Why Is Theory Important?

Nursing Theory:

The Basis for Professional Nursing

Black Chapter 9

Goals

• Describe the function of nursing theory in research and practice.
• Describe the need for current nursing theory to be examined in light of the rapid evolution of health care.
• Understand the importance of generating nursing knowledge that both applies to practice and cuts across the boundaries of disciplines.

• Define philosophy, conceptual frameworks, theory, and middle-range theory.
• Consider how selected nursing theoretical works guide the practice of nursing.
• Understand how nursing philosophy or theory shapes the curriculum in schools of nursing.
• Delineate the role of nursing theory for different levels of nursing education.

Nursing as a profession is strengthened when nursing knowledge is built on sound theory.Theory is a useful tool for reasoning, critical thinking, and decision-making (Tomey and Alligood, 2010).

Conceptual Models of Nursing

King’s Interacting Systems Framework & Theory of Goal Attainment - Emphasizes personal, interpersonal, and social systems to understand human behavior and nurse-patient interactions. - Focuses on mutual goal-setting between nurse and patient to promote health and achieve desired outcomes. Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory - Centers on individuals’ ability to care for themselves and identifies when nursing support is needed due to self-care deficits. - Guides nurses to assess, plan, and intervene based on the patient’s self-care needs and capabilities. Roy’s Adaptation Model - Views individuals as adaptive systems responding to environmental stimuli through physiological, self-concept, role function, and interdependence modes. - Nursing aims to promote positive adaptation by managing stimuli and enhancing coping mechanisms.

Grand-to-Middle Range Theories

Bibliographic references

• Grand theory is a broad conceptualization of nursing phenomena.
• Middle-range theory is narrower in focus and makes connections between grand theories and nursing practice.
• Theories are less abstract than models and usually propose specific outcomes.

• Examples:
• Peplau’s Theory of Interpersonal Relations in Nursing
• Orlando’s Nursing Process Theory
• Leininger’s Theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality

Philosophies of nursing

H1

A philosophy is a set of beliefs about the nature of how the world works.

Broad, general view of nursing that clarifies values and expands on the definition of nursing to answer broad disciplinary questions.

H2

H3

Conceptual Models of Nursing

• Conceptual models provide organizational structures for critical thinking about the processes of nursing.
• Models are less abstract and more formalized than the philosophies.
• Models are more abstract than theories of nursing.
• Examples:
• Orem’s Self-Care Model
• King’s Interacting Systems Framework and Theory of Goal Attainment
• Roy’s Adaptation Model

Grand-to-Middle Range Theories

• Grand theory is a broad conceptualization of nursing phenomena.
• Middle-range theory is narrower in focus and makes connections between grand theories and nursing practice.
• Theories are less abstract than models and usually propose specific outcomes.
• Examples:
• Peplau’s Theory of Interpersonal Relations in Nursing
• Orlando’s Nursing Process Theory
• Leininger’s Theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality

Middle Range Theories ofNursing

• Middle-range theories are neither overly broad nor narrow in scope.
• They incorporate a limited number of concepts and focus on a specific aspect of nursing.
• They typically merge practice and research.
• Examples:
• Swanson’s Caring Theory
• Mishel’s Uncertainty in Illness Theory
• Jezewski’s Cultural Brokering Theory

Nursology

• The science and body of knowledge created by and for the discipline of nursing.
• NOT the study of nurses
• Study BY nurses of phenomena of concern to nursing

Using Theory: Theory-Based Education

• The nursing curricula are built on one or more specific conceptual models or concepts.
• 2000: Beavis and Watson
• 2006: Lewis
• Nursing profession evolved from applied vocation dependent on knowledge from other disciplines to its current stage of development with its own knowledge base.

Using Theory: Theory-BasedPractice (1 of 2)

• Theory-based practice occurs:
• When nurses intentionally structure their practice around a particular nursing theory and use it to guide them as they use the nursing process to assess, plan, diagnose, intervene, and evaluate nursing care.

Using Theory: Theory-Based Practice (2 of 2)

Benefits of theory-based practice

1. It shapes theoretical orientation to practice.
2. It facilitates the transmission of nursing knowledge.
3. It contributes to professional autonomy. It is a nursing-based guide for practice, education, and research.
4. It helps develop analytical skills, challenges thinking, and clarifies values and assumptions.

Using Theory: Theory-Based Research

• Nursing research tests and refines the knowledge base of nursing.
• Research findings enable nurses to improve the quality of care and understand how evidence-based practice influences improved patient outcomes.

Did you know?

Jeans Watson’s philosophy focuses on treating patients holistically by addressing their physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs—rather than focusing solely on their medical conditions

Did you know?

Virginia Henderson's philosophy of nursing is centered around the concept of the "Nursing Need Theory," which emphasizes the importance of assisting individuals in performing activities that contribute to their health or recovery.

Tip:

Florence Nightingale's philosophy in nursing practice is centered around the belief that the environment plays a pivotal role in a patient's recovery.