tfn

• What is nursing theory?

  A belief, policy, or procedure proposed or followed as the basis of action.
• How does nursing theory guide the practice of nursing?


  It provides an organized framework of concepts and purposes.
• What does nursing theory strive to explain?

  The Science and Art of Nursing.
• In what way is nursing described as dynamic and diverse?

  It reflects the kaleidoscope of ethnic, cultural, and religious manifestations of the people who receive nursing care.
• What is nursing science described as?

  A melting-pot of different knowledge, creeds, and backgrounds of care and healing.
• What is a theory?


  A notion or an idea that explains experience, interprets observations, describes relationships, and projects outcomes.
• What are the purposes of theories?

  To create meaning from experience, organize knowledge, and ask questions leading to new insights.
• What components make up an organized system of accepted knowledge in a theory?

  Concepts, propositions, definitions, and assumptions.
• What is a concept?

  An idea formulated by the mind, such as justice, love, war, and disease.
• What does a proposition explain?

  The relationships of different concepts.
• What are definitions composed of?

  Various descriptions that convey a general meaning and reduce vagueness in understanding concepts.
• What is the definition of nursing theory?


  Nursing theory is an organized framework of concepts and purposes designed to guide the practice of nursing.
• What are the key components of a nursing theory?

  The key components of a nursing theory are concepts, propositions, definitions, and assumptions.
• Who is considered the founder of modern nursing?

  Florence Nightingale is considered the founder of modern nursing.
• What was Florence Nightingale's vision for nurses?

  Nightingale envisioned nurses as a body of educated women at a time when women were neither educated nor employed in public service.
• What was the focus of nursing practice before the development of nursing theory?


  Before the development of nursing theory, nursing practice was based on principles and traditions that were handed down through an apprenticeship model of education and individual hospital procedure manuals.
• What were the two significant milestones in the evolution of nursing theory?


  The two significant milestones in the evolution of nursing theory were: 1) The standardization of curricula for nursing master's education by the National League for Nursing accreditation criteria for baccalaureate and higher-degree programs, and 2) The decision that doctoral education for nurses should be in nursing.
• What are the four global nursing concepts that make up the nursing metaparadigm?

  The four global nursing concepts that make up the nursing metaparadigm are person, environment, health, and nursing.
• How did the development of nursing theory help establish nursing as a discipline and a profession?

  The development of nursing theory helped establish nursing as a discipline and a profession by providing a theoretical structure and specialized body of knowledge to guide nursing practice, education, administration, and research.
• What are the four types of nursing theories?

  The four types of nursing theories are: descriptive theories, explanatory theories, predictive theories, and prescriptive theories.
• If you wanted to study the factors affecting newborn failure to thrive, which type of nursing theory would you use?

  You would use an explanatory theory, as they present relationships among concepts and propositions and aim to provide information on how or why concepts are related.
• How do the four types of nursing theories differ in their purpose and application?

  Descriptive theories identify and describe major concepts, explanatory theories present relationships among concepts, predictive theories describe future outcomes under certain conditions, and prescriptive theories deal with nursing actions and test the validity of specific nursing interventions.
• What are the key characteristics of nursing theories?

  • Theories can correlate concepts in a way that generates a different way of looking at a fact or phenomenon
  • Theories must be logical in nature
  • Theories should be simple but generally broad in nature
  • Theories can be the source of hypotheses that can be tested to elaborate them
  • Theories can contribute to enriching the general body of knowledge through validation studies
  • Theories can be used by practitioners to direct and enhance their practice
  • Theories must be consistent with other validated theories, laws and principles
• What are the differences between descriptive, explanatory, predictive, and prescriptive nursing theories?

  Descriptive Theories:

  • Identify and describe major concepts but do not explain relationships

  
  

  Explanatory Theories:

  • Present relationships among concepts and propositions
  • Aim to provide information on how or why concepts are related

  
  

  Predictive Theories:

  • Describe future outcomes under certain conditions
  • Generated and tested using experimental research

  
  

  Prescriptive Theories:

  • Deal with nursing actions and test the validity of specific nursing interventions
  • Commonly used in testing new nursing interventions
• What is the definition of nursing as a discipline?

  As a discipline, nursing refers to a branch of education, a department of learning, or a domain of knowledge.
• How does nursing as a discipline differ from nursing as a profession?

  As a discipline, nursing refers to a branch of education and domain of knowledge, while as a profession, nursing refers to a specialized field of practice founded upon the theoretical structure of the discipline and accompanying practice abilities.
• What was the key focus of nursing education and practice before the development of nursing theory?

  Before the development of nursing theory, the focus of nursing education and practice was on what nurses do (the functional focus) rather than what nurses know and how they use that knowledge for decision-making (the knowledge focus).
• How did the development of nursing theory help establish nursing as both a discipline and a profession?

  The development of nursing theory helped establish nursing as both a discipline and a profession by providing a theoretical structure and specialized body of knowledge to guide nursing practice, education, administration, and research, moving nursing from a vocational focus to a knowledge-based professional practice.
• What do the collective works of major nursing theorists represent?

  Conceptual frameworks and paradigms of nursing
• Why is theory significant for the discipline of nursing?

  It is essential for the continued existence of nursing as a discipline.
• How has the focus of nursing education shifted over time?

  From a functional focus to a knowledge focus.
• What do frameworks and theories provide nurses in their practice?

  A perspective of the patient for professional practice.
• What is the primary focus of professionals in nursing?

  The patient (human being).
• What forms the basis for recognizing nursing as a discipline?

  Knowledge of persons, health, and environment.
• What is essential for nursing as an academic discipline?

  The existence of nursing knowledge.
• Why is theory vital to the practice of professional nursing?

  It is essential for the existence of nursing as an academic discipline.
• What criteria guided the development of higher-degree nursing as a profession?

  Criteria for a profession.
• What was formalized during the last half of the 20th century regarding nursing knowledge?

  A well-defined, organized, and specific knowledge base.
• What are the criteria for the development of the professional status of nursing?

  1. Utilizes a well-defined and organized body of specialized knowledge.
  2. Constantly enlarges its body of knowledge and improves techniques through scientific methods.
  3. Entrusts education to institutions of higher education.
  4. Applies knowledge in practical services vital to human and social welfare.
  5. Functions autonomously in professional policy formulation.
  6. Attracts individuals with qualities of service above personal gain.
  7. Strives to compensate practitioners with freedom, growth opportunities, and economic security.
• What characterizes the practice of individual nurses as they grow in professional status?

  The use of substantive knowledge for theory-based evidence.