Nursing theories in the conceptual expansion of good practices in nursing.
Discuss how Nursing Theory has changed your perspective on understanding how evidence based theory is equivalent to theory based practice.
A nursing theory is a collection of related concepts that guide a systemic view of phenomena. Theory-guided practice refers to the use of theories to understand patients and plan interventions. Nursing theory improves our discipline by giving it a structure and unity by which we examine our effectiveness.Nursing theories in the conceptual expansion of good practices in nursing.
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Most often, theories are classified by their philosophical perspective and scope. In nursing, we primarily use grand theories and middle-range theories.
Both grand theories and middle-range theories encompass either one or more of four types of theory: descriptive, explanatory, predictive, and prescriptive. Nursing Theory Network defines these types as:
Nurse practitioners learn about theory during their education, and they use it to guide their practice in order to achieve better patient outcomes. Zaccagnini and White eloquently write, “Considering the often fragmented, inefficient, and disorganized care typical of the current healthcare system, we need nursing theory-guided practice to provide a coherent antidote.”Nursing theories in the conceptual expansion of good practices in nursing.
Nurse practitioners undergo extensive education on practice theory and are expected to understand a variety of different theories. Using only one theory to guide a person’s entire practice narrows own vision and forces every patient into a single mold. Nurse practitioners select the most appropriate conceptual model for each particular situation.Nursing theories in the conceptual expansion of good practices in nursing.
To choose a theory to guide their practice, nurse practitioners follow the process outlined by Janet Kenney (See Chapter 31 in Philosophical and Theoretical Perspectives for Advanced Nursing Practice).Nursing theories in the conceptual expansion of good practices in nursing.
Table 3 lists nursing theories organized by topic. Table 4 lists theories by other disciplines that are commonly employed by nursing professionals. Nurse practitioners, especially those with DNP degrees, take courses that focus on understanding and utilizing these theories to improve healthcare delivery.Nursing theories in the conceptual expansion of good practices in nursing.
For a high-level summary of these theories see Chapter 1 of Zaccagnini and White’s Doctor of Nursing Practice Essentials. For a detailed explanation of the theories see Parts III and IV of Butts and Rich’s Philosophies And Theories For Advanced Nursing Practice. Additional information can be found on the Nursing Theory Network website.Nursing theories in the conceptual expansion of good practices in nursing.
TABLE 3: NURSING THEORIES | |
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FOCUS | THEORY OR MODEL |
Nursing goals and functions | Florence Nightingale’s environmental model of nursingVirginia Henderson’s 14 components of basic nursing careDorothy Johnson’s behavioral system modelNola J. Pender’s health promotion modelIda Jean Orlando’s nursing process theoryPeplau’s theory of interpersonal relations in nursing |
Systems thinking | Roy adaptation modelKing conceptual system and theory of goal attainmentNeuman systems model |
Human existence | Barrett’s power as knowing participation in changeNewman’s theory of health as expanding consciousnessRosemarie Rizzo Parse’s humanbecoming school of thought |
Competencies and skills | Brenner’s from novice to expertAmerican association of critical care nurse’s synergy model for patient careTravelbee’s human-to-human relationship model |
Caring | The nursing as caring theory by Boykin and SchoenhoferWatson’s theory of human caringSwanson’s middle-range theory of caringDuffy’s quality-caring model |
Culture | Campinha-Bacote modelGiger and Davidhizer modelLeininger’s culture care diversity and universality theorySpector’s health traditions modelPurnell model for cultural competency |
This list is adapted from Part IV Chapters 17-22 of Butts and Rich’s Philosophies And Theories For Advanced Nursing Practice. |
TABLE 4: OTHER THEORIES USED IN NURSE PRACTITIONER PRACTICE | |
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FOCUS | THEORY OR MODEL |
Complexity science | Complex adaptive systems |
Critical theory and emancipatory knowing | Habermas’s critical social philosophyFreire’s theory of human liberation |
Ethics | Natural-Law TheoryRights TheoryDeontologyConsequentialismCommunitarianism |
Educational | Behaviorist learning theoryCognitive learning theoryGestalt theoryCognitive development theoryInformation-processing theorySocial learning theorySocial constructivismPsychodynamic learning theoryHumanistic learning theory |
Health behavior | The health belief modelTheory of reasoned actionTheory of planned behaviorIntegrated behavioral modelTranstheoretical model and stages of changeSocial cognitive theorySocial ecological models |
Interpersonal | Harry Stack Sullivan’s theory of interpersonal relationsInterpersonal relations theoryExistentialismPositive psychologyTranspersonal psychology |
Organizational behavior and leadership | Bureaucratic theoryHuman resource theoryContingency theoryGeneral systems theoryChange theoryTheories X, Y, and Z |
This list is adapted from Part III Chapters 6-16 of Butts and Rich’s Philosophies And Theories For Advanced Nursing Practice. |
Through systematic analysis, nurses can establish information related to improving patient care in nursing research or practice. Nursing theory is an innovative and thorough structuring of ideas that project a preliminary, purposeful, and systematic view of phenomena.Nursing theories in the conceptual expansion of good practices in nursing.
The nursing theories include a plan for contemplation to analyze a specific direction in which the plan could lead. This system consists of an arrangement for management, investigation, and decision-making as new problems are encountered (Brandão et al., 2019).Nursing theories in the conceptual expansion of good practices in nursing.
Even if nurses are not conscious of their use, nursing ideas are used every day in practice. Theories help direct analysis based on evidence, which then contributes to best practices and strategies. Such policies and practices, while ensuring the best quality treatment, keep patients safe.Nursing theories in the conceptual expansion of good practices in nursing.
In addition to taking care of patients at the bedside, nursing theories allow me to affect the health and well-being of their patients positively. The theory-guided nursing practice helps increase the quality of care offered and helps to move the nursing profession forward (Masters, 2014). Most bedside nurses do not generally understand the reasons behind their way, so their utility is sometimes ignored. Nurses, nurse writers, nurse educators, and nurse researchers in advanced practice would most likely be up to date on emerging nursing ideas and their effect on the nursing profession.Nursing theories in the conceptual expansion of good practices in nursing.
Both in academia and at the bedside, nursing ideas can continue to guide nursing practice. It helps me to provide their patients with the latest best practice treatment while not influencing them beyond the bedside.Nursing theories in the conceptual expansion of good practices in nursing.
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