Nursing Theory (#)

• Nursing Theory - A conceptualization of some aspect of reality that can be invented (formulated) or discovered that pertains to nursing
• Nursing Theory organizes bodies of knowledge to define WHAT NURSING IS, WHAT NURSES DO, and WHY DO THEY DO IT.
• Theory-based, evidence-based research output: Together with research and practice, it is one of the foundations in the development of nursing as a unique discipline
• MAIN PURPOSE:

  • Describing, explaining, predicting, and prescribing nursing care
• • Prescribing nursing care- the total provision of your holistic care and management of your patient or client
• Nursing students developed their theories in nursing, and they became more equipped to care for patients with more caring needs like those in critical settings.
• 3 ELEMENTS OF NURSING THEORY

  1. Has a set of well-defined constructs (concepts that suit a common purpose to explain specific phenomena)
  2. Has a set of propositions
  3. Should have a hypothesis/es
• • A hypothesis is a conjecture that tests the relationship between the constructs and prepositions.
• • Null hypothesis negative statement
• • Alternative hypothesis positive statement
• There are 4 uses of nursing theory.

  1. To differentiate the focus of nursing from other professions
  2. To structure professional nursing into practice, education, and research
  3. To help build a common nursing terminology to use in communicating with other healthcare professionals
  4. To enhance the autonomy of nursing by defining its own independent functions
• According to Barnum 1994, complete components of nursing theory includes the following:

  CONTEXT: the environment in which the nursing act takes place

  CONTENT: the main subject of the theory

  PROCESS: the method the nurse uses in applying the theory
• Assumptions

  • Self-evident truth. The underlying givens that are presumed to be true.
• THEORETICAL ASSUMPTION

  • Basic givens or accepted truth that are fundamental to theoretic reasoning
• Types of assumption:

  1. EXPLICIT: assumptions that are stated in the theory, thus easy to recognize
  2. IMPLICIT: assumptions are not stated in the theory (implied), thus difficult to recognize.
• MANY ACCEPTED TRUTHS GAIN SIGNIFICANCE WITHIN A THEORETICAL CONTEXT, & THEY NEED TO BE STATED EVEN IF THEY SEEM SELF EVIDENT.    
• • MANY ACCEPTED TRUTHS GAIN SIGNIFICANCE WITHIN A THEORETICAL CONTEXT, & THEY NEED TO BE STATED EVEN IF THEY SEEM SELF EVIDENT.        

  EX. DEATH
• • ASSUMPTIONS INFLUENCE ALL ASPECTS OF STRUCTURING AND CONTEXTUALIZING THEORY -- CONSISTENCY IS ESSENTIAL 

  EX. ASSUMPTION OF HOLISM & THEORY OF PATIENT CARE.
• FORMS: assumptions can be categorized into the following forms
• 1. FACTUAL ASSUMPTIONS - these are assumptions knowable or potentially knowable through experience

  Example: when a nurse and patient,, came together, it is a factual assumption that they are in a helping relationship.
• 1. VALUE ASSUMPTIONS - these are assumptions that imply what is right, good, and ought to be. Factual assumptions contain underlying value assumptions.

  Example: when a nurse and patient, came together, it is a factual assumption that they are in a helping relationship. There is a value assumption that it is the nurse who provide help and the patient is the one who will receive help.
• What is the most abstract level of knowledge in nursing theory?

  Metaparadigm
• What does the metaparadigm in nursing describe?


  It describes the major concepts of the discipline, including person, health, nursing, and environment.
• What is the role of philosophy in nursing theory?


  It specifies the definition of the metaparadigm concepts.
• How can theories be formalized in nursing?

  Theories may be formalized from philosophies.
• What do conceptual models provide in nursing theory?


  They provide different views of the discipline.
• What distinguishes grand theory from conceptual models?


  Grand theory is as broad as conceptual models but also proposes testable truths.
• What is the definition of a theory in nursing?


  A theory may be broad but is limited to the aspects of nursing it addresses.
• How does middle range theory differ from general theory?


  Middle range theory has a narrower focus than theory, specifying situations, health conditions, or patient populations.
• What are the types of nursing theory according to knowledge structures?

  • Metaparadigm
  • Philosophy
  • Conceptual Models
  • Grand Theory
  • Theory
  • Middle Range Theory
• ACCORDING TO ORIENTATION OR FOCUS OF THE THEORY:
• Client Centered: This theory focused on the patient or the recipient of Nursing care.
• Client-Nurse Dynamics: This theory focused on the interaction of the nurse and the patient.
• Client-Nurse Environment: This theory focus on how a nurse interrelated with the patient on a specific scenario or environment.
• CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD THEORY:

  THEORIES SHOULD POSSESS CHARACTERISTICS AS TO MAKE THEM MORE USABLE AND CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO A DISCIPLINE. ACCORDING TO GEORGE (2014), A GOOD THEORY SHOULD:

  POSSESS
• 1. Theories can interrelated concepts in such a way as to create a different way of looking at a particular phenomenon. 
• 1. Theories must be logical in nature
• Theories should be relatively simple yet generalizable.
• 1. Theories can be the bases for hypothesis that can be tested. 
• 1. Theories contribute to and assist in increasing general body of knowledge within the discipline through the research implemented to validate them.