Nursing Theories in the Development of Nursing Curriculum Hesook Suzie Kim, PhD, RN Professor, College of Nursing University of Rhode Island

Nursing Theory Theoretical knowledge regarding the core subject matters of the discipline Systematized statements regarding the phenomena of interest to nursing Relevance to the practice of nursing Continuously revised and refined through theory development, research, and practice

theory, research & practice Relationship among theory, research & practice PRACTICE THEORY RESEARCH

Purposes of Nursing Theories Enlightenment and Understanding – Descriptive theories Explanation and Prediction – Explanatory theories Control and Manipulation – Prescriptive theories

Types of Nursing Theories Global-level theories (Conceptual models; Sensitizing frameworks; & Grand theories) Meso-level theories (Theories of substantive areas in nursing) Intermediate-level theories (Middle-range theories; Situation-specific theories) Micro-level theories (Local theories)

Nursing Theories  Enlightenment & Understanding Explanation & Prediction Control & Manipulation Global-level Theories  Meso-level Theories Intermediate-level Theories Micro-level Theories

Subject Matters for Nursing Theories Four Domains of Nursing Knowledge The Client Domain The Client-Nurse Domain The Practice Domain The Environment Domain

The Client-Nurse Domain The Environment Domain Nursing Theories The Client Domain The Client-Nurse Domain The Practice Domain The Environment Domain Global-level theories Meso-level theories  Intermediate-level theories Micro-level theories

NURSING CURRICULUM Identification of core goals and objectives Organization of learning material Systematic delineation of essential content

Curricular Goals & Objectives in relation to Nursing Theories Understanding nursing theories as the core of nursing’s disciplinary knowledge matrix – Appreciation of the role of theories in a practice discipline Understanding the status of theoretical knowledge development in nursing – Disciplinary development in relation to nursing theories Exposure to key conceptual and theoretical ideas in nursing Articulation of the processes of theory development in nursing Use of relevant nursing theories to understand and explain nursing phenomena, and to examine practice approaches and therapeutics

Organization of learning material in relation to nursing theories Independent courses on nursing theories – To meet the goals #1 through #4 Integration into nursing courses in the curriculum – To meet the goal #5

Systematic Delineation of Essential Content in relation to Nursing Theories Content related to Goals #1 through #4 The nature of nursing discipline’s knowledge matrix (e.g., knowledge about clients, client-nurse, practice, & environment) Historical understanding of nursing theory development Key conceptual and theoretical ideas in nursing (e.g., holism, biobehaviorism, needs, functioning, interaction, postmodern thinking, and praxis) Processes in theory-research-practice linkages

Systematic Delineation of Essential Content in relation to Nursing Theories Content related to Goals #5 to be integrated into different nursing courses (For example, using AACN’s core knowledge areas) Health promotion, risk reduction, & disease prevention Illness and disease management Information & health care technologies Ethics Human diversity Global health care Health care systems & policy

Key theories in Health promotion, risk reduction, & disease prevention Descriptive, Explanatory, & Prescriptive Nursing theories of health and health promotion of health risks & risk reduction of disease prevention

Key Theories in Illness & Disease Management Descriptive & explanatory nursing theories regarding illness, diseases, symptoms, & social, physical, psychological, & spiritual responses Descriptive & explanatory nursing theories regarding quality of life & human functioning Prescriptive theories for nursing assessment & management of symptoms and responses to illness

Key Theories in Information & Health Care Technologies Nursing practice theories in relation to the use of information & health care technologies

Key Theories in Ethics Theories of nursing ethics Theories of ethical decision making in nursing practice

Key Theories in Human Diversity Transcultural theories in nursing

Other Areas Key theories in Global Health Care Key theories in Health Care Systems & Policy