THEORETICAL FOUNDATION OF NURSING

LESSON 1: PHILISOPHY, SCIENCE, AND Conceptual framework

NURSING OVERVIEW OF THEORY -Illustrates what you expect to find through
your research
DEFINITION OF TERMS: o EXAMPLE: Diagram of
relationship between nursing
Nursing practice and research.
-The profession or practice of providing care
for the sick and infirm. Abstract
-Existing in thought or as an idea.
Philosophy
-The study of the fundamental nature of Concrete
knowledge, thinking, reasoning, reality, and -Existing in a material or physical form.
existence. Especially, when considered as an
academic discipline.

Nursing Philosophy:
-A statement that outlines a nurse’s value,
ethics, and beliefs, as well as their motivation
for being part of the profession.

EXAMPLE OF NURSING PHILOSOPHY:

My personal core values and beliefs as an
individual are kindness, honesty, persistence,
lifelong learning, security, family and success
in achieving my goals. I use these values and
beliefs to make personal decisions and live my
everyday life.

Science
-The systematic study of the structure and
behavior of the physical and natural world
through observation and experiment.

Nursing as Science IS NURSING AN OCCUPATION OR A

-The development of theories and practical
concepts for improving how clinicians and
patients administer care and manage
conditions between the professional nurse and
the patient.
Theory
-A supposition or a system of ideas intended to
explain something.
Nursing theory
-Organize, knowledge-based concepts that
essentially define the scope of nursing
practice.
PROFFESSION
OCCUPATION
-A job or a career
-Require widely varying levels training or
education, varying levels of skill and widely
variable defined knowledge bases.
PROFESSION
-A learned vocation or occupation that has a
status of superiority and precedence within a
division of work.
CHARACTERISTIC OF A PROFESSION

Concept 1.Define and specialized knowledge based

-A general idea of something (example: transcultural nursing)
EXAMPLE: understanding nursing 2.control authority over training and
history, a covid patient, a nurse. education.

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3.credentialing system or registration to ensure o In the past, nursing depended
competence. (example: Nursing Licensure heavily on physiology,
Exam) sociology, psychology, and
4.Altruistic service to society medicine to provide academic
5.A code of sthics (example: nurses as standing and to inform
patient advocates) practice.
6.Formal training within institutions of higher o In recent decades, nursing has
education. (example: graduate BS Nursing been seeking what is unique to
program from SDCA) nursing and developing those
7.Lengthy socialization to the profession aspects into an academic
(example: a nurse develops his/her own discipline.
professional identity)
8.Autonomy (control of professional Areas that identify nursing as a distinct
activities) discipline are as follows:

Nursing as an Academic Discipline  An identifiable philosophy

 Atleast one conceptual framework
Displine (perspective) for delineation of what
- a branch of knowledge ordered through the can be defines as nursing.
theories and methods evolving from more than  Acceptable methodologic approaches
one worldview of the phenomenon of concern. for the pursuit and development of
knowledge
EXAMPLE:
-NURSING Science
-PHARMACY  Concerned with cause and effect
-MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY
 Characterized by observation,
-BIOLOGY
verifiability, and experience,
-RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY
 Hypothesis testing and
-PHYSICAL THERAPHY
experimentation are considered
scientific methods.
NURSING AS AN ACADEMIC
DISIPLINE

CHRACTERISTIC OF DISCIPLINES
1. A distinct perspective and syntax
2. Determination of what phenomena are
of interest
3. Determination of the context in which
the phenomena are viewed
4. Determination of what questions to
ask
5. Determination of what methods of
SCIENCE AND PHILOSOPHICAL
study are used.
SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT
6. Determination of what evidence is
- In the period of modern science, three
proof
philosophies of science (paradigms
or worldviews) dominate:
Rationalism
 Knowledge development within a
-Rationalist epistemology (scope of
discipline proceeds from several
knowledge) emphasizes prior reasoning as a
philosophical and scientific
method for advancing knowledge
perspective or worldviews.
 Nursing’s knowledge base draws from Empiricism
many discipline. -founded on the belief that what is experienced
is what exist, and its knowledge base requires

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that these experiences be verified through
scientific methodology.
Human science/Phenomenology
-The study of phenomena and emphasizes the
appearance of things as opposed to the things
themselves.
KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPMENT AND
NURSING SCIENCE
 Ultimate purpose of knowledge
development is to improve nursing
practice.
THREE FACETS:
 Ontology- refers to the study of being:
what is or what exist
 Epistemology- refers to the study
knowledge or ways of knowing.
 Methodology- means of acquiring
knowledge
OTHER VIEWS OF PATTERN OF
KNOWLEDGE IN NURSING
 Schultz and Meleis (1988) observed
that Carper’s work did not incorporate
practical knowledge into ways of
knowing nursing.
 They described three patterns of
knowledge in nursing:
o Clinical- refers to the
individual nurses’s personal
knowledge.
o Conceptual- abstracted and
generalized beyond personal
experience
o Empirical- results from
experimental, historical, or
phenomenologic research and
is used to justify actions and
procedures in practice.
NURSING AS A HUMAN
SCIENCE
 In human sciences, knowledge
takes the form of descriptive
theories regarding the
structures, processes,
relationships, and traditions
that underlie psychological,
social, and cultural aspects of
reality.
 Purpose of research in human
sciences is to produces
descriptions and
interpretations to help
understand the nature of
human experience.
HISTORY OF NURSING
-Nurses of early era’s delivered care to
patients according to early practices focused
on skills without testing of going for
education.
LESSON 2: THEORY DEVELOPMENT
THEORY ANALYSIS AND
EVALUATION
DEFINITION OF TERMS:
Theory
-Set of principles on which the practice of an
activity is based
Nursing theories
-Organized, knowledge-based concepts that
essentially define the scope of nursing
practice.
-Scope would include what constitutes
nursing, what nurses are typically tasked with,
and the reasons why these tasks are in place.
PURPOSE OF THEORY
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-It explains why the theory was formulated in
a specified situation, circumstances that
influenced its creation and provide
information about socio-political context in
which the theory was developed

EXAMPLE:
-Environmental Theory of Florence
Nightingale

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Concept COMPONENTS OF THEORY

-A general idea of something  Purpose
EXAMPLE: understanding nursing  Concepts and definitions
history, a covid patient, a nurse.  Theoretical Statements
 Structure/linkages and ordering
Conceptual framework  Assumptions
-Illustrates what you expect to find through
your research
EXAMPLE: Diagram of relationship
between nursing practice and research.

Abstract
-Existing in thought or as an idea.

Concrete
-Existing in a material or physical form

COMPONENTS OF A THEORY:
PURPOSE
 Explains why the theory was
formulated and specifies the context
THEORY DEVELOPMENT and situations in which it should be
applied
 Also called theory construction
 A process or method used to create COMPONENTS OF A THEORY:
and modify a theory. CONCEPTS AND CONCEPTUAL
DEFINITIONS

Concept
-A general idea of something
EXAMPLE: understanding nursing
history, a covid patient, a nurse.

Conceptual framework
-Illustrates what you expect to find through
your research
EXAMPLE: Diagram of relationship
between nursing practice and research.

COMPONENTS OF A THEORY:
THEORETICAL STATEMENT

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 Statement about the relationship
between two or more concepts and are
used to connect concepts to devise the
theory
 Example: Nursing care becomes
necessary when client is unable to care
for him/herself (SELF-CARE
DEFICIT THEORY)

COMPONENTS OF A THEORY:
STUCTURE AND LINKAGES

 Structure of a theory provides overall

form to the theory
 Theoretical linkages offer a reasoned
explanation of why the variables in the
theory may be connected in some
manner which brings plausibility to
the theory
 Example : Culture shapes the
definition of health

STEPS IN THEORY DEVELOPMENT

COMPONENTS OF A THEORY: 1. Choose a topic that you are interested

ASSUMPTIONS
 Beliefs about a phenomenon that one
must accept as true to accept a theory
 Example: Effective caring promotes
health and individual or family growth
(Jean Watsons)
2. How to do literature review?
COMPONENTS OF A THEORY:
MODELS
 Schematic representations of some
aspect of reality
 Example: Adaptation Model of
Nursing By Sister Callista Roy
RELATIONSHIP AMONG THEORY:
RESEARCH AND PRACTICE
in. The theory or research process is
more relevant if you know it is
relevant to solve problem. Narrow
down your topic to something
manageable. If your topic is too broad,
you will find too much information
and not be able to focus.
a. Define and choose topic
b. Search about the topic in
internet, news, magazines
c. Take note while reading and
searching
d. Search more in linkages
e. Be critical in analyzing the
topic
f. Find logical structure or
conceptual framework

 When empirically tested the result of EXAMPLE OF PROCESS OF THEORY

research can be used to verify, modify,
disprove, or support a theoretical
proposition
PROCESS OF THEORY DEVELOPMENT
DEVELOPMENT
1. An experienced ER registered nurse
of St. Dominic Medical Center located
in Bacoor, Cavite, wants to conduct a
research study about extending health

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 THEORETICAL FOUNDATION OF NURSING
care from community to home care
setting through health promotion
program.
2. Search in literature what studies have
been published.
3. Search for linkages between concepts
and phenomena (patient status,
hospital situation, lack of facilities
personnel, training how to take vital
signs ( BP, pulse, temperature,
respiration, oxygen saturation), giving
medication and administering oxygen,
nutrition, elimination, quarantine
procedures, health teaching and
education, family participation, and
willingness in giving health care LGU
participation, and crisis in health care
system.
4. Validate linkages (data and statistics
taken from relevant source).
5. Conclude, recommend and publication
of evidence to be used to improve
nursing care.
THEORY EVALUATION
 Theory Description- explain and
describe the theory in scope, origin,
major assumption which is something
that you assume to be the case even
without proof.
 Theory Analysis- examine the theory
if it is theoretically defined (something
that is based on an assumption or
opinion. An example of theoretical
definition is the degree or intensity of
heat present in a substance or subject.
While operationally defined means
specific what procedure is done to
measure temperature. (example: the nurse
is measuring the body temperature of the
patient using thermometer).
 Theory Evaluation- Is the theory
congruent or applicable with nursing
standard? Has it been tested? It is
relevant to solve the problem in health
care system?
ASSUMPTION
The assumptions of your theory Expanded
Health Care Nursing Program during
Pandemic are as follows:
 Teaching and training of families and
household members in home care
nursing are essential in achieving
improve health care system in Bacoor
City.
ASSUMPTION
The assumption of Florence Nightingale in her
Environmental Theory are as follows:
 Florence Nightingale believed that
five points were essential in achieving
a healthful environment: “pure air,
pure water, efficient drainage,
cleanliness, and light”
 A healthy environment is essential for
healing
In clinical practice, though, our
suppositions or assumptions can have
serious consequences for us and our
patients.
Nursing assumptions can lead to make
wrong decisions, wrong treatment, and
wrong diagnosis.
IMPORTANT OF NURSING THEORY
AND THEORY- BASED EVIDENCE
1. To structure practice and quality of
care improves
2. To sort out patient data
3. Decide appropriate nursing action
4. Deliver care
5. Help students develop analytical
thinking ability
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LESSON 3:
Overview of Grand Nursing Theories
Definition of Terms
Difference between:  Pender and Leininger
1. Conceptual Models: abstract and not
testable
2. Grand Nursing Theories: derived from
conceptual models, complex and less
abstract and may not directly
amenable to testing. Provide
background of philosophical reasoning
that allows nurse scientist to develop
organized principles for research or
practice sometimes referred to as
middle range theory
Conceptualization of Conceptual
Framework and Grand Theory Based On:
A. Scope
1. Historical significance
derived from nurse experiences ex. Theorists;
Peplau,Henderson, Abdellah,and Orlando
2. Philosophies
derived from analysis, reasoning, logical
argument, ex. Nightingale, Watson, and
Benner
3. Conceptual model
specific situation in nursing discipline, ex.
Levine, Orem, King, and Roy 
4. Theories
abstract ways to describe, explain and predict
relationship among concepts, ex. Meleis,
B. Nursing Domain
Meleis did not categorize levels of theory
(grand,middle, practice theories) but based on
school of thought or domain
ex. Needs theorists (Abdellah,Henderson,
Orem),  interaction theorists
(King,Orlando,Peplau), and caring theorists
(Watson, Parse)
Nursing Theorists
1. Florence Nightingale - Environment
theory
2. Hildegard Peplau - Interpersonal
theory
3. Virginia Henderson - Need Theory
4. Fay Abdellah - Twenty One Nursing
Problems
5. Ida Jean Orlando - Nursing Process
theory
6. Dorothy Johnson - System model
7. Martha Rogers -Unitary Human
beings
8. Dorothea Orem - Self-care theory
9. Imogene King - Goal Attainment
theory
10. Betty Neuman - System model
11. Sister Calista Roy - Adaptation theory
12. Jean Watson - Philosophy and Caring
Model
13. Madeleine Leininger -Transcultural
nursing
14. Patricia Benner - From Novice to
Expert
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15. Lydia E. Hall - The Core, Care and
Cure
16. Joyce Travelbee - Human-To-Human
Relationship Model
17. Margaret Newman - Health As
Expanding Consciousness
18. Katharine Kolcaba - Comfort Theory
19. Rosemarie Rizzo Parse - Human
Becoming Theory
20. Ernestine Wiedenbach - The Helping
Art of Clinical Nursing  beings, adapting to their
C. Paradigm
Paradigm shift means empirical reality no
longer fits the existing theory of science
Ex. Einstein’s theory of general relativity,
which came about when the extant theories no
longer fit the evidence regarding matter and
energy
Nursing scientists are finding that the theories
in the past are no longer sufficient to explain,
predict and guide current nursing practice
Parse’s Categorization
 Parse (1995) categorized the various
nursing theories into two basic
paradigms
 these she termed the 
 totality paradigm- includes
all theoretical perspectives in
which humans are
biopsychosocial-spiritual
environment, in whatever way
the theory defines
environment
Ex: works of Orem, Roy,
Johnson
 simultaneity paradigm
includes the theoretical
perspectives in which humans
are identified as unitary
beings,which are energy
systems in simultaneous,
continuous, mutual process
with, and embedded in, the
universal energy system
Ex. works of Parse, Rogers,
and Newman
 she later added the humanbecoming
paradigm (humanbecoming is all one
word)
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