The purposes of nursing theory? To guide nursing practice and generates knowledge To describe or explain nursing To enable nurses to know WHY they are doing WHAT they are doing

Types of nursing theories Grand theories – broad and complex Middle-range theories- address specific phenomena and reflect practice Descriptive theories – first level of theory development Prescriptive theories – address nursing interventions and predict their consequences

Why on earth do we study nursing theory? Everyday practice enriches theory Both practice and theory are guided by values and beliefs Theory helps to reframe our thinking about nursing Theory guides use of ideas and techniques Theory can close the gap between theory and research To envision تصور potentialities

How do nurses use theory in everyday practice? Organize patient data Understand patient data Analyze patient data Make decisions about nursing interventions Plan patient care Predict outcomes of care Evaluate patient outcomes (Alligood, 2001)

How do student nurses begin to use nursing theory? By asking yourself two very important questions….. Copyright 2004 by Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc.

Student nurse questions What is the nature of knowledge needed for the practice of nursing? What does it mean to me to practice nursing? Copyright 2004 by Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc.

Nursing also utilizes non-nursing theories

Commonly used non-nursing theories Systems theory Basic Human Needs theory Health and Wellness Models Stress and Adaptation Developmental Theories Psychosocial Theories

What is the link between nursing theory and the research process? Theory provides direction for nursing research Relationships of components in a theory help to drive the research questions for understanding nursing

Current trends that influence nursing theory Medical science Nursing education Professional nursing organizations Evolving research approaches Global concerns Consumer demands Technologies

“ Practicing nurses who despise theory are condemned مدان to performing a series of tasks - either at the command of a physician or in response to routines and policies.”

Some commonalities القواسم المشتركة Purpose Concepts Definitions Propositions Structured ideas Tentative Describe a phenomenon or occurrence

Components/Elements of theory 1.Purpose “Why is the theory formulated” 2.Concepts are building blocks of theory – ideas, mental images of a phenomenon, an event or object that is derived from an individual’s experience and perception Copyright 2004 by Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc.

Components/Elements of theory 3.Has a major concept like nursing, person, health or environment. 4. Definitions give meaning to concepts which can either be descriptive or procedural (stipulate-use of term within the theory) 3. Major concepts may not be present in the theory but a main concept is usually presnt and the author is usually Known for that example Orem’s Self Care Theory

Components/Elements of theory Propositions are expressions of relational statements between and among the concepts. It can be expressed as statements, paradigms or figures . AKA as theoretical assertions Assumptions- accepted “truths” that are basic and fundamental to the theory. Or value assumptions where what is good or right or ought to be.

Characteristics of a Theory Systematic, logical and coherent (orderly reasoning,no contradictions) Creative structuring of ideas mental images of one’s experiences and create different ways of looking at a particular event or object. 3. Tentative in nature ( change over time or evolving but some remain valid despite passage of time)

How does a theory develop? Four strategies of theory development 1. Theory practice theory: ( theory developed in other discipline and used in nursing situations 2.Practice – theory evolved from clinical practice Theories used using the practice theory strategy evolved from clinical practice. Example Orlando’s nursing process theory

How does a theory develop? 3. Research theory or inductive method Must evolve from research findings or empirical evidence. 4. Theory research theory theories developed by other disciplines are utilized but given unique nursing perspective. Original theory examined and given a new research findings. Copyright 2004 by Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc.

TERMINOLOGY METAPARADIGM Most abstract level of knowledge. In nursing this is main concepts that encompasses the subject matter and the scope of the discipline Central concepts of person, environment, health and nursing

TERMINOLOGY Philosophy Knowledge level which specifies the definitions of the metaparadigm concepts in each of the conceptual models of nursing. Nightingale is considered philosophical approach Out of these philosophies theory maybe formalized

Conceptual models Frameworks or paradigms that provide a broad frame of reference for the systematic approaches to the phenomena with which the discipline is concerned. -different views nursing like Roy focuses on adaptation, King on interaction and Abdellah on interventions

Group of related concepts that propose actions that guide practice Theory Group of related concepts that propose actions that guide practice

Nursing theory Group of related concepts that derived from the nursing models. Some derive from other nursing discipline like LEininger which comes from anthropology

Uses of theory Theory guides and improve nursing practice Theory provides goal for nursing care and with goals, nursing practice is rendered more effective and efficient. theories help to focus the goals, making nurses more confident about the practice.

Uses of theory 2. Theory guides research according to Meleis, primary use of theory is to guide research. It validates and modifies the theory. 3. Theory contributes to the development of the disciplines body of knowledge 4. Theory enhances communication

Process of Knowledge Development

THANK YOU! Copyright 2004 by Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc.