Week 2 Paper
Nursing theories and their importance in nursing
Jennifer J. Wilson
Chamberlain College of Nursing
NR 501: Theoretical Basis for Advanced Nursing
Instructor Berens
1/12/15
Nursing Theory is often defined as,” an organized framework of concepts and purposes designed to guide the practice of nursing” (Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing, 2012). Nursing theories can help patients, managers and other healthcare professionals to recognize what and how much that nurses do contribute to the healthcare field. I never did realize how important theories in nursing practice could be until I became a nursing student myself. Nurses use theories in their everyday practice, but never think about them as being responsible for guiding our clinical skills. However, in the student’s eye, it is very easy to see how important theories are in practice. The concepts of Florence Nightingale’s Environment theory will be discussed in relation to how it impacts the nursing profession and patient care. The key concepts of Nightingale’s theory and their relationships with one another will be summarized as well as its relationship to nursing education.
Importance of Nursing Theory
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
Jennifer J. Wilson
Chamberlain College of Nursing
NR 501: Theoretical Basis for Advanced Nursing
Instructor Berens
1/12/15
Nursing Theory is often defined as,” an organized framework of concepts and purposes designed to guide the practice of nursing” (Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing, 2012). Nursing theories can help patients, managers and other healthcare professionals to recognize what and how much that nurses do contribute to the healthcare field. I never did realize how important theories in nursing practice could be until I became a nursing student myself. Nurses use theories in their everyday practice, but never think about them as being responsible for guiding our clinical skills. However, in the student’s eye, it is very easy to see how important theories are in practice. The concepts of Florence Nightingale’s Environment theory will be discussed in relation to how it impacts the nursing profession and patient care. The key concepts of Nightingale’s theory and their relationships with one another will be summarized as well as its relationship to nursing education.
Importance of Nursing Theory
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
References: Bostridge, Mark. Florence Nightingale: The Making of an Icon. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2008. Florence Nightingales Metaparadigm of Care. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 20:55, January 17, 2015, from http://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/2000377.html Nightingale, F. (1860).Notes on nursing: what it is and what it is not. New York:D.Appleton And Company. nursing theory. (n.d.) Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing. (2012). Retrieved January 17 2015 from http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/nursing+theory