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

2. 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

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

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

5. 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)

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

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

8. 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

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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

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

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

18. Key Theories in Human Diversity
Transcultural theories in nursing

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