Nursing theory is a vital part in the field of nursing to aid nurses in the practice of their profession by guiding them with an implementation of structure and a process for organizing and explaining nursing actions. As a person embarks in a career as a nurse, they will bring with them their views, values, ideas, and experiences which all help in the development of their philosophy. It is this philosophy that will guide them in their nursing care. It is not enough to just have a philosophy as a guide to which nurses base their care. Theory must be applied to help bring together a person’s personal philosophy to their profession. To truly understand the nursing profession, one must acquire an understanding of theory and how it applies to person, environment, health, and nursing. Dr. Pamela G. Reed was born in Detroit, Michigan on June 13, 1952. Dr. Reed graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Wayne State University in 1974. She earned her masters in psychiatric nursing and nursing education in 1976. She earned her Ph.D. in 1982 with a concentration in nursing theory and research and a minor in adult development and aging in 1982. Dr. Reed’s dissertation focused on the relationship between well-being and spiritual perspectives on life and death (Coward, 2010 in Masters, 2015, p.296). Dr. Reed is currently a professor at the University of Arizona. She has worn many hats in the area of academia including many administrative positions. Dr. Reed has developed two
nurse staffing ensures quality nursing care for patients and can be a challenge for nurse
The application of nursing theories to the nursing care practice promotes the structure of care. It intensifies the importance of an individual in need and facilitates the environment of healing. By integrating the major nursing theories into the daily nursing routine in the hospitals or the community, and understanding their meaning, nursing profession flourishes as a unique science separate from the discipline of law. One of the theories looked at is humanbecoming by Rosemarie Rizzo Parse. As Smith & Parker, (2015) explains, humanbecoming nurses’ involvement in the care of the patient is influenced by the utmost importance that arise from the point of view of their patient at that particular time. The nurse then and recognizes the wishes, benefits and desires of the patient and prioritizes her care in such a way.
The nursing theories assist the nurses to identify the limitations of nursing and advance the development of nursing as a unique profession. The theories help to explain the role of nursing in todays health care sector. It also gives the information on the basics of nursing practice and help to create more information in various aspects of patient care. The benefits of having the theory in nursing compromise the improved patient care, therapeutic communication among nurses, It also helps for the guidance for the research and education.( Application of theory in Nursing process”).Nursing was considered under medicine before the development of theories in nursing. Use of theory gives structure and organization to nursing knowledge. Theories make nursing more purposeful. It not only focuses on practice but also improves the rationale. Nursing theory also give the definitions and clarifications of nursing. It helps to differentiate nursing from other professions; It provides professional limits for practice in nursing. . (McEwen, &. Wills, 2014). Nursing theory helps nurses to clarify, explain and look for incidents in nursing practice. Serve to guide, evaluation and assessment of nursing practice.. It helps in professional communication between, coworkers and patients. It is very useful in doing researches. In the field of education role of nursing theory is very significant. It helps for the development of curricula, and helps in
The metaparadigm of nursing consists of four parts comprised by Jacqueline Fawcett, in 1984, in her seminal work (Alligood, 2014). The metaparadigm she developed served to provide direction and guidance for the nursing framework already in use and became an organization tool for theories already in use (Alligood, 2014). The four parts being person, health, environment, and nursing. The four components of the metaparadigm concept of nursing is important to nursing theory because they are the key areas of focus of patient care, and the metaparadigm is designed to differentiate nursing from other specialties (Alligood, 2014). It is this use of theories that makes nursing a profession and guides professional nursing practice, research, and education (Alligood, 2014).
The nursing profession has progressed greatly since it roots with Florence Nightingale, moving from reliance upon total medical direction for providing basic care and “the first duty of the nurse it that of obedience-absolute fidelity to his orders, even if the necessity of the prescribed measures is not apparent, you have no responsibility beyond that of faithfully carrying out the directions received” (Jennifer C. Telford), into an autonomous practice with its own nursing theory practices, models, and interventions.
Nursing has made a tremendous push towards being a profession during the past century. Many in the health care academia not only see nursing as an academic discipline, but also an equal colleague. This transformation is due to nursing progressing towards theory-based practice. "A nursing theory is a set of concepts, definitions, relationships, and assumptions or propositions derived from nursing models or from other disciplines and project a purposive, systematic view of phenomena by designing specific inter-relationships among concepts for the purposes of describing, explaining, predicting, and /or prescribing" (Ameen & Mutha). Theory based-practice has made nursing meaningful. Experts in the field developed, tried, and tested nursing
Nursing theories are important for nurses for our daily work as it provides us with an all-inclusive foundation to clarify and foresee issues that impact nursing care. In nursing, caring should be placed high on our priority list for our nursing practice. As nurses we must develop knowledge on research outcomes for the foundation of nursing practice. Consequently the grown and the certification of nursing theory will aid in the establishment of nursing practice. It is a source of specific individuality as it guides nursing education, research, practice, and distinguishes nursing practice from other disciplines.
Nursing theory is what connects phenomenology of nursing science with nursing practice. Theory can be grand or most commonly middle range. Some theories are borrowed and they identify new thoughts or ideas related to patient care. Theories may not always be measurable; yet, theory can still describe what nurses do. According to McEwen & Wills (2014), “It is widely believed that use of theory offers structure and organization to nursing knowledge and provides a systematic means of collecting data to describe, explain, and predict nursing practice” (p. 25). Theory provides nurses expansion of knowledge through research and practice ultimately contributing to optimal patient outcomes. Theory and theoretical models contribute to the nurses critical thinking skills and decision-making process. Theory contributes to nursing values and effective ways of delivering patient focused care. Theory should be taught across all levels of nursing education. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) encourages nurses to be partners in healthcare, leaders of change given the demands of our changing health care system and technological advances and the American Nurses Association supports the incorporation of nursing science to advance the nursing profession.
Nursing as a profession has evolved through the contributions of practicing nurse theorists who have worked rigorously toward improving the way nurses approach the art and science of nursing. Through theory development, nursing models, and their conceptual frameworks, they have provided a foundation for nurses and their practice. Nursing theories have developed from the choices and assumptions about the nature of what a particular theorist believes about nursing, what the basis of nursing knowledge is, and nurses do or how they practice in
The purpose of the nursing theories is to provide an interrelating framework focusing on the nursing practice. The defined nursing theories promote better patient care, improve the status of nursing profession, and improve the communication between the nurses, and provide guidance to the researches and education (Keefe, 2011). Not all nursing theories have the same meanings; however, they play the important role of explaining the key concepts and principles of nursing practice in understanding way.
Nursing philosophy “identifies what is believed to be the basic or central phenomena of the discipline, relates nursing to a particular world view, and provides some information on how one may come to learn about the world”. (p. 13, Salsberry, 2008). My personal philosophy of nursing evolved over the years and includes my observations, beliefs, thoughts, and practices. The purpose of this paper is to discuss my personal philosophy of nursing and the personal and professional experiences that have contributed to the development of my view of nursing.
The development of a personal philosophy about nursing is essential to the growth of every nurse. This starts in nursing school. In fact, all nurses do incorporate their personal beliefs within their nursing practice one way or the other. The growth and maturation of a nurse can influence and/or change their philosophy. Exposure to new beliefs and cultural differences may impact one’s philosophy; however, views of other nursing theorists could shape and help a nurse develop and expand their philosophy.
Abstract A nursing philosophy is important to help describe what nursing is and why nurses practice the way they do. Each nurse has their own personal nursing philosophy which encompasses their actions, views, morals, experiences, concepts, notions and attitudes. Nursing theories are the most basic level of a philosophy, created by nurses, in order to help nurses methodically comprehend certain completed performances and actions. Per McCrae theories are important to help advance the profession of nursing, separating it from the practice of medicine (McCrae, 2011).
The importance of nursing theory to practice of nursing should not be overlooked or underrated. That is because, it’s understanding and application are essential in enhancing patient 's care, improving communication between nurses, providing education’ and guidance in research, (Robert T. Croyle (2005). It is equally important to know that currently, there are many theories that guide the practice of nursing. Two of the most prominent ones will be compared and will form the subject of this this discussion.
Given that nursing is a hands-on, professional 'practice,' to speak of nursing 'in theory' may at first seem like a contradiction in terms. However, nursing theory is an important tool, offering the practitioner in the field a way to better make decisions. Theory acts as a guide to practice. Of course, in nursing, theory is never subsumed to the specifics of a case. Unlike philosophy or literary theory, no theory can stand apart from the realities of the need to treat a patient effectively. But nursing theory can be helpful in dealing with unexpected situations. Nursing theories consist of "concepts, definitions, models, propositions and are based on assumptions" of deductive and inductive logic (Nursing theories: An overview, 2012, Nursing Theories).