Intro to Nursing

• The systematic accumulation of knowledge is essential to progress in any profession, however theory and practice must be constantly interactive.
• Theory without practice is empty and practice without theory is blind.
• Theories are words or phrases (concepts) joined in sentences, with an overall theme, to explain, describe, or predict something.
• A set of logically interrelated concepts that provide a systematic explanatory and predictive view of phenomena is referred to as a theory.
• Nursing is a profession due to its three characteristics: service, autonomy, and altruism.
• Autonomy in nursing is the ability to make decisions without external influence.
• Service in nursing is providing care to patients.
• Altruism in nursing is the desire to help others.
• Practice without theory, like a map without a route, is blind; theory without practice, like a route without a map, is empty.
• Nursing theory explains, describes, predicts, prescribes, and provides a foundation for nursing care.
• The history of professional nursing began with Florence Nightingale in Scutari Istanbul, Turkey during the Crimean War from 1854 to 1856.
• Florence Nightingale is considered to be the first nursing theorist.
• Until the emergence of nursing as a science in the 1950s, nursing practice was based on principles and traditions that were handed down through an apprenticeship model of education and individual hospital procedure manuals.
• The Curriculum Era in nursing history was from 1900 to the 1940s.
• The Research Era in nursing history was from 1950 to the 1970s.
• The Graduate Education Era in nursing history was from 1950 to the 1970s.
• The Theory Era in nursing history was from 1980 to the 1990s.
• The Theory Utilization Era in nursing history is the 21st century.
• A discipline is specific to academia and refers to a branch of education, a department of learning, or a domain of knowledge.
• Observations are concept laden, influenced by the values and ideas in the mind of the observer.
• Empiricism, a philosophy of knowledge, is based on experience and experimentation.
• Integration of Technology refers to the introduction of new medical technologies and equipment.
• A profession refers to a specialized field of practice, founded upon the theoretical structure of the science or knowledge of that discipline and accompanying practice abilities.
• Rationalism, a philosophy of knowledge, is based on the use of reason or logic.
• Nursing theory is significant for the discipline as it provides the foundation for nursing knowledge and practice.
• Group Activity #2 asked to identify three characteristics or specific situations that make nursing a discipline and explain why.
• Two competing philosophical foundations used in science are rationalism and empiricism.
• Rationalism emphasizes the increased emphasis on applying scientific principles to nursing practice.
• Early 20th century views of science and theory emphasized the role of theories in determining what the scientist observes and how it is interpreted.
• Positivism, a dominant view of modern science, uses both deductive and inductive methods to produce scientific knowledge.
• Nursing science, as a scientific discipline, identifies nursing’s unique contribution to the care of patients, families, and communities.
• Late 20th century views of science and theory emphasized the role of observations in determining what the scientist observes and how it is interpreted.
• Nursing theory is significant for the profession as it guides systematic, knowledgeable care and is a tool for reasoning, critical thinking, and decision making required for quality nursing practice.