Introduction to Nursing Theory PDF

INTRODUCTION TO NURSING THEORY What Is Nursing? -Art and Science of Caring -Nursing is the diagnosis and treatment of human responses and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations in recognition of the connection of all humanity. (ANA, 2021) -A...

INTRODUCTION TO NURSING THEORY What Is Nursing? -Art and Science of Caring -Nursing is the diagnosis and treatment of human responses and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations in recognition of the connection of all humanity. (ANA, 2021) -Advocacy, promotion of a safe environment, research, participation in shaping health policy and in patient and health systems management, and education are also key nursing roles. (ICN, 2002) What Is Nursing Theory? -Nursing theories are the creative products of nurses who seek (or sought) to thoughtfully describe the many aspects of nursing in ways that could be studied, evaluated, and used by other nurses. -In other words, theory is an attempt to explain patterns and relationships found in nursing phenomena. -For the most part, theories evolved, and continue to evolve, out of creative attempts to describe nursing phenomena in ways that made sense to the theorists and others. Meant to address questions such as: -What do nurses do? -What makes nursing unique from other healthcare-related professions? -What is wholistic nursing care? -What is meant by terms such as wellness and illness? -Do certain nursing actions measurably improve client outcomes? -What differentiates excellent nursing care from marginal nursing care? -Is nursing a job, a vocation, a profession, or a combination of all three? -Is the core of nursing “caring” or technical skill mastery? -Is nursing meant to be an independent profession or an auxiliary component of the medical profession? -Should nursing practice formally encompass the metaphysical? Spiritual? -How should phenomena that cannot be concretely measured through the five senses be addressed in nursing? -In a general sense, theory development supports independence of the nursing profession by creating forums where nurses have opportunities to develop and support unique professional visions. -Theories specific to nursing help differentiate nursing from other care-related professions. The Development of Nursing Theories. *The Nurse Theorists -Most nurse theorists did not set out to create a nursing theory. Most began constructing a theory as a way to improve the care delivered to clients, whether through direct clinical practice or through the education of nurses. 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s -Viewed nursing as an alternative to marriage. -Most of the early theorists made professional choices that affected their personal lives, and most never married or had children. *Why Theories Were Developed -Theory development was an integral part of modern nursing, as evidenced by Nightingale’s Notes on Nursing: What It Is and What It Is Not, published in 1859. -Research was also an integral part of modern nursing, as evidenced by Nightingale’s extensive research projects. 1950s -Nurse scholars started to develop nursing theories. -Occurred during a time when professional thought in nursing was moving toward conceptualizing nursing as a profession based on science rather than as a trade-based apprenticeship. *Why the Theorists Created Theories -To further nursing as a scholarly -To organize and improve the delivery of nursing care. -Other reasons for theory development given by early theorists were that theories could be tools to provide structure for the improvement of clinical practice, teaching nursing students effectively, or organizing a nursing curriculum. -Used reflection to gain understanding. -Reflective practice allowed them to learn and draw conclusions through lived experiences.