Nursing Theory and Nursing Knowledge

A theory is defined as “a plausible or scientifically acceptable general principle or body of principles offered to explain phenomena (Merriam-Webster, 2017). In the nursing field, nursing theories have helped shape philosophies of many nurses in our history, as well as modern day. Every nurse, near and far, could probably tell you who Florence Nightingale was. She was a pioneer for women in nursing and made countless contributions to our field. Her nursing philosophy was based on Environmental Theory, “A belief that a person’s surroundings such as clean air, water,

The interdisciplinary field of healthcare continues to evolve and the demand for nurses continue to rise; as does the quality of patient care provided. One could suggest the importance of how patient care began is as significant to understand, where it should be and is going. Health care advocates such as Esther Lucille Brown, whom contributed to the standardization for accreditation nursing education programs, and Florence Nightingale, whom brought nursing to modernization and set the precedence for quality patient centered care continue to influence health care and nursing (Finkleman & Kenner, 2016). Health care leaders of this era influentially lead to organizations, such as Institute of Medicine (IOM) that promotes quality care through core competencies, and the American Nurses Association (ANA) holds true to the legacy of nursing while guiding the future of nursing with foundational guidelines such as the Code of Ethics.

A nursing theory that has influenced my professional nursing practice is Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring. In this theory she addresses how nurses care for their patients. Caring is the essence of the nursing profession and is a relationship formed between the nurse and the patient. In Watson’s theory she believed that caring could assist the patient to gain control in their own health care, become educated, and in the end find health. Watson focused on the patient’s mind, body, and soul and this is the aspect of her theory that I try to use in my professional practice. As a new nurse straight out of nursing school I focused more on protocols and procedures to make sure I was doing everything right. My patients had good outcomes but I was amazed when I started thinking about the patient as a whole and not just thinking about the illness they had and how to treat it. Many times just treating the patient’s

A1. The nursing profession has evolved significantly over the decades. One of the factors that have greatly influenced these changes has been the involvement of nurses in the development of theories and data base needed to support the advancement of our profession. In the last half of the twentieth century, nurse researchers (1950s) and nurse theorists (1960s and 1970s) greatly contributed to the expanding body of nursing knowledge with their studies of nursing practice and the development of nursing models and theories (American Nurses Association, 2010, p. 16). Like in any other research activity, a special set of

Nursing theories began more than a century ago with Florence Nightingale and began to flourish around the 1800’s, when education became the central focus of nursing (Current Nursing, 2012). Although several definitions and variations of theories exist, generally speaking nursing theories guide nurses in their daily practice and serve as evidence based foundations for clinical decisions and outcomes (Petiprin, 2016). Additionally, theories aim to improve quality of care for our patients and enhance nursing as a profession by inviting application of critical thinking and reasoning towards patient care (Current Nursing, 2012). Caring Science, as a theory has been quietly evolving for years (Rosa, Estes, & Watson, 2016). Dr. Jean Watson

Nursing theory is vital to the nursing profession because it provides a foundation and framework which is reflected in nurses’ caring ideals and practice (William, 2015). Theory provides an understanding of a nurse’s role within the healthcare system. The first nursing theory, formed by Nightingale, was observations of interventions that improved patient outcomes (Mackey & Bassendowski, 2016). Nurses can improve quality of care by implementing theory into their practice (Mackey & Bassendowski, 2016). This paper will discuss the importance of nursing theory, Florence Nightingale’s Notes on Nursing: What It Is and What It Is Not, and the application of this theory in the nurse

I selected Jean Watson’s theory to research and write about because of its significant relevance to the professional and personal qualities of an effective, successful, nurse. The Ten Carative Factors are the basis of the Caring Science Theory, and serve as a guide to use when caring. They are skills and qualities I hope to master, and also qualities I deeply admire in other nurses. Jean Watson’s theory and ideas can be helpful if applied beyond nursing to personal interactions between all people. The idea of nurses needing instruction in how to emotionally care for patients seems common sense, but almost everyone could benefit from having a poster of the Ten Carative Factors hanging in their bedroom. In today’s fast-paced, cost effective setting, nurses need reminders to bring the focus back to caring for the patient as a person, not just symptoms or disease.

“Nursing theorists are the men and women in the nursing field who develop models of nursing. Often, they don't set out to develop a nursing theory, instead, they simply want to help improve nursing care for their patients, and the theory develops as a result. Once a method is established as a theory or model of nursing, it is integrated into the practice of nursing, as well as added to the study of nursing.”

Today, nurses are not only direct healthcare provider but also, they are healthcare organization leaders and policy makers as such it is impossible to achieve a greater role without consideration of nursing theory that provide professional foundation that is necessary for growth, excellence, and survival (Gonzalez, 2008). As any other discipline, nursing should be practiced on grand and solid central theory scientifically and systematically developed based on previous utilization of knowledge and skills. However, nursing theory is not an end but rather a means to an end. Therefore, it is an ongoing process that is always open for improvement and refinement. In today's world of evidence-based practice, nursing theory is not static but a dynamic.

As a nurse that values both clinical skills and theoretical knowledge, I will disagree that nurses disregard theoretical knowledge because in most patients’ care and clinical judgments, we as nurses apply both ideologies in order to render the best treatment or care. This nurse usually obtains positive objectives and outcomes by applying clinical skills and theoretical knowledge. Though, clinical skills and theoretical knowledge are connected; however, as much as the professional nursing is to be in existence, the model of theoretical knowledge must be incorporated into our daily nursing care.

While reflecting on the type of theory that is most applicable in the 21st century, it is necessary to first understand the types of theories that exist and their purpose. Nursing theory’s purpose is to describe phenomena, explain relationships between phenomena, and predict consequences or prescribe nursing care (Meleis, 2012, p. 29). In order to do this, three domains of theory have been developed: grand theories, mid-range theories, and situation-specific theories. The purpose of this paper is to then give a brief overview of these theories, and provide a solid backing on which type of theory is most applicable to the 21st century.

Since the early years nurses have initiated many ideas that impact how we care for our patients that allows for many positive outcomes for patients and the collaborative teams that are involved in the patients care. In the nineteenth century three women stand out as trailblazers in the nursing field, Nightingale, Seacole, and Robb (In Snowden, In Donnell, & In Duffy, 2010, p.22). While none of the three nurses could be considered actual theorist at that point in time most of nursing theory can be found in their work. The foundation of what we learn in nursing school has evolved from a nursing theorist. Whether it may be something as simple as having sanitary conditions for the injured that was first introduced by Florence Nightingale.

This theory explains, describes, guides, and supports nursing practice. It gives language to the unspoken beliefs and perspectives of the nursing profession. This allows the nursing professionals to better envision, realize, and articulate their unique role in healthcare (Green & Robichaux, 2009). Human caring is the basis of therapeutic relationships between human beings (Wade & Kasper, 2006)

Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring was developed between 1975 and 1979 as “an attempt to bring meaning and focus to nursing as an emerging discipline and distinct health profession with its own unique values, knowledge, and practices, with its own ethic and mission to society.”(Morris, 2006, p.624) The concepts of Watson’s Theory of Human Caring were “derived from clinically inducted, empirical experiences combined with philosophical, intellectual and experiential values, beliefs, and perceptions about personhood, life, health and healing.” (Morris, 2006, p.625).

The review of literature adequately supports the need for the study. The review of literature starts with the history from 1860’s in the Florence Nightingale era and continues to build upon the history until modern day time (Andersson, Willman, Sjöström-Strand, & Borglin, 2015). Furthermore, the review of literature builds the concept of caring and how previous research has been done do develop this concept related to caring. The researchers also discussed the evolution in nursing care related to the advances in medicine, technology, and time and financial constraints associated with providing quality nursing care. The review of literature built the problem statement by discussing the issues related to modern day nursing that has lead to basic care not being done (Andersson, Willman, Sjöström-Strand, & Borglin, 2015). The review of literature built the foundation for both the purpose of the study and research questions, additionally, both were explicitly state by the researcher in the body of the background. By the researcher building a solid foundation for the problem statement, purpose of the study, and the research question, it supported the need for the research being conducted to evaluate the nurses’ concept of caring and supports the validity of the study.