Nursing Theory
Theory development surfaced in nursing because of its leader’s desire for nursing to be considered a profession, and then to help nurses increase their knowledge of practice, what it is and what it can be. Theories can help to identify a clearer picture of practice than using facts alone (Walker & Avant, 2005). The following paper will discuss three of these theories and their authors as they relate to currency and ability of use in practice settings.
Orem’s Model of Self Care The International Orem Society for Nursing Science and Scholarship is a website that is dedicated to Orem’s model of self care. It lists many sources for researching the theory, including library, textbook and other websites. Since the theory was developed in the late 1950s, Orem has published two additional books on concepts in practice: Nursing: Concepts of Practice and Concept Formalization: Process and Product. Several other books have been written by Sarah E. Allison, Kathie Renpenning, Ann Young and Susan G. Taylor based on Orem’s model (Orem-Society, nd). Orem’s model of self care concentrates on nurses caring for those that cannot care for themselves, or are not able to care for themselves up to their full functioning (Fitzpatrick & Whall, 2005). Orem’s model has many applications. The first that is the inpatient setting where people come to have others care for them, but nurses can promote self care through many outlets including cardiac rehabilitation or helping the chronically ill to adjust to their new functionality. I was interested to learn more about this model as it what we currently use at my institution.
Watson’s Model of Caring Dr. Jean Watson developed the model of caring to simplify a guide to clinical practice. Her theory encouraged nurses to “…include caring and love in our work and our life...” (Fitzpatrick & Whall, 2005, para. 26) and by doing so we would consider nursing as more than a job. We would consider it a life-giving and receiving career in
Orem’s Model of Self Care The International Orem Society for Nursing Science and Scholarship is a website that is dedicated to Orem’s model of self care. It lists many sources for researching the theory, including library, textbook and other websites. Since the theory was developed in the late 1950s, Orem has published two additional books on concepts in practice: Nursing: Concepts of Practice and Concept Formalization: Process and Product. Several other books have been written by Sarah E. Allison, Kathie Renpenning, Ann Young and Susan G. Taylor based on Orem’s model (Orem-Society, nd). Orem’s model of self care concentrates on nurses caring for those that cannot care for themselves, or are not able to care for themselves up to their full functioning (Fitzpatrick & Whall, 2005). Orem’s model has many applications. The first that is the inpatient setting where people come to have others care for them, but nurses can promote self care through many outlets including cardiac rehabilitation or helping the chronically ill to adjust to their new functionality. I was interested to learn more about this model as it what we currently use at my institution.
Watson’s Model of Caring Dr. Jean Watson developed the model of caring to simplify a guide to clinical practice. Her theory encouraged nurses to “…include caring and love in our work and our life...” (Fitzpatrick & Whall, 2005, para. 26) and by doing so we would consider nursing as more than a job. We would consider it a life-giving and receiving career in
References: Fitzpatrick, J. J., & Whall, A. L. (2005). Conceptual models of nursing: Analysis and application (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson. International Caritas Consortium. (2009). Watson caring science institute. Retrieved on November 28, 2009 from http://www.watsoncaringscience.org/ Orem Society. (nd). International Orem Society for Nursing Science and Scholarship retrieved on November 26, 2009 from http://www.orem-society.com/index.php/faq Walker, L. & Avant, K. (2005). Strategies for theory construction in nursing (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc.