THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK FOR NURSING PRACTICE

UNIT 1 INTRODUCTION TO THEORY

LEARNING ACTIVITIES
1. How Nursing Theory does assists the practicing nurse in the delivery of care to
patients? Explain your answer.
2. Describe the curriculu and the description of a nurse during !ilent "nowledge
!tage and #rocedural "nowledge !tage.
$. Di%erentiate etatheory fro acrotheory.
&etatheory de'ned as a philosophical theory about theories(
concerned with logical and ethodological foundations of a
discipline ) *ec+strand 1,-./. Exaines 0how theory a%ects
and is a%ected by research and practice within nursing( and
philosophy and politics about nursing
&acrotheory are precise theories that guide very speci'c
aspects of nursing practice.These theoretical fraewor+s are
concrete and narrow in scope.They coposed of concepts that
are readily easurable(ob1ective and applicable to liited
populations and practice settings. &icrotheories describe(explain
or provide understanding of patients experiences of a speci'c
phenoenon.
2. Di%erentiate factor3isolating theories fro factor3relating theories.
Factors isoati!" t#$ori$s is descriptive. 4t is to +now the
properties and wor+ings of discipline( it describes a1or
concepts and prepositions. 5n the other hand( %actor r$ati!"
t#$ori$s is explanatory. 4t is to exaine how properties relates.
4t relates concepts to one another.
6. Di%erentiate situation3relating theories fro situation3producing theories
Sit&atio! r$ati!" t#$ori$s is predictive( it is to calculate
relationships between properties and how they occur while
sit&atio! 'ro(&ci!" t#$ori$s is prescriptive( it is to identify
under which conditions occur.
UNIT ) CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
LEARNING ACTIVITIES
1. 7ro a research study()fro 288- up to the present only/ enuerate the
di%erent concepts that the researcher used in his study. 9ttach the full content
of the study.
2. 7ro the above lists of concepts( choose one and apply :odgers; #rocess of
<oncept 9nalysis.
UNIT * THEORY DEVELOPMENT
LEARNING ACTIVITIES
1. Discuss all the topics in =nit 444.
I!tro(&ctio!
Theories are a set of interrelated concepts that give a systeatic view of a
phenoenon )an observable fact or event/ that is explanatory > predictive in
nature.
Theories are coposed of concepts( de'nitions( odels( propositions > are
based on assuptions.
Theory gives planners tools for oving beyond intuition to design and
evaluate health behavior and health prootion interventions based on
understanding of behavior.?:obert T. <royle )2886/@.
They are derived through two principal ethodsA deductive reasoning and
inductive reasoning. Nursing theorists use both of these ethods.
Theory is 0a creative and rigorous structuring of ideas that pro1ects a
tentative( purposeful( and systeatic view of phenoenaB.
9 theory a+es it possible to 0organiCe the relationship aong the concepts
to describe( explain( predict( and control practiceB
D$+!itio!
Co!c$'ts 3 <oncepts are basically vehicles of thought that involve iages.
<oncepts are words that describe ob1ects( properties( or events > are basic
coponents of theory.
T,'$sD
1. Epirical concepts
2. 4nferential concepts
$. 9bstract concepts
Mo($s are representations of the interaction aong and between the
concepts showing patterns.
o The ters Eodel; and Etheory; are often wrongly used
interchangeably( which further confounds atters.
o 4n nursing( odels are often designed by theory authors to depict the
beliefs in their theory )Fancaster and Fancaster 1,-1/.
o They provide an overview of the thin+ing behind the theory and ay
deonstrate how theory can be introduced into practice( for exaple(
through speci'c ethods of assessent.
o &odels are useful as they allow the concepts in nursing theory to be
successfully applied to nursing practice )Fancaster and Fancaster
1,-1/. Their ain liitation is that they are only as accurate or useful
as the underlying theory.
Pro'ositio!s 3 are stateents that explain the relationship between the
concepts.
Proc$ss 3 it is a series of actions( changes or functions intended to bring
about a desired result. During a process one ta+es systeic > continuous
steps to eet a goal > uses both assessents > feedbac+ to direct actions to
the goal.
A co!c$'t&a %ra-$.or/ 3 directs how these actions are carried out. The
delivery of nursing care within the nursing process is directed by the way
speci'c conceptual fraewor+s > theories de'ne the person )patient/( the
environent( health > nursing.
I-'orta!c$ o% !&rsi!" t#$ori$s
Nursing theory ais to describe( predict and explain the phenoenon of
nursing )<hinn and Gacobs1,H-/.
4t should provide the foundations of nursing practice( help to generate further
+nowledge and indicate in which direction nursing should develop in the
future )*rown 1,.2/.
Theory is iportant because it helps us to decide what we +now and what we
need to +now )#arsons1,2,/.
4t helps to distinguish what should for the basis of practice by explicitly
describing nursing.
The bene'ts of having a de'ned body of theory in nursing include better
patient care( enhanced professional status for nurses( iproved
counication between nurses( and guidance for research and education
)Nolan 1,,./.
The ain exponent of nursing I caring I cannot be easured( it is vital to
have the theory to analyCe and explain what nurses do.
9s edicine tries to a+e a ove towards adopting a ore ultidisciplinary
approach to health care( nursing continues to strive to establish a uniJue
body of +nowledge.
This can be seen as an attept by the nursing profession to aintain its
professional boundaries.
T#$ c#aract$ristics o% t#$ori$s
T#$ori$s ar$0
interrelating concepts in such a way as to create a di%erent way of loo+ing at
a particular phenoenon.
logical in nature.
generaliCable.
bases for hypotheses that can be tested.
increasing the general body of +nowledge within the discipline through the
research ipleented to validate the.
used by the practitioners to guide and iprove their practice.
consistent with other validated theories( laws( and principles but will leave
open unanswered Juestions that need to be investigated.
1asic 'roc$ss$s i! t#$ ($2$o'-$!t o% !&rsi!" t#$ori$s
Nursing theories are often based on > inKuenced by broadly applicable processes >
theories. 7ollowing theories are basic to any nursing concepts.
G$!$ra S,st$- T#$or,
4t describes how to brea+ whole things into parts > then to learn how the
parts wor+ together in 0systesB. These concepts ay be applied to di%erent
+inds of systes( e.g. &olecules in cheistry( cultures in sociology( and
organs in 9natoy > Health in Nursing.
A(a'tatio! T#$or,
4t de'nes adaptation as the ad1ustent of living atter to other living things
> to environental conditions.
9daptation is a continuously occurring process that e%ects change > involves
interaction > response.
Huan adaptation occurs on three levels D
1. The internal )self/
2. The social )others/ >
$. the physical )biocheical reactions/
D$2$o'-$!ta T#$or,
4t outlines the process of growth > developent of huans as orderly >
predictable( beginning with conception > ending with death.
The progress > behaviors of an individual within each stage are uniJue.
The growth > developent of an individual are inKuenced by heredity(
teperaent( eotional( > physical environent( life experiences > health
status.
Co--o! co!c$'ts i! !&rsi!" t#$ori$s
7our concepts coon in nursing theory that inKuence > deterine nursing
practice areD
The person )patient/.
The environent
Health
Nursing )goals( roles( functions/
Each of these concepts is usually de'ned > described by a nursing theorist( often
uniJuelyA although these concepts are coon to all nursing theories. 5f the four
concepts( the ost iportant is that of the person. The focus of nursing( regardless
of de'nition or theory( is the person.
Historica '$rs'$cti2$s a!( /$, co!c$'ts
1. Nightingale )1-.8/D To facilitate 0the body;s reparative processesB by
anipulating client;s environent
2. #eplau 1,62D Nursing isA therapeutic interpersonal process.
$. Henderson 1,66D The needs often called Henderson;s 12 basic needs
2. 9bdellah 1,.8D The nursing theory developed by 7aye 9bdellah et al )1,.8/
ephasiCes delivering nursing care for the whole person to eet the
physical( eotional( intellectual( social( and spiritual needs of the client and
faily.
6. 5rlando 1,.2D To 4da 5rlando )1,.8/( the client is an individualA with a needA
that( when et( diinishes distress( increases adeJuacy( or enhances well3
being.
.. Gohnson;s Theory 1,.-D Dorothy Gohnson;s theory of nursing 1,.- focuses on
how the client adapts to illness and how actual or potential stress can a%ect
the ability to adapt. The goal of nursing to reduce stress so thatA the client
can ove ore easily through recovery.
H. :ogers 1,H8D to aintain and proote health( prevent illness( and care for
and rehabilitate ill and disabled client through 0huanistic science of
nursingB
-. 5re1,H1D This is self3care de'cit theory. Nursing care becoes necessary
when client is unable to ful'll biological( psychological( developental( or
social needs.
,. "ing 1,H1D To use counication to help client reestablish positive
adaptation to environent.
18.Neuan 1,H2D !tress reduction is goal of syste odel of nursing practice.
11.:oy 1,H,D This adaptation odel is based on the physiological( psychological(
sociological and dependence3independence adaptive odes.
12.Latson;s Theory 1,H,D Latson;s philosophy of caring 1,H, attepts to
de'ne the outcoe of nursing activity in regard to theA huanistic aspects of
life.
Cassi+catio! o% !&rsi!" t#$ori$s
A3 D$'$!(i!" O! F&!ctio! 4Poit $t a )5516
1. D$scri'ti2$3to identify the properties and wor+ings of a discipline
2. E7'a!ator,3to exaine how properties relate and thus a%ect the discipline
$. Pr$(icti2$3to calculate relationships between properties and how they occur
2. Pr$scri'ti2$ 3to identify under which conditions relationships occur
13 D$'$!(i!" o! t#$ G$!$raisa8iit, o% t#$ir 'ri!ci'$s
1. M$tat#$or,0 the theory of theory. 4denti'es speci'c phenoena through
abstract concepts.
2. Gra!( t#$or,0 provides a conceptual fraewor+ under which the +ey
concepts and
C3 Pri!ci'$s o% t#$ (isci'i!$ ca! 8$ i($!ti+$(3
1. Mi(($ ra!"$ t#$or,0 is ore precise and only analyses a particular
situation with a liited nuber of variables.
2. Practic$ t#$or,0 explores one particular situation found in nursing. 4t
identi'es explicit goals and details how these goals will be achieved.
D. 1as$( o! t#$ '#ioso'#ica &!($r'i!!i!"s o% t#$ t#$ori$s
1. 0Needs 0theories.
2. 04nteractionB theories.
$. 05utcoe 0theories.
2. Huanistic theories.
13 9N$$(s: t#$ori$s
These theories are based around helping individuals to ful'll their physical
and ental needs. Needs theories have been criticiCed for relying too uch
on the edical odel of health and placing the patient in an overtly
dependent position.
)39I!t$ractio!: t#$ori$s
9s described by #eplau )1,--/( these theories revolve around the
relationships nurses for with patients.
!uch theories have been criticiCed for largely ignoring the edical odel of
health and not attending to basic physical needs.
*3 9O&tco-$: t#$ori$s;
5utcoe theories portray the nurse as the changing force( who enables
individuals to adapt to or cope with ill health.
5utcoe theories have been criticiCed as too abstract and diMcult to
ipleent in practice.
<3 9H&-a!istic: T#$ori$s
Huanistic theories developed in response to the psychoanalytic thought
that a person;s destiny was deterined early in life.
Huanistic theories ephasiCe a person;s capacity for self3actualiCation.
Huanists believe that the person contains within hiself the potential for
healthy > creative growth.
<arl :ogers developed a person Icentered odel of psychotherapy that
ephasiCes the uniJueness of the individual.
The a1or contribution that :ogers added to nursing practice is the
understandings that each client is a uniJue individual( so( person3centered
approach now practice in nursing.
2. Lhat are the four )2/ nursing etaparadig? Describe each.
1. #erson I The recipient of nursing care li+e
individuals(
7ailies and counities.
2. Environent I The external and internal aspects
of life that
4nKuence the person.
$. Health 3 The holistic level of wellness that the
person
Experiences.
2. Nursing I The interventions of the nurse
rendering care in
!upport of( or in cooperation with
the client.
UNIT < THEORY ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION
LEARNING ACTIVITIES0
1. *ased on the research study that you have used in =nit 44( evaluate the theory
that the researcher used by using two of the theory evaluation odels that you
have studied.
httpDNNnursingtheories.infoNetaparadig3in3nursingN
httpDNNcurrentnursing.coNnursingOtheoryNdevelopentOofOnursingOtheories.htl
httpDNNJuiClet.coN12-1-$82Nconceptual3overview3of3theoretical3foundations3of3
nursing3Kash3cardsN