1. NG701 Advanced Theoretical Foundations in Nursing
Jill M. Hayes, Ph.D., RN
Spring 2013

2. What is nursing? Set of functions and activities?
Steps of the nursing process?
Coordination of patient care?
“problematic definitions”!

3. What is nursing really?
Unique perspective as field of study or discipline
Directs inquiry
Distinguishes from other fields of study

4. Nursing knowledge
Guides professional practice to ensure/support a professional discipline
Which is formed by a community of scholars
Community shares commitment to values
Supports knowledge development and processes to guide thought and activities of work

5. A professional discipline
Clearly defined by a statement of its domain/focus
Domain of nursing:
Phenomenon of interest
Problems to be addressed
Context and methods used
Roles required of its members

6. Definitions of nursing theory
Notion or idea
Explains experiences
Interprets observations
Describes relationships
Organizing structures of these elements
Guide actions
Identify desired outcomes
Provide evidence of what achieved

7. Why study nursing theory?
Definition of a profession
Definition of a discipline
Criteria for this designation

8. Purpose of theory
Patterns that guide thinking about, being, and doing of nursing
Organize knowledge
Guide practice
Enhance care/quality of life
Guide inquiry to advance science
***Theory guides Research which guides Practice with feedback to Theory development, testing, evaluation***

9. Theory/Philosophy/ conceptual Framework
Levels of abstraction
Paradigm
Grand theories/conceptual models
Middle range theories
Practice level

10. Paradigm Framework of assumptions related to aspects of discipline
Essential to the development of a discipline
Theories are clustered within paradigms

11. Grand theories/conceptual models
Less abstract than paradigm
More abstract that middle range theories
Composed of concepts and relationship statements (assumptions)

12. Middle range theories Next level in structure of discipline
Broad enough to be useful in complex situations
Appropriate for empirical testing

13. Practice theories More limited scope and level of abstraction
Developed for use within specific range of nursing situations

14. Philosophy Perspective/lens Way one views the world
In advanced practice
View point utilized with each patient encounter
Becomes a paradigm and point of reference

15. Philosophy of science Where philosophy and science meet
Provide new perspective through which to:
Examine body of knowledge
Examine approach to study of knowledge base
Nursing’s responsibility
View philosophy from perspective of:
Nurse as scientist, care provider, patient/family/society

16. Science Definition Characteristics/categories Assumptions Knowledge
Evaluation

17. Evolution of nursing science
Skills, tasks, activities of practice
Cognitive skills/activities
Advanced education/knowledge base
Context of practice/inquiry/knowledge

18. Nursing as a discipline
Refine knowledge base
Higher education to develop unique body of knowledge
Delineating of discipline of professional nursing
Identify nature of nursing – structure and boundaries
Borrowed knowledge vs unique knowledge
Emergence of nursing science
Focus of theory development
Concept development/analysis

19. Theory
Levels
Development
Testing
Refinement