Nursing Theory

Nursing Theory

• The profession and practice of providing holistic care to individuals, families, groups, and communities.
• Encompasses assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation of care to promote health and well-being.

Components of a Theory

• Concepts: abstract ideas or mental representations.
• Definitions: explain the meaning of concepts.
• Assumptions or Propositions: statements that are assumed to be true or proposed to be true.

Types of Theory

• Grand Theories: systematic and broad in scope, complex, and require further specification through research.
• Middle Range Theories: limited in scope, more abstract, and address specific phenomena.
• Descriptive Theories: not direct specific nursing activities but help to explain nursing assessment.
• Prescriptive Theories: address nursing interventions for a phenomenon, describe the conditions under which the prescription occurs, and predict the consequences.

Metaparadigms of Nursing Theory

• Person/Patient: the individual receiving care.
• Health: being well and using every power that person has to the fullest extent.
• Environment: external factors surrounding the person that affect their health.
• Nursing: perform tasks for the patient and control the patient's environment to enhance recovery.

Examples of Theories

• Systems Theory by Betty Neuman (2011): a grand theory that explains how systems interact and affect health.
• Health Belief Model: a middle-range theory that explains how individuals make health-related decisions.

Critical Thinking in Nursing Practice

• Critical thinking is the ability to systematically analyze information, identify patterns and relationships, and make informed decisions.
• Importance of critical thinking: enhances patient care, improves decision-making, and promotes professional growth.
• Components of critical thinking: critical thinking model, soft skills, hard skills, and critical thinking competencies.
• Soft skills: skills acquired by a person to optimize their performance, such as communication, teamwork, and time management.
• Hard skills: discrete, measurable skills that a student/nurse possesses, such as technical skills and knowledge.

Ethics and Professionalism in Nursing

• Autonomy: respect for patient autonomy and self-determination.
• Beneficence: doing good and promoting the welfare of patients.
• Non-maleficence: duty to do no harm and avoid causing unnecessary suffering.
• Justice: fairness and the distribution of resources.
• Fidelity: faithfulness to agreements and responsibility.
• Veracity: telling the truth and honesty.
• Confidentiality: maintaining patient confidentiality and respecting patient privacy.

Contribution of Islam in Medicine

• Health is considered one of the greatest blessings given to human beings by God.
• Islam emphasizes the importance of well-being and appreciating health.
• The Solah (prayer) has physical and mental health benefits.
• Recitation of the Quran has healing effects on the body, mind, and heart.
• Diet and nutrition are important aspects of health in Islam.

Nursing Laws and Regulations

• Nurses Act and Nurses Registration Ordinance (1950): controlled the practice of nursing.
• Revision of the Nurses Registration Regulation (1985): introduced the Annual Practicing Certificate.
• Midwives Act (1966): regulated the practice of midwifery.
• Midwives (Registration) Regulation (1971): required midwives to apply for registration.
• Traditional Birth Attendants (TBA) were registered up to 1972.

Ethical Principles

• Respect for patient autonomy and self-determination.
• Doing good and promoting the welfare of patients.
• Avoiding harm and unnecessary suffering.
• Fairness and the distribution of resources.
• Faithfulness to agreements and responsibility.
• Telling the truth and honesty.
• Maintaining patient confidentiality and respecting patient privacy.