Nursing Theories Overview

Nursing Theories Overview

• Nursing theories provide a framework for understanding nursing practice, defining the "what," "who," and "when" of nursing.
• Theory is fundamental to effective nursing practice and research.
• The professionalization of nursing has progressed through development and use of nursing theory.

Key Concepts & Definitions

• Theory: A set of interrelated concepts that give a systematic view of a phenomenon, explanatory and predictive in nature.
• Concept: Basic building block of a theory; complex mental formulations of perceptions of the world. Concepts help form a mental image of an object or situation.
• Types of Concepts:
  • Empirical/Concrete: Directly observable (e.g., color of skin, communication skill).
  • Inferential/Relatively Concrete: Indirectly observable (e.g., pain, dyspnea).
  • Abstract: Not directly or indirectly observable (e.g., social support, self-esteem).
• Propositions: Statements that explain the relationship between concepts. They represent the theorist's view of how concepts fit together.
• Paradigm: A model explaining the science, philosophy, and theory accepted within a discipline.
• Metaparadigm: The most abstract level of nursing knowledge; the central concepts are: person, environment, health, and nursing.

Function and Purpose

• Nursing theories guide practice and generating knowledge
• Theories help describe and explain nursing
• Theories enable nurses to understand why they are doing what, they are doing.
• Theories explain and predict outcomes.
• Theories support decision making.

Components and Characteristics of Theories

• Theories are composed of concepts, definitions, models and proposition, based on assumptions.
• They are derived through deductive and inductive reasoning.
• Theories help in organizing the relationships among the concepts. This organization allows concepts to be described, explained, predicted, and managed in order to control practice.
• Theories can interrelate concepts to create difference in understanding and perspectives of a phenomenon.
• Theories must be logical.
• Theories should be relatively simple but generalizable.
• Theories provide the basis for hypotheses.
• Theories contribute to and assist in increasing the general body of knowledge. The theories are validated through research within the discipline.
• Theories guide and improve practitioner's practice.
• Theories are consistent with other validated theories, laws, and principles; however, investigations can help answer unresolved questions.

Types Of Nursing Theories (Scope and Function)

• Grand Theory: Broadest in scope; most abstract level of discipline development; Addresses broad phenomena of concerns within the discipline.

• Middle-Range Theory: More concrete and focuses on more narrow and clearly-defined phenomena; answers specific questions within nursing; Does not cover every phenomena of concern to the discipline.

• Micro-Range Theory: More concrete and narrow in scope; explains a specific phenomenon.

• Descriptive Theory: Identifies the properties and workings of a discipline.

• Explanatory Theory: Examines how properties relate and affect a specific field of study

• Predictive Theory: Calculates relationships between properties and how they occur.

• Prescriptive Theory: Identifies conditions for which relationships occur.

Philosophical Underpinnings of Nursing Theories

• Needs Theories: Focus on helping individuals meet their physical and mental needs.
• Interaction Theories: Focus on relationships formed, often with patients.
• Outcome Theories: The nurse determines the outcome. Individual's ability to adapt helps to cope or adapt to a problem.
• Humanistic Theories: Emphasize a person's capability for self-actualization; response to the psychoanalytic thought that a person's destiny is determined early in life.

Commonly Used Non-Nursing Theories

• Systems theory
• Basic Human Needs theories
• Health and Wellness Models
• Stress and Adaptation theories
• Developmental Theories
• Psychosocial Theories

Link Between Theory and Research

• Theory provides direction for nursing research
• Relationships of components in a theory drive research questions to understand nursing.

Process of Knowledge Development

• Nursing practice, theory, and research are cyclical and interdependent.

Historical Context of Nursing Theory

• Mid-1800s: Nursing distinct from medicine; practices based on practical experience, tradition, and common sense wisdom.
• 1960s: Debates on the direction and appropriate methods for nursing knowledge development.
• Historical Eras:
  • Curriculum Era: Movement of nursing education from hospital to colleges/universities.
  • Research Era: Research as a path to new knowledge; embedded within graduate curricula.
  • Graduate Education Era: Development of master's programs to address the need for specialized nurse education; Nursing Theory and Nursing Conceptual models included in study of nursing.
  • Theory Era: Emergence of research and theory to create nursing science.

Key Nursing Theorists and Concepts (Examples)

• This section lists key figures and their contributions to nursing theory (e.g., Nightingale, Peplau, Henderson, etc.)

• Nightingale's concept is to facilitate a body's reparative processes by manipulating the client's environment.

• Peplau's concept is focused on the therapeutic and interpersonal aspects of nursing.

• The information about specific theorists and concepts can be found in the sections with their names.

Current Trends Influencing Nursing Theory

• Medical science (influence theory and practice)
• Nursing education (influence in theory)
• Professional nursing organizations (influence in theory and practice)
• Evolving research approaches (influence on theory and practice)
• Global concerns (influence on theory and practice)
• Consumer demands (influence on theory)
• Technology (influences theory and practice)