Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Environment
Health
Health is defined as the degree of wellness or well-being that the client
experiences. It may have different meanings for each patient, the clinical setting,
and the health care provider.
Nursing
You’ll find that these four concepts are used frequently and defined differently
throughout different nursing theories. Each nurse theorist’s definition varies by
their orientation, nursing experience, and different factors that affect the
theorist’s nursing view. The person is the main focus, but how each theorist
defines the nursing metaparadigm gives a unique take specific to a particular
theory. To give you an example, below are the different definitions of various
theorists on the nursing metaparadigm:
An
overview of the nursing metaparadigm of different nursing theories. (Click to
enlarge)
Components of Nursing Theories
For a theory to be a theory, it has to contain concepts, definitions, relational
statements, and assumptions that explain a phenomenon. It should also explain
how these components relate to each other.
Phenomenon
Interrelated concepts define a theory. Concepts are used to help describe or label
a phenomenon. They are words or phrases that identify, define, and establish
structure and boundaries for ideas generated about a particular phenomenon.
Concepts may be abstract or concrete.
Definitions are used to convey the general meaning of the concepts of the
theory. Definitions can be theoretical or operational.
Assumptions are accepted as truths and are based on values and beliefs. These
statements explain the nature of concepts, definitions, purpose, relationships, and
structure of a theory.
Much of the earlier nursing programs identified the major concepts in one or two
nursing models, organized the concepts, and build an entire nursing curriculum
around the created framework. These models’ unique language was typically
introduced into program objectives, course objectives, course descriptions, and
clinical performance criteria. The purpose was to explain the fundamental
implications of the profession and enhance the profession’s status.
In Research
By Abstraction
There are three major categories when classifying nursing theories based on their
level of abstraction: grand theory, middle-range theory, and practice-level theory.
Levels of Nursing
Theory According to Abstraction
Grand Nursing Theories
Descriptive Theories
Afaf Ibrahim Meleis (2011), in her book Theoretical search Nursing: Development
and Progress, organizes the major nurse theories and models using the following
headings: needs theories, interaction theories, and outcome theories. These
categories indicate the basic philosophical underpinnings of the theories.
Needs-Based Theories. The needs theorists were the first group of
nurses who thought of giving nursing care a conceptual order.
Theories under this group are based on helping individuals to fulfill
their physical and mental needs. Theories of Orem, Henderson, and
Abdella are categorized under this group. Need theories are
criticized for relying too much on the medical model of health and
placing the patient in an overtly dependent position.
Interaction Theories. These theories emphasized nursing on the
establishment and maintenance of relationships. They highlighted
the impact of nursing on patients and how they interact with the
environment, people, and situations. Theories of King, Orlando, and
Travelbee are grouped under this category.
Outcome Theories. These theories describe the nurse as controlling
and directing patient care using their knowledge of the human
physiological and behavioral systems. The nursing theories
of Johnson, Levine, Rogers, and Roy belong to this group.
Classification According to Alligood
In her book, search Nursing Theorists and Their Work, Raile Alligood (2017)
categorized nursing theories into four headings: nursing philosophy, nursing
conceptual models, nursing theories and grand theories, and middle-range
nursing theories.
search Nursing Philosophy. It is the most abstract type and sets forth
the meaning of nursing phenomena through analysis, reasoning, and
logical presentation. Works of Nightingale, Watson, Ray, and Benner
are categorized under this group.
Nursing Conceptual Models. These are comprehensive nursing
theories that are regarded by some as pioneers in nursing. These
theories address the nursing metaparadigm and explain the
relationship between them. Conceptual models of Levine, Rogers,
Roy, King, and Orem are under this group.
Grand search Nursing Theories. Are works derived from nursing
philosophies, conceptual models, and other grand theories that are
generally not as specific as middle-range theories. Works of Levine,
Rogers, Orem, and King are some of the theories under this
category.
Middle-Range Theories. Are precise and answer specific nursing
practice questions. They address the specifics of nursing situations
within the model’s perspective or theory from which they are
derived. Examples of Middle-Range theories are that of Mercer,
Reed, Mishel, and Barker.
List of Nursing Theories and Theorists
You’ve learned from the previous sections the definition of nursing theory, its
significance in nursing, and its purpose in generating a nursing knowledge base.
This section will give you an overview and summary of the various published
works in nursing theory (in chronological order). Deep dive into learning about
the theory by clicking on the links provided for their biography and
comprehensive review of their work.
Florence Nightingale
Transitions Theory
It began with observations of experiences faced as people deal with
changes related to health, well-being, and the ability to care for
themselves.
Types of transitions include developmental, health and illness,
situational, and organizational.
Acknowledges the role of nurses as they help people go through
health/illness and life transitions.
Focuses on assisting nurses in facilitating patients’, families’, and
communities’ healthy transitions.
Nola J. Pender
Self-Transcendence Theory
Self-transcendence refers to the fluctuation of perceived boundaries
that extend the person (or self) beyond the immediate and
constricted views of self and the world (Reed, 1997).
Has three basic concepts: vulnerability, self-transcendence, and well-
being.
Gives insight into the developmental nature of humans associated
with health circumstances connected to nursing care.
Carolyn L. Wiener and Marylin J. Dodd
Theory of Comfort
“Comfort is an antidote to the stressors inherent in health care
situations today, and when comfort is enhanced, patients and
families are strengthened for the tasks ahead. Also, nurses feel more
satisfied with the care they are giving.”
Patient comfort exists in three forms: relief, ease, and transcendence.
These comforts can occur in four contexts: physical, psychospiritual,
environmental, and sociocultural.
As a patient’s comfort needs change, the nurse’s interventions
change, as well.
Cheryl Tatano Beck
Theory of Caring
“Caring is a nurturing way of relating to a valued other toward whom
one feels a personal sense of commitment and responsibility.”
Defines nursing as informed caring for the well-being of others.
Offers a structure for improving up-to-date nursing practice,
education, and research while bringing the discipline to its traditional
values and caring-healing roots.
Cornelia M. Ruland and Shirley M. Moore
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