Chapter 2
Nursing Theory
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Components of a Theoretical
Foundation
• Concept
• Proposition
• Theory
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What Is a Concept?
• Basic building block of theory
• Labels phenomenon
• Complex mental formulations of one’s
perceptions of world
• Conceptual framework
– Structure that links global concepts together
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What Is a Proposition?
• Structural element of theory
• Statement that proposes relationship
between concepts
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What Is a Theory?
• Set of concepts and propositions that
provide orderly way to view phenomena
• Purpose:
– Describe, explain, and predict phenomena
• Helps organize thoughts and ideas
• Guides research
Copyright © 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Use of Theories from Other
Disciplines
• Theories from biological, physical, and
behavioral sciences used in nursing:
– Maslow
– Erikson
– Selye
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Importance of Nursing Theories
• Provide:
– Framework for thought within nursing discipline
– Structure for communication among nurses and
other health team members
– Assistance for nursing profession to clarify
beliefs, values, and goals
– Help in defining unique contribution of nursing
to care of clients
(continued)
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Importance of Nursing Theories
• Theory, research, and practice
interdependent
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Scope of Theories
• Grand theory
– Orem’s self-care deficit theory of nursing
• Middle-range theory
– Peplau’s theory of interpersonal relations
• Micro-range theory
– Examines specific phenomenon
Copyright © 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Evolution of Nursing Theory
• 1950s
– Nursing practice mechanical
• 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s
– Nursing practice fit into prevailing view of science
• Beyond 1980s
– New perspective of nursing that unifies nursing as
art and science
Copyright © 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Knowledge Development in
Nursing
• Metaparadigm of nursing
– Distinguishing concepts that provide boundaries
and limitations of discipline
– Major concepts that provide structure to domain
of nursing:
• Person, environment, health, and nursing
(continued)
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Knowledge Development in
Nursing
• Paradigms in nursing
– Particular viewpoint or perspective
– Prevailing paradigm in discipline represents
predominant viewpoint
– New theories and research lead to paradigm
revolution
(continued)
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Knowledge Development in
Nursing
• Paradigm shift
– Moving from one paradigm to another
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Selected Nursing Theorists
• Florence Nightingale
– Provided philosophical basis from which other
nursing theories have developed
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Early Nursing Theorists
•
•
•
•
•
Hildegard Peplau
Virginia Henderson
Faye Abdellah
Joyce Travelbee
Josephine Paterson and Loretta Zderad
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Contemporary Nursing Theorists
•
•
•
•
•
Myra Levine
Dorothea Orem
Betty Neuman
Madeleine Leininger
Sister Callista Roy
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Theories for the New
Worldview of Nursing
• Describe, explain, and predict
phenomena of concern to nursing from
more holistic perspective
• Utmost importance:
– Client-environment interaction
(continued)
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Theories for the New
Worldview of Nursing
• Jean Watson
– Theory of human caring
– Caring is essence of nursing and most central
and unifying focus of nursing practice
(continued)
Copyright © 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Theories for the New
Worldview of Nursing
• Martha Rogers
– Theory of science of unitary human beings
– Nursing is learned profession
• Science and art
– Phenomenon of concern
(continued)
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Theories for the New
Worldview of Nursing
• Rosemarie Parse
– Goal of nursing from human becoming
perspective:
• Quality of life
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Continuing Evolution of
Nursing Theory
• Always changing
– Simultaneously useful for present
• Shift from developing new theories to
applying existing theories to practice
Copyright © 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.