Evolution of Nursing Theories

• The broad conceptual boundaries of the discipline of nursing: Human beings, environment, health, and nursing.

  Metaparadigm
• Sets forth the meaning of nursing phenomena through analysis, reasoning and logical presentation of concepts and ideas.


  Philosophy
• Sets of concepts that address phenomena central to nursing in propositions that explain the relationship among them.

  Conceptual models
• Concepts that derive from a conceptual model and propose a testables proposition that tests the major premise of the model.

  Grand Theory
• Testable propositions from philosophies, conceptual models, grand theories, abstract nursing theories, or theories from other disciplines.

  Nursing Theory
• Most specific to practice that propose precise testable nursing practice questions.

  Middle-Range Theory
• Metaparadigm


  Philosophy, Conceptual Theory, Grand Theory, Nursing Theory, Middle-Range Theory, and The Future of Nursing Theory
• Nursing theoretical systems give direction and create understanding in practice, research, administration and education.

  The Future of Nursing Theory
• They led the search for specialized theoretical nursing knowledge to guide education, professional practice, research, and administration.

  Nurse Scholars
• Demonstrate the incredible influence theory has had on nursing as a specialized field of practice (the profession) and a division of education (the discipline)

  Nursing History and Developments
• Nursing followed a development path from concepts to conceptual frameworks to models to theories to practice-level middle-range theories in the theory utilization era.
• Knowledge of the role of concepts in the theory of development process contributes to an understanding of the theoretical works of the discipline of nursing.
• Theory's role id to specify the question and the approach and guiding the research process.
• Analysis facilitates learning thru systematic review and critical reflection of the theoretical works of the discipline.
• Begins the process of identifying a decision-making framework for nursing practice or research.

  Theory Analysis