Preview

Nursing Theory Essay

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
498 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Nursing Theory Essay
Nursing Theory
There are many ways to explain the concept of nursing theory. One of them is that nursing theory is a platform for knowledge and the explanation of situations at a more specific level.
Nursing theory is a vital component of the nursing profession. It serves as a guide that determines the way in which processes are completed in nursing. As it is stated in the article GPS for Nursing Research and Practice, nursing theory is a seed for the development of new knowledge in the nursing practice (McCarthy, 2016). Nursing theory acts as the arrows that show the path and destinations to nurses. Nursing theory is what has made the nursing practice considered as a profession rather than just an activity.
Nursing theory is a very helpful tool for nurses. It defines the way in which nursing profession is practiced. Nursing theory is the backbone of the nursing profession. Without theory, nursing would be a collection of activities that are shared through generations. Nursing theory is what has allowed nurses to growth because all activities are founded or based on concepts. Without nursing theory, the practice would be vague, and it would lose credibility.
As a fact, nursing
…show more content…

It gives place to questions that not only increase knowledge among nurses but also raise opportunities for change. As it is mentioned in the article The Practicality of Nursing Theory in the Future, within The Nurse Journal, nursing is included within the professional disciplines and can be in danger if we, nurses, do not pay attention to this prestigious position, and use nursing theory to grow with the practice (Smith & Liehr, 2008). As it is stated in the article, Toward an Understanding of Wisdom in Nursing, nursing theory is useful in all aspects of nursing because it helps to organize and have better knowledge and understanding of patient information (Matney, Avant, and Staggers,

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Have you questioned the relevance of taking a theory course in your graduate nursing program, or the usefulness of theory in nursing practice? In the case study provided, Julia Costales was skeptical about theory in nursing practice, and on a day at the veterans’ administration (VA) inpatient medical unit, she was caring for a complex patient. The medical unit’s acute care nurse practitioner challenged her to identify theories that would help guide care for her patient. McEwen (2014a) explains that, “Use of theory also promotes rational and systematic practice by challenging and validating intuition. Theories make nursing practice more overtly purposeful by stating not only the focus of practice but also specific goals and outcomes” (p. 25).…

    • 482 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    There are many nursing theorist that have influenced the development of nursing research. Nursing Theorist have provided the interrelated frameworks of ideas which focus on nursing practice. Through clinical application and information, nursing science adds relevance to the care of patients in health and disease. Nursing theories provide guidance to researchers and educate nurses (Keefe, 2011) to look at different approaches in caring for their patients. This paper will show how one theorist most influenced the development of nursing research.…

    • 531 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    There are several definitions of nursing theory today. Meleis (2012) defines nursing theory as a conceptualization of some aspect of nursing reality communicated for the purpose of describing phenomena, explaining relationships between phenomena, predicting consequences or prescribing nursing care. Nursing theories have been used and still used today as theoretical framework to guide in nursing clinical decision making and better practice. There are three categories of nursing theories, which include grand theories, middle-range theories and situation-specific theories. Grand theories are broader in scope and more abstract. It includes the mission of nursing and goal of nursing care. Meleis (2012) states grand theories are constructed from a synthesis of experiences, observations, insights and research findings. Middle-range theories are less abstract with a limited scope. It is also easily used in clinical practice and addresses specific concepts or phenomena. These concepts are easily used in a wide variety of nursing care situations and nursing fields. Empirical testing and knowledge is used. Lastly, situation-specific theories have a more limited scope than middle-range theories. It focuses on specific phenomena reflecting clinical practice. It is also specific to a specific population and field of practice. Grand theories are then further divided into four groups; needs, interaction, outcome and caring. Need theorist focus in helping individuals fulfill their physical and mental needs, interaction theorist focus around nurse-patient relationship during time of illness, outcome theorist is based on balance and stability, energy, caring theorist focus on the humanistic universe health process, including mind and spirit. With that said, the table below shows a comparison and contrast of four different grand theorists from the aforementioned school of thought, reflecting…

    • 960 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    From the initial days of Florence Nightingale to today’s integrated era, nursing theory has set the pace as nursing practice has developed into a recognized scientific discipline. In order for a profession or discipline to transform from a vocation there is a need for the discipline to establish and to validate itself (Bond, 2011). Nursing has utilized nursing theory, research and practice to do this. Nursing theory is part of the three-prong effort to develop the body of knowledge that is nursing. Nursing theory drives research in that it helps to focus research on concepts that are significant to the delivery of nursing care. Without nursing theory, research efforts are squandered, as there is no structure to apply the learned knowledge to. The use of nursing theory as a framework or a blueprint helps to identify the need for research and guide the process to validate or reject the anticipated outcomes proposed by…

    • 1903 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Stanhope, M., & Lancaster, J. (2012). Public health nursing: Population-centered health care in the community (8th ed.).…

    • 828 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Separately from the governance of practice and foundation for the practice of nursing, theories furthermore propounds…

    • 1045 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Advanced beginner has some expectations of care from past experience, or a mentor has pointed out the principles that guide their action.…

    • 373 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    NR 501dis2

    • 273 Words
    • 1 Page

    Florence Nightingale is considered the founder of nursing. But It wasn't until the 1950s and 1960s, almost 100 years after Florence Nightingale's Notes on Nursing, that nursing leaders would initiated an effort to define or explain why and how the profession of nursing is different from other healthcare professions. The major motivation of this push was to develop a theory that, in the words of Florence Nightingale describe what is and what is not nursing (Parker & Smith, 2010). This was identified as the beginning of nursing theory development and is identified as the ‘Silent Knowledge’ stage. Since the 1980’s until today nursing theory is said to be in the ‘Constructed Knowledge’ stage focusing on concepts that are built from evidence-based research and are practical while providing a meaningful foundation for nursing practice (CCN, 2014) s the profession of nursing expands more nurses are making the choice to acquire a higher level of education, thus the understanding of the importance of nursing theory has expanded. The ‘Constructed Knowledge’ stage began approximately in the 1980s and is still the current stage of theory development in nursing. It has since guided the nursing practice, education, and research that form todays nursing theories (Colley, 2003). The application of nursing theories at this stage of development has increased knowledge development and improved the quality of nursing practice.…

    • 273 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Orem's Nursing Theory

    • 633 Words
    • 3 Pages

    There are many situations in nursing care where a nurse would apply a nursing theory. As Hood mentioned, a particular nursing theory may fit a clinical situation better than others (Hood, 2014, p.149). This allows the nurse to use the wide array of models to give care that is patient centered. The theory that appealed to me most is Orem’s theory. Orem’s theory states that “the purpose of nursing is to help people meet their self-care needs” (Hood, 2014, p.136). This I feel plays an important part in the recovery of the patient.…

    • 633 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Running Head

    • 1296 Words
    • 5 Pages

    to the practice of nursing; however it is also guided by theories. Nursing theories and…

    • 1296 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    One of the recent trends in the nursing profession in most, if not all, cultures is to produce, utilize, and practice research-based nursing care. Inherent in this goal is the continued development and testing of nursing theory. In order to utilize nursing theory appropriately it is important to know how to describe, analyze, and critique (evaluate) theory. While empirical testing of theory is important, it is but one part of the evaluation of theory. Meleis (1985) states that theory evaluation provides…

    • 6406 Words
    • 26 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Best Essays

    Today’s nursing is theory based. Nurses learn the theory behind actions, procedures and decisions, before gaining the experience of performing the action or duty within the profession. In stark contrast the hospital based system is on the job, training where the nurses learn various processes as they present themselves and the theory is explained after the process has been demonstrated or when the applicable lesson comes to pass.…

    • 2808 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Week 2 Paper

    • 1817 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Nurses will use theories in their practice to help guide them through their daily tasks, patient assessments and also to help make and individualize patient goals and interventions to provide the best care. Nurses study theory as it helps assist the student in building their critical thinking skills. Theories provide a good foundation for clinical practice, improved communication between nurses, better patient care and guidance for research and education. When nurses comprehend and use nursing theory in their practice along with their intuition and compassion, they should become an efficient and strong nurse. All of these traits are important in our daily lives as nurses. Having these theories in place helps nurses to use their critical thinking skills in order to provide our…

    • 1817 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Nursing theories can help create and promote a healthy professional environment for patients and members of the healthcare team. They assist as building blocks and guide assessment, interventions, and evaluation of nursing care. They also assist nurses in describing, explaining, and predicting everyday experiences. Nursing theory improves nursing practice by strengthening the nursing focus of care and facilitates the nursing discipline in analyzing goals, values, and beliefs. It improves the health and quality of life of the patient, their families, and the community.…

    • 83 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    It is important to understand how theories are developed and that is, using the why and how. For example, why did something happen and how can it be fixed. With this understanding, then one can realize and understand how nursing theories are developed and how important it is to be able to borrow theories from other disciplines. It is important to understand that most professions developed their theories from other disciplines so as to make a stand and to develop a foundation that they can base their arguments on, and the same should go for nursing. Nursing should be able to borrow theories from other disciplines so that when they are making a point, it would be something that has already tested and proven. One might argue that nursing should…

    • 255 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays