A nursing theory can be defined as the concepts and assumptions used to explain, predict and control the practice of nursing. These theories provide a systematic view of the profession by organizing the relationships between all of the phenomena (i.e. events, people, and actions) that are associated with practice (Current Nursing, 2012). Nursing theories serve multiple purposes within the profession such as indicating the direction in which the practice will advance over time by predicting future relationships and occurrences. They establish the foundations for behavior and knowledge by explaining the practice through the models presented and the detailed descriptions of nursing phenomena. In addition, these theories can help distinguish the professional boundaries needed in practice to maintain a respectful and ethical relationship between patients and healthcare professionals. Nursing theories also have the ability to portray nursing in multiple lights to fit the situation at hand. This ability stems from the multiple categories of theories that each address a distinct part of practice. For example “outcome” theories focus on the end goal for the patient’s recovery and describe the nurse as the force behind coping and adaptation, while “interaction” theories focus on the patient’s mental state and describes nurses as a positive relationship (Current Nursing, 2012). One of the more widely known “outcome” theories is the Adaptation Model presented by Sister Callista Roy in
With the numerous nursing theories that have been established throughout the profession, it has become empirical for nursing professionals to be able to sort through the various concepts and critically analyze the significance for individual practice as well as the profession of nursing as a whole. Nursing theories should be analyzed and investigated for the value before acceptance just as new ideas are reviewed prior to implementation into practice. An analysis involves the use of reflective thinking in regards to a chosen theory and assessing the value it will have on specific situation.
The nursing profession entails core values and commonalities that link those in the profession. A comprehensive study of the literature identifies key components of the profession as the provision of technical care, defending the vulnerable, taking care of the ill, as well as establishing systems for the delivery of care. Different models have been developed which describes and guides the nursing profession. The two nursing theories: the Theory of Nursing as Caring by Boykin and Schoenhofer and the Transition Theory of Afaf Ibrahim Meleis are constructive theories and serviceable in the nursing field. This paper gives an analysis of two nursing theories, comparing and contrasting their values.
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).
At St. Mary’s Hospital there is a need for dedicated admission staff. Several reasons why are:
A grand theory in nursing would be Doretha Orem’s self care theory. This theory encompasses the entire concept of nursing in the fact that it states individuals will strive to meet healthcare needs to maintain health and wellness. This is very broad, can not be tested and is used in a variety of settings and populations.
Theory, what is a theory? According to Blais & Hayes, (2011) “A theory is a supposition or idea that is proposed to explain a given phenomenon. Theories differ in their scope and have been categorized in different ways. One of those categorizations schemes divide them into categories according to scope, using philosophy models, grand theories, and middle range theories” (Blais & Hayes, 2011, p. 98). A philosophical scope is the broadest scope and looks at nature of things and how they relate to one another to provide meaning that can be applied to a situation (Blais & Hayes, 2011). In the history of nursing Theories have been used throughout time to explain phenomena in nursing and with the integration of nursing theories into practice demonstrating a pathway for introducing a paradigm shift into the science of nursing.
Although the principles stated by Porter-O'Grady & Malloch (2015) and O’Brien (2011) share plenty of similarities, they differ in substantial aspects. The principles differ in that they cannot all be applied in similar nursing theories because the details ingrained are specific to selected nursing theories which guide the nurse and nurse leaders in executing their routine roles. O’Brien’s nurse leadership behavioral themes, for instance, seem most suitable for the interpersonal nursing theory which emphasizes nursing as an interpersonal process whereby nurses and patients can interact and communicate (Nursing-Theory.org, n.d.). Porter-O'Grady & Malloch ten spiritual rules of the road seem most applicable in transcultural nursing theory. The theory emphasizes on the knowledge and understanding of different cultures with due regard for health-illness and nursing practices, values, and beliefs with the aim of the provision of efficacious and meaningful nursing care services to the patient according to their backgrounds (Nursing-Theory.org, n.d.).
Nursing theories have affected the nursing profession. Nursing is no longer just about tasks and skills, it is about the whole patient. Theorists have developed a range of theories from grand theories to middle theories to practice theories (Mao, 2015). A nurse can take various parts of some or all theories to use in their nursing practice so they can provide diverse approaches to care (Aliakbari, Parvin, Heidari
In the article written by Kuo, Liu, and Ma, uses multiple theories to enhance practice with mobile electronic health medical records (Kuo, Liu, & Ma, 2013). One theory that is mentioned throughout the article is technology acceptance model (Kuo et al., 2013, p. 2). Another theory that is used is technology readiness index, which includes traits that describe the nurse involved in the process (Kuo et al., 2013, p. 2). With implementing these two nursing theories in practice when discussing the implementation of mobile electronic medical records increase the understanding of the topic.
A nursing theory is considered as the group of concepts and assumptions that are derived from various nursing models for describing the phenomenon, which further help in drawing specific relationship between different concepts. They also act by providing an identity to the nurses and also help the other healthcare professionals and patients to acknowledge the contribution of nurses in the healthcare service. Apart from delivering the meaning of nursing, these theories also helps in understanding the role and purpose of the nurses in the healthcare setting. In any nursing theory, there are four common concepts defined by nursing theorists, which affect and determine the practice profession, i.e., the person; the environment; health; and nursing
Nursing theories are organized and systematic articulations of statements concerning several issues in nursing. These theories encompass concepts, propositions, definitions and models principally based on assumptions. In addition, nursing theories are significant for identifying patients’ needs, evaluating the patient conditions based on theoretically explained methods, and establishing effective relations and communication with patients. They offer the values that support practice and help to generate further knowledge in nursing. Nurses rely on theories when choosing a model to apply that meets patient’s needs and use them to resolve patients’ problems as well as evaluate the effectiveness of implemented processes. Orem's Self-Care Deficit
that nursing has truly come a long way. Today, nurses are better able to provide appropriate
Caring science encompasses a humanitarian, human science orientation to human caring processes, phenomena and experiences. Caring science includes arts and humanities as well as science. A caring science perspective is grounded in a relational ontology of being-in-relation, and a world view of unity and connectedness of All. Transpersonal Caring acknowledges unity of life and connections that move in concentric circles of caring – from individual, to others, to community, to world, to Planet Earth, to the universe. Caring science investigations embrace inquiries that are reflective, subjective and interpretative as well as objective-empirical and Caring science inquiry includes ontological, philosophical, ethical, historical inquiry and
There are five stages that Benner developed for theory. The stages that a nurse moves through are: novice, advanced beginner, competent, proficient, and expert (Drumm, 2013). The novice nurse are nurses that still need told what to do. The advanced beginner begins to practice based on principles ("From novice to expert," 2013). Advanced beginner is the nurse who has practiced for two to three years and is beginning to be more aware of long term goals ("From novice to expert," 2013). The proficient nurse sees the process in its entirety and improves in their decision making skills ("From novice to expert," 2013). The expert nurse has experience and understand fully how to make decisions ("From novice to expert," 2013). In each stage the nurse gains clinical experience.
The nursing profession has borrowed several non-nursing theories over the years to build upon nursing theories and models to improve nursing practice and patient care. The following paper will discuss key point from seven different non-nursing theories in order of relevance. The seven theories are Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Chaos theory, Change Theory, Quality Improvement, Empowerment Theory, Healthy Work Environment, and Systems Theory. Subsequently one theory will be supported according to the writer’s personal beliefs and how it impacts today’s healthcare.