Nursing Theories: Course Analysis

Nursing theories have been a fundamental tool used to explain, guide and improve the practice of nursing. Theorists have contributed enormously to the growth of nursing as a profession. The four grand theorists I chose are Virginia Henderson, Peplau, Myra Levine and Jean Watson. These theorists have contributed tremendously in the field of nursing through their theories, and research. One thing the theorists have in common is that they are patient centered. They are all concerned on ways we can improve our responsibility to the patients, their families and the environment. They have different ideas but they are all aiming towards achieving the same goal, which is patient satisfaction and safety. Their differences are in their areas of

Nursing theories form the supportive framework on which our patient care relies on (Alejandro, 2017). It is not only the foundation of the nursing discipline but, it defines of we practice. If nurses lack that foundation, new knowledge development within nursing will decline. They are very important for Masters and advanced practice nursing students who are preparing to

Theory development stems from personal experiences, intuition, and knowledge of the theorist (Burns et al., 2013). When a scholar develops a theory, it has to be tested through research. The findings of the study are then presented to experts in the area of academics and the field of practice (Burns et al., 2013). The presentation of the findings allows experts to provide constructive criticism, highlight the pros and cons of the theory, and acknowledge whether or not the theory can be accepted as a guide to practice. This theory evaluation paper will give the reader a theory description, theory analysis, and an assessment of Dorothea Orem’s self-care deficit theory of nursing (Alligood et al., 2010).

Having defined nursing theories promotes better patient care, improve the status of nursing profession, and improve the communication between the nurses. In addition to guiding the nurses to provide the best care to the patients, nursing theories are used to promote and guide baccalaureate programs, administration and nursing research.

Evaluation of the CSM Fawcett and DeSanto-Madeya (2013) identified the need for the evaluation of a theory to judge how much it fulfills specific criteria. Theory evaluation includes the following six criteria: 1) significance, 2) internal consistency, 3) parsimony, 4) testability, 5) empirical adequacy, and 6) pragmatic adequacy. This evaluation is based on the results of the nursing theory analysis, and the prior publications of the theory critique, research or practical application reports (Fawcett & DeSanto-Madeya, 2013). Significance The criterion of significance, the first step in theory evaluation, focuses on judging whether the context of the theory is significant to the nursing discipline (Fawcett & DeSanto-Madeya, 2013).

The 2011 article "Culturally sensitive collaborative care models: exploration of a community-based health center" used bio-psychosocial theory and a feminist ecological framework to embark upon a qualitative study of a nurse-managed community-based health center in the northeast designed to serve an underprivileged population. The study identified barriers and facilitators in communication. It wished to give specific attention to barriers in treatment of African-Americans, Latinos and other historically discriminated-against groups. These populations have traditionally faced obstacles such as income, prejudice of providers, and community suspicion of the healthcare profession. The open-ended study was designed to "explore how multiple contextual variables of patients and their providers influence the collaborative process of 39 staff" at the facility (Bruner, Davey, & Waite 2011:1).

Nursing theories are a great framework in nursing practice and assists in the positive impact in patient care. According to Kuhrik, Laub, Kuhrik, & Atwater (2011), there are thoughts that in the future nursing will embark on some challenges especially oncology, due to the fact of an aging population among the elderly. The authors believe that the theoretical framework enhances the practice of nursing and aides in staff retention, patient satisfaction, and clinical outcomes. However, due to the need to stay abreast on current cancer treatment modalities and continued education, the daily enthusiasm needed to care for the terminally ill can often times be physically and emotionally draining. Thus, the concern for veteran nurses retaining their positions and newly graduated nurses having proper training is crucial in providing optimal patient care and providing patient safety at the same time (Kuhrik et al, p. 114). In the world of nursing, burnout is an ongoing issue that nurses face due to the physical and emotional demands they deal with on a daily basis, which causes the turnover rate to increase (Henry, 2014; Edmonds, Lockwood, Bezjak & Nyhof-Young, 2012). The use of Neuman’s System Model Theory when properly employed as it views the holistic approach to care can also address the concerns of nurse burnout, not only among oncology nurses but nursing in general. This assignment will include the following: concerns of nurse burnout in

Theories have been a fundamental part of nursing since the early stages of the profession. When nursing was a new discipline, theorists began to determine the theoretic basis of practice. Nursing theories have been used to define the individual receiving nursing care, the goal or purpose of nursing, the nursing intervention, as well as the role of the nurse (Im & Ju Chang, 2012, p. 2) There was a change in focus from nursing education to nursing research during the theory era which was in the mid 1970’s to

This paper discusses practice, research, and theory as it pertains to nursing. It explains how important research is in nursing practice. The paper talks about mislabeling specimen issues that hospital I work for encountered and examples of similar situations at other healthcare facilities. This paper discuses Florence Nightingale’s environmental theory of nursing care as it pertains to a horrible case study of parent negligence.

There are many different nursing theories that are significant to nursing practice, because they help nurses to examine what is already known, and what additional knowledge and skills are required in variety of nursing situations. They provide basis for nursing practice, as well as some additional tools, that help with delivery of better care to patients and caregivers. Finally, nursing theories improve professional status for nurses and provide guidance and direction for research and education (Colley, 2003).

In nursing there are theories that determine how the profession is going to be handled. Scholars and other practitioners of medicines have proved these theories. In our case we will be looking how these theories are applicable in the entire world of nursing medicine. What are nursing theories? Nursing theories are theories that describe, develop, and provides on how nursing profession should be carried out. These theories provide information on how or on the ground on how the terms of nursing terms can be defined and even touches on how principles of nursing and how the basis of

Why is research on past nursing theorist intergraded into nursing education today? How are nursing theories and theorist from the 19th century relevant today? It’s the 21st century and nursing has change substantial over the past three centuries. Nurses are no longer the starched white uniform dress wearing, doctor’s little helpers that they use to be. The field of nursing has graduated from all white dresses and white stockings with caps to more functional scrubs and relaxed rules about cosmetics and jewelry. Nurses now communicate important information about patients to doctors and provide input into treatment plans. The scope of practice for nurses had been outlined to allow nurses to make more independent decisions and follow the nursing process to deliver life saving measures, so what could we possibly have in common with nurses from 200 years ago. Nursing was new then, what could those nurses possibly have known that technology has not innovated today. The writer of this paper was shocked to find out that her antagonistic attitude toward researching theory was unfounded. There is actually a lot to learn from our nursing predecessors.

Throughout the history of nursing, many theories have been developed by nurses to explain certain concepts and phenomena. By identifying these systems of ideas, nurses can better understand the relationships between concepts and use them in the clinical setting. This method of thinking ultimately helps guide evidence-based practice. Understanding the ideas and concepts behind these nursing theories are vital to the development of professionalism and knowledge that are beneficial in the improvement of care that nurses provide for their patients. Considered a middle-range theory, the uncertainty in illness theory was first published in 1988 by a Professor of nursing named Merle Mishel, who has distinguished uncertainty as a stress-producing factor in an illness situation and how patients cope based on their perception or meaning of their illness. Uncertainty has been defined by Mishel (1988) as “the inability to determine the meaning of illness-related events”, and it arises when the “decision maker is unable to assign definite value to objects or events, or is unable to predict outcomes accurately” (as cited in Blais & Hayes, 2011, p. 111). In other words, uncertainty is a thought process that the patient is in where their current understanding of their illness is insufficient to help them understand what their illness means to them. Mishel’s uncertainty theory was influenced using information from Lazarus and Folkman’s theory concerning stress and coping, which had

Nursing theory provides a perspective from which defines what, who and when nursing is needed and at the same time identifies the boundaries and goals of nursing therapeutics activities. A nursing theory is a set of relationships, expectations, suggestion and ideas derived from nursing models for the purpose of describing, explaining, forecasting and recommending. Theory is fundamental for effective nursing practice and research. The professionalization of nursing has been and is being brought about through the development and use of nursing theory. Nursing theories is used as a form of knowledge in supporting nursing practices. In order to understand nursing theories, the components of theory need to be defined first, and the components

"Nursing knowledge is the inclusive total of the philosophies, theories, research, and practice wisdom of the discipline. As a professional discipline, this knowledge is necessary for guiding practice," (Smith & Liehr, 2008). By accomplishing this through theories, further research can be undertaken to improve practice and knowledge within the nursing discipline.