Nursing Theories in the
Development of Nursing
Curriculum
Hesook Suzie Kim, PhD, RN
Professor, College of Nursing
University of Rhode Island
Nursing Theory
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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
Relationship among
theory, research & practice
PRACTICE
THEORY
RESEARCH
Purposes of Nursing Theories
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Enlightenment and Understanding –
Descriptive theories
Explanation and Prediction – Explanatory
theories
Control and Manipulation – Prescriptive
theories
Types of Nursing Theories
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Global-level theories (Conceptual
models; Sensitizing frameworks; &
Grand theories)
Meso-level theories (Theories of
substantive areas in nursing)
Intermediate-level theories (Middlerange theories; Situation-specific
theories)
Micro-level theories (Local theories)
Nursing Theories
Global-level
Theories
Meso-level
Theories
Intermediatelevel Theories
Micro-level
Theories
Enlightenment &
Understanding
Explanation &
Prediction
Control &
Manipulation
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Subject Matters for Nursing
Theories
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Four Domains of Nursing Knowledge
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The
The
The
The
Client Domain
Client-Nurse Domain
Practice Domain
Environment Domain
Nursing Theories
The Client
Domain
The ClientNurse
Domain
The
Practice
Domain
The
Environment
Domain
Meso-level
theories
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Intermediatelevel theories
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Micro-level
theories
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Global-level
theories
NURSING CURRICULUM
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Identification of core goals and
objectives
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Organization of learning material
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Systematic delineation of
essential content
Curricular Goals & Objectives in relation
to Nursing Theories
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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
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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
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Content related to Goals #1 through #4
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The nature of nursing discipline’s knowledge
matrix (e.g., knowledge about clients, clientnurse, 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
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Content related to Goals #5 to be
integrated into different nursing courses
example, using AACN’s core knowledge areas)
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Health promotion, risk reduction, & disease
prevention
Illness and disease management
Information & health care technologies
Ethics
Human diversity
Global health care
Health care systems & policy
(For
Key theories in Health promotion, risk
reduction, & disease prevention
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Descriptive, Explanatory, &
Prescriptive Nursing theories
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of health and health promotion
of health risks & risk reduction
of disease prevention
Key Theories in Illness & Disease
Management
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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
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Nursing practice theories in relation
to the use of information & health
care technologies
Key Theories in Ethics
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Theories of nursing ethics
Theories of ethical decision making in
nursing practice
Key Theories in Human Diversity
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Transcultural theories in nursing
Other Areas
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Key theories in Global Health Care
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Key theories in Health Care Systems
& Policy