EVOLUTION OF NURSING THEORIES

Terminology

Metaparadigm is the most abstract level of knowledge. It

specifies the main concepts that encompass the subject

matter and the scope of a discipline.

Powers and Knapp have noted, “There is general

agreement that nursing metaparadigm consists of the

central concepts of person, environment, health and

nursing. ”

Philosophy is the next knowledge level; it specifies the

definitions of the metaparadigm concepts in each of the

conceptual models of nursing.

Conceptual models are frameworks or paradigms that

provide “a broad frame of reference for systematic

approaches to the phenomena with which the discipline is

concerned.” Conceptual models provide different views of

nursing according to the characteristics of the model.

Theory is “a groups of related concepts that propose

actions that guide practice”

Nursing Theory is a group of related concepts that

derived from the nursing models. Some nursing theories

also derive from other disciplines such as Leininger’s work,

which comes from anthropology, or Peplau’s work, which

draws from psychiatric sources.

Science is performing the processes of observation,

idenitification, description, experimental investigation, and

theoretical explanation of natural phenomena. It is also a

body of knowledge; both unified body of knowledge

concerned with specific subject matter and as the processes

and methodologies.

Concept is “an idea or complex mental image of a

phenomenon (object, property, or event). Concepts are the

major components of theory.”

Abstract concepts are independent of time or place and

they are indirectly observable. Hope is an example of an

abstract concept.

Concrete concepts are specific to time and place and

are observable. A person’s features such as eye color,

height or weight.

Paradigm is another term for conceptual framework or

conceptual model. Term used to denote the prevailing

schema or approaches within a discipline.

Evolution of Nursing Theory within Types of Works

PHILOSOPHIES

Nightingale

Wiedenbach

Henderson

Abdellah

Hall

Watson

Benner

Evolution of Nursing Theory within Types of Works

CONCEPTUAL MODELS AND GRAND THEORIES

Orem

Levine

Rogers

Johnson

Roy

Neuman

King

Roper, Logan, and Tierney

Evolution of Nursing Theory within Types of Works

THEORIES AND MIDDLE-RANGE NURSNG THEORIES

Peplau Baranard

Orlando Leininger

Travelbee Parse

Kolcaba Mishel

Erickson, Tomlin, and Swain Newman

Mercer Adam

Pender

Significance of Theory for Nursing As a

Discipline and Profession

Discipline-specific to academia and refers to a branch of

education, a department of learning, or a domain of

knowledge.

Profession-refers to a specialized field of practice, which

is founded upon the theoretical structure of the science or

knowledge of that discipline and the accompanying

practice abilities.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THEORY FOR NURSING AS A

DISCIPLINE

To develop knowledge as a basis for nursing practice.

Baccalaureate programs proliferated, master programs in

nursing were developed and the curricula began to be

standardized through the accreditation process. Advocated

nursing as an applied science and others proclaimed nursing

as a basic science.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THEORY FOR NURSING AS A

PROFESSION

1. Utilizes in its practice a well-defined and well-

organized body of specialized knowledge [that] is in the

intellectual level of the higher learning.

2. Constantly enlarges the body of knowledge it uses and

improves its techniques of education and service by the

use of the scientific method.

3. Entrusts the education of its practitioners to institutions

of higher education.

4. Applies its body of knowledge in practical services

[that] are vital to human and social welfare.

5. Functions autonomously in the formulation of

professional policy and in the control of the professional

policy thereby.

6. Attracts individuals or intellectual and personal qualities

who exalt service above personal gain and who

recognize their chosen occupation as a life work.

7. Strives to compensate its practitioners by protinuous

professional growth, and economic security.

Nursing Theory and the Practicing Nurse

Theory assists the practicing nurse to:

Organize patient data

Understand patient data

Analyze patient data

Make decisions about nursing interventions

Plan patient care

Predict outcomes of care

Evaluate patient outcomes.

PHILOSOPHIES

Florence Nightingale

Florence Nightingale’s work is closely related to her

philosophical orientation of the patient environment

interaction and the principles and rules on which nursing

practice was founded. Nightingale believed that disease was

a reparative process. Patient’s surroundings-ventilation,

warmth, light, diet, cleanliness and noise-would contribute

to the reparative process and the health of the patient.

Notes on Nursing: What it is and what it is not.

THE END