THEORIES OF NURSING

Definition of Terms

 Theory- is an idea or set of ideas that is intended to explain facts or events.

 An idea that is suggested or presented as possibly true but is not known or
proven to be true.
 It is a set of interrelated concepts, definitions and propositions that explains
and predicts events or situations by specifying relations among variables.

 Nursing Theory- aims to describe, predict and explain the phenomenon of

nursing.
 It is a set of concepts, definitions, relationship, assumptions and propositions
derived from nursing models or from other disciplines.

 Concept- concept conceived in the mind or thoughts. It is an idea that is

personalized upon by many people.

 Paradigm- provide information about how to evaluate new theories and ideas,
it is a way of looking at something.
 It is a set of common beliefs and agreements shared between scientist about
how problems should be understood and addressed.

 Framework- supports the structure system that holds part together.

 Ex. Theoretical and Conceptual

Kisen Kaisha D. Dagook, MD

1
THEORIES OF NURSING
 Proposition- statement that explain the relationship between concepts.

 Assumption- beliefs generated by past experiences that influences the nurse

views and understanding of a current situation. It is a statement or view that is
widely accepted.

 Nursing Paradigm- represents global ideas about individuals, group

situations, phenomena of interest to this discipline.

 Metaparadigm- is a set of theories or ideas that provide structure for how a

discipline should function.

Metaparadigms in Nursing
 Person- is the recipient of nursing care or action, the level and type of care
depends on the needs of the patient.

 Health- is relative to the person and is, according to the patient’s perspective,
values, beliefs and culture.

 Environment- setting or place, it can be external or internal.

 Nursing- is an academic discipline and a practice profession. It is the art and

science of holistic health care guided by the values of human freedom, choice
and responsibility.

Kisen Kaisha D. Dagook, MD

2
THEORIES OF NURSING
Classifications of Theory
 Meta Theory- refers to a theory about a theory.
 How a theory is developed
 How broad a theory is

 Grand Theory- are non-specific, comprised of relatively abstract concepts

that lacks operational definitions.
 They are not developed by research.
 Ex. Leininger, Parse, Rogers
 Early nurse theorist
 Ex. Betty Newman’s theory of health as an expanding consciousness.

 Middle Range Theory- it is specific, has a limited concept and has

operational definition.
 There are propositions (statements that explains the relationship between
concepts.)
 Ex. Ida Jean Orlando; Watson and Peplau

 Practice Theory- provides specific direction to practice, and it is narrow in

scope.
 Limited to a specific population.
 Ex. Pediatric Nursing, Oncology pain management

Kisen Kaisha D. Dagook, MD

3
THEORIES OF NURSING
Characteristics of Nursing Theories
 Logical in nature.
 Interrelating concepts in such a way as to create a different way of looking at
a particular phenomenon.
 Generalizable.
 Basis for hypothesis that can be tested.
 Increases the body of knowledge within the discipline.
 Use by practitioner to guide and improve their practice.
 Consistent with other validated theories, laws and principles but will leave
open unanswered questions that used to be investigated.

Purposes of Nursing Theories

 Assist nurses to describe, explain, and predict everyday experiences.
 Serve to guide assessment, intervention, and evaluation of nursing care.
 Provide rationale for collecting reliable and valid data about the health status
of clients which are effective decision making and implementation.
 Establish criteria to measure the quality of nursing care.
 To build common nursing terms to use in communicating with other health
professionals. Ideas are developed and words are defined.
 Enhanced autonomy (independence) of nursing by defining its own
independent functions.

Importance of Nursing Theories

 Aims to describe, predict and explain the phenomenology of nursing.
 It should provide the foundation of nursing practice to generate further
knowledge and indicate in a direction nursing should develop in the future.
 It helps us to decide on what we know and what we need to know.

Kisen Kaisha D. Dagook, MD

4
THEORIES OF NURSING
 It helps to distinguish what should form the basis of practice by explicitly
describing nursing.

Kisen Kaisha D. Dagook, MD

5