Nursing theory—provides the theoretical 4.

Empirical Precision—refers to the

foundation of the profession. testability and ultimate use of a theory.
5. Derivable consequences.
Nursing is the synthesis of many theories.

Theory—a set of concepts, definitions, 11 Key Areas of Responsibilities of a Nurse/

relationships, and assumptions that project a Core Competencies
systematic view of a phenomena.
A. Safe & Quality Nursing Care
—it may consist of one or more relatively B. Management of Resources & Environment
specific and concrete concepts and prepositions C. Health Education
that purport to account for, or organize some D. Legal Responsibility
phenomenon (Barnum, 1988). E. Ethico-Moral Responsibility
Powers & Knapp, 1995—defined theory as a set F. Personal and Professional Development
of statement that tentatively describe, explain, G. Quality Improvement
and predict relationships among concepts that H. Research
have systematically selected and organized as I. Record Management
an abstract phenomenon. J. Communication
K. Collaboration & Teamwork
Chinn & Kramer, 1995—theory is a creative and
rigorous structuring of ideas that project a Concept—words that are used to represent the
tentative purposeful & systematic view of phenomenon observed & experienced.
phenomenon.  Consists of set of concepts
Components of a Theory  Proposition
 Conceptual model
1. Concepts—ideas and mental images that  Created & formulated
help to describe phenomena (Alligood and  Tentative
Mariner-Tomey, 2002).
2. Definitions—convey the general meaning of Paradigm—a model that explains the linkages
the concepts. of science, philosophy, and theory accepted and
3. Assumptions—statements that describe applied by the discipline.
concepts.
4. Phenomenon—aspect of reality that can be Nursing has identified its domain in a paradigm
consciously sensed or experienced (Meleis, that includes:
1997).  Person—the patient, a human being acted
upon by a nurse.
Criteria for Evaluation of Theory
 Health—maintaining well-being by using a
1. Clarity—semantic and structural clarity and person’s powers to the fullest extent.
consistency, concepts, and sub-concepts are  Environment—comprises the external
identified. conditions and forces that affect one’s life
2. Simplicity—(Argyris) indicates that theory and development.
should be maximally comprehensive and  Nursing—aims to provide or facilitate a
concrete. person’s reparative by ensuring the best
3. Generality—the broader the scope the possible environment.
greater the significance of the theory.
Purpose of Nursing Theory The ten major concepts of the Environment
 It guides nursing practice & generates Theory, also identified as Nightingale’s Canons,
knowledge. are;
 It helps to describe or explain nursing.
 Enable nurses to know why they are doing 1. Ventilation and warming
what they are doing. 2. Light and noise
3. Cleanliness of the area
Two types of Data
4. Health of houses
1. Subjective Data—can be felt by patient. 5. Bed and bedding
2. Objective Data—can be seen, observe, and 6. Personal cleanliness
felt. 7. Variety
8. Offering hope and advice
Nursing knowledge—is a complex question, the 9. Food
answer to which helps define nurses as a 10. Observation
profession.
Knowledge—information, skills and expertise  Nightingale’s theory addresses disease on a
acquired by a person through various life, literal level, explaining it as the absence of
experiences. comfort.
 Traditional knowledge—nursing practice  The goal of nursing is to put the patient in
which is passed down through generation. the best possible condition in order for
 Authoritative knowledge—idea by a person nature to act.
of authority which is perceived as true Nightingale’s Modern Nursing Theory also
because of his or her expertise. impacted nursing education. She was the first to
 Scientific knowledge—came from scientific suggest that nurses be specifically educated and
method through research. trained for their positions in healthcare. This
allowed there to be standards of care in the
Florence Nightingale field of nursing, which help improve overall care
—Nightingale’s Environmental Theory of patients.
—the founder of modern nursing of
professional nursing. Dr. Jean Watson
—May 12, birth time of a great woman. —Theory of Human Caring
—Born in Florence, Italy on 1820 in an English —developed “Philosophy and Theory of
family. Transpersonal Caring” or “Caring Science.”
—founder of Watson Caring Science Institute.
—she was named of the city of her birth.
—an American nurse theorist and nursing
—She served as a nurse during the Crimean
professor.
War.
—June 10, 1940
—The Environment Theory of nursing is a Watson’s Philosophy and Science of Caring—is
patient-care theory. concerned on how nurses express care to their
Environmental factors that affect health, as patient.
identified in the theory are; fresh air, pure —Watson devised 10 caring needs specific
water, sufficient food supplies, efficient carative factors critical to the caring human
drainage, cleanliness of the patient and experience that need to be addressed by a
environment, and light. nurse with their patients when in caring role.
 10 Carative Factors
Carative Factors
1. “The formation of a humanistic-altruistic
system of values.”
2. “The instillation of faith-hope.”
3. “The cultivation of sensitivity to one’s self
and to others.”
4. “Development of a helping-trust relationship”
became “development of a helping-trusting.”
5. “The promotion and acceptance of the
expression of positive and negative factors.”
6. “The scientific use of the scientific problem-
solving method for decision making “became
“Systematic use of creative problem-solving
caring process” (in 2004 Watson Website)
7. “The promotion of transpersonal teaching-
learning.”
8. “The provision of supportive, protective, and
(or) corrective mental, physical, societal, and
spiritual environment.”
9. “The assistance with gratification of human
needs.”
Caritas Process
“Practice of loving-kindness and equanimity
within the context of caring consciousness.”
“Being authentically present and enabling and
sustaining the deep belief system and subjective
life-world of self and one being cared for.”
“Cultivation of one’s own spiritual practices and
transpersonal self-going beyond the ego self.”
“Developing and sustaining a helping trusting
authentic caring relationship.”
“Being present to, and supportive of the
expression of positive and negative feelings as a
connection with deeper spirit and self and the
one being cared for.”
“Creative use of self and all ways of knowing as
part of the caring process, to engage in the
artistry of caring-healing practices.
“Engaging in genuine teaching-learning
experience that attends to unity of being and
meaning, attempting to stay within others’ frame
of reference.”
“Creating healing environment at all levels
(physical as well as nonphysical, subtle
environment of energy and consciousness,
whereby wholeness, beauty, comfort, dignity and
peace are potentiated).”
“Assisting with basic needs, with an intentional
caring consciousness, administering human care
 essentials which potentiate alignment of mind
body spirit, wholeness, and unity of being in all
aspects of care.”

10. “The allowance for existential “Opening and attending to spiritual-mysterious

phenomenological forces” became and existential dimensions of one’s own life
“allowance for existential phenomenological death, soul care for self and the one being cared
spiritual forces” (in 2004 Watson website). for.”