Chapter 2 Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Fundamentals of Nursing: Standards & Practices, 2E

 Copyright 2002 by Delmar, a division of Thomson Learning 2-2 What is a Concept?  A concept is the basic building block of a theory.  A concept labels a phenomenon.  Concepts assist us in formulating a mental image about an object or situation.  A conceptual framework is a structure that links global concepts together.

 Copyright 2002 by Delmar, a division of Thomson Learning 2-3 What is a Proposition?  A proposition is a statement that proposes a relationship between concepts.  A proposition is the structural element of a theory.  Propositional statements in a theory represent the theorist’s view of which concepts fit together.

 Copyright 2002 by Delmar, a division of Thomson Learning 2-4 What is a Theory?  A theory is a set of concepts and propositions that provide an orderly way to view phenomena.  The purpose of a theory is description, explanation and prediction.  A theory helps us to organize our thoughts and ideas.  Theories guide research.

 Copyright 2002 by Delmar, a division of Thomson Learning 2-5 Importance of Nursing Theories  Theories provide a framework for thought in which to examine situations.  Theories provide a structure for communicating with other nurses and other health team members.

 Copyright 2002 by Delmar, a division of Thomson Learning 2-6  Theories assist the nursing discipline in clarifying beliefs, values, and goals.  Theories help to define the unique contribution of nursing in the care of clients.

 Copyright 2002 by Delmar, a division of Thomson Learning 2-7 Scope of Theories  Grand theory  Middle-range theory  Micro-range theory

 Copyright 2002 by Delmar, a division of Thomson Learning 2-8 Knowledge Development in Nursing  The Metaparadigm of Nursing Metaparadigm concepts provide the boundaries and limitations of a discipline. Disciplines are distinguished from each other by differing metaparadigm concepts. The major concepts that provide structure to the domain of nursing are person, environment, health, and nursing.

 Copyright 2002 by Delmar, a division of Thomson Learning 2-9  What is a Paradigm? It is a particular way of viewing the phenomena of concern that have been delineated by the metaparadigm of the discipline.

 Copyright 2002 by Delmar, a division of Thomson Learning 2-10  Two individuals with different paradigmatic views can look at the same phenomenon and each will view the phenomenon differently.  The prevailing paradigm in a discipline represents the dominant viewpoint of particular concepts.

 Copyright 2002 by Delmar, a division of Thomson Learning 2-11  A paradigm revolution is the turmoil and conflict that occur in a discipline when a competing paradigm gains acceptance over the dominant paradigm.

 Copyright 2002 by Delmar, a division of Thomson Learning 2-12  A paradigm shift refers to the acceptance of the competing paradigm over the prevailing paradigm or a shifting away from one worldview toward another worldview.

 Copyright 2002 by Delmar, a division of Thomson Learning 2-13  Two Paradigms in Nursing: Totality Paradigm Simultaneity Paradigm

 Copyright 2002 by Delmar, a division of Thomson Learning 2-14 Nursing Theorists  Florence Nightingale considered nursing to be both an art and a science. stressed the importance of caring for the ill person rather than the illness. thought a person’s health was the direct result of environmental influences (cleanliness, light, pure air, pure water, efficient drainage).

 Copyright 2002 by Delmar, a division of Thomson Learning 2-15  Early Nursing Theorists: Hildegard Peplau Virginia Henderson Faye Abdellah Joyce Travelbee Josephine Paterson and Loretta Zderad

 Copyright 2002 by Delmar, a division of Thomson Learning 2-16  Contemporary Nursing Theorists Myra Levine Dorothea Orem Sister Callista Roy Martha Rogers Rosemarie Parse

 Copyright 2002 by Delmar, a division of Thomson Learning 2-17 Theories for the New Worldview of Nursing  They describe, explain, and predict the phenomena of concern to nursing from a more holistic perspective.  The client has primacy.  The client-environment interaction is of utmost importance.  Theories include those by Jean Watson, Martha Rogers, Rosemarie Parse.

 Copyright 2002 by Delmar, a division of Thomson Learning 2-18 Theory of Human Caring  Developed by Jean Watson in the 1980s  Offers a new way of conceptualizing human-to-human transactions that occur daily in nursing practice  Composed of 10 curative factors which are classified as nursing actions or caring processes

 Copyright 2002 by Delmar, a division of Thomson Learning 2-19 The Science of Unitary Human Beings  Developed by Martha Rogers  The person is viewed as a unified whole and seen as greater than, and different from, the sum of the parts.

 Copyright 2002 by Delmar, a division of Thomson Learning 2-20  The person is a human energy field that interacts with the environmental energy field resulting in the process of life.  Nursing aims to repattern the rhythm and organization of energy fields so that the person’s integrity is heightened.