care.
    • A gap exists in professional skills for addressing this divergence.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To introduce and define "existential competence" as a crucial professional skill for clinicians.
    • To explore how existential competence can bridge the gap between technical medical care and patients' life values.
    • To propose frameworks for integrating existential well-being into healthcare.

    Main Methods:

    • Conceptual analysis and definition of existential competence.
  • Exploration of clinical practice implications for respecting patient values.
  • Discussion of two implementation approaches: repositioning health or redefining health.
  • Consideration of ethical and practical aspects of clinical accountability.

    • Main Results:

    • Existential competence enables clinicians to support patients in aligning health decisions with life purpose.
    • It reframes health as one component of human flourishing, not the sole objective.
    • Successful implementation requires viewing healthcare as co-stewardship of life narratives, not just risk management.

    Conclusions:

    • Existential competence reorients healthcare towards patient thriving by integrating biomedical knowledge with meaningful living.
    • It promotes a holistic approach where patient values guide medical choices within ethical boundaries.
    • This skill is essential for delivering truly meaningful and patient-centered care.