THE SIGNIFICANCE OF

THEORY TO NURSING AS A
PROFESSION
Theory is significant because it helps us to settle on what we know and what we need to know in the
future
-it helps differentiate what should form the basis of practice by clearly describing what nursing does and
what nursing is all about
The benefits of having a defined body of knowledge include improved patient care, enhanced
professional status, improved communication between nurse professionals and guide for research and
education
In addition, because the main exponent of nursing – caring – cannot be measured, it is vital to have the
theory to analyze and explain what nurses do
Caring: the most unique characteristic of nursing as a profession is that, it is a CARING profession
Ideally, nursing theory should provide the principles that support nursing practice
In history, many nurses disputed that most theories were not related to what really happens in the
clinical practice
However, due to various studies and researches, there was a modern transfer towards evidenced-
based practice in which nursing theories were proven and tested to be helpful in nursing care
Therefore, knowledge is not static rather it continues to grow in relation to the goal of nursing for
the human and social welfare of the society
As Medicine tries to make a move towards adopting a more multidisciplinary approach to health
care, Nursing continues to strive to establish a unique body of knowledge
Nursing concepts and theories have improved since Nightingale stated one of the earliest concept
of nursing as about “…a profession that requires distinct from medical knowledge” (Nightingale,
1860)
The overall goal of this knowledge is to explain the practice of Medicine, Psychology and Social
work (Chinn and Kramer, 2004)
When we think about nursing profession, we come up with ideas and thoughts about the
significant of care, love, compassion and competent clinical practice
We might have a depiction of a female nurse who is wearing a shiny white clinical uniform, with
a topping of a well-knitted cap, carrying a complete set of medicinal tray
To understand the source of these ideas, questions can be asked: How do these Nursing
Theories guide the evolution and development of the nursing profession?
Nursing was the subject of sociological studies concerning professional development and these
studies used a variety of criteria
Helps nurses to understand their purpose and role in the healthcare setting. Guides knowledge
development. Directs education, research, and practice. Recognizes what should set the
foundation of practice by explicitly describing nursing
Alligood (2018), argues that a discipline aims at equipping one with knowledge and skills in a
specific field of study such as the school of nursing, medicine, engineering, or law. On the other
hand,a profession aims at practicing the knowledge acquired from a discipline such as a clinical
nurse attending to a patient.
 NURSING AS A PROFESSION
PROFESSION
 is a calling that requires special knowledge, skill and preparation
 an occupation that requires advanced knowledge and skills and that it growsout of society’s
needs for special services
PROFESSIONAL NURSING
 Is an art and science, dominated by an ideal service in which certain principles are applied in
the skilful care of the well and the ill, and through relationship with the client/patient,
significant others , and the other members of the health team

CRITERIA OF PROFESSION
1. To provide a needed service to the society
2. To advance knowledge in its field
3. To protect its membres and make it possible to practice effectively
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DISCIPLINE AND NURSING PROFESSION?
Alligood (2018), argues that a discipline aims at equipping one with knowledge and skills in a
specific field of study such as the school of nursing, medicine, engineering, or law. On the other
hand,a profession aims at practicing the knowledge acquired from a discipline such as a clinical
nurse attending to a patient.

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF NURSING THEORY FOR THE DISCIPLINE?

They provide a foundational knowledge of care concepts that enable those in the profession
to explain what they do for patients and the reasons for their actions. This is particularly
important because it helps nurses articulate evidence that justifies the methodologies behind
their practice.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A PROFESSION
1. EDUCATION. A profession requires an extended education of its members, as well as basic
liberal foundation
2. THEORY. A profession has a theoretical body of knowledge leading to defined skills, abilities
and norms
3. SERVICE. A profession provides basic service
4. AUTONOMY . Members of a profession have autonomy in decision making and in practice
5. CODE OF ETHICS. The profession as a whole ha s a code of ethics for practice. A profession
has sufficient self-impelling power to retain its members throughout lifr.
It must be a mere stepping stone to other occupations
6. CARING. The most unique characteristic of nursing as a profession is that, it is a CARING
profession
NURSING
- is a disciplined involved in the delivery of health care to the society
- is a helping profession
- is service –oriented to maintain health and well-being of people
- is an art and a science

NURSE – originated from a Latin word NUTRIX, to nourish

CHARACTERISTICS OF NURSING
1. Nursing is caring
2. Nursing involves close personal contact with the recipient of care
3. Nursing is concerned with services that take humans into account as physiological,
psychological, and sociological organisms
4. Nursing is committed to promoting individual, family, community, and national health goals in its
best manner
5. Nursing is committed to personalized services for all persons without regard to color, creed,
social or economic status
6. Nursing is committed to involvement in ethical, legal, and political issues in the delivery of
health care
PERSONAL QUALITIES OF A NURSE
1. Must be a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing
2. Must be physically and mentally fit
3. Must have a license to practice nursing in the country

“A professional nurse therefore, is a person who has completed a basic nursing education
program and is licensed in his country to practice professional nursing.”
WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF NURSING PROFESSION?
Nurses advocate for health promotion, educate patients and the public on the prevention of
illness and injury, provide care and assist in cure, participate in rehabilitation, and provide
support. No other health care professional has such a broad and far-reaching role.
WHY IS THEORY SIGNIFICANT IN THE PROFESSION OF NURSING
Theory is integral to the research process where it is important to use theory as a framework to
provide perspective and guidance to the research study. ... The primary purpose of theory in the
profession of nursing is to improve practice by positively influence the health and quality of
life of patients.
HOW IMPORTANT IS NURSING AS A PROFESSION?
Nursing is a health care profession that involves caring for the sick or injured. Nursing is one of
the rewarding professions you can choose. ... Besides taking care of the patients, a nurse will get
an opportunity to work with the latest technology in the field of medicine.
 CRITERIA OF A PROFESSION
BY WILLIAM SHEPHERD (1948)
1. A profession must satisfy an indispensable social need and be based upon well established
and socially accepted scientific principles
2. It must demand adequate pre-professional and cultural training
3. It must demand the possession of a body of specialized and systematized training
4. It must give evidence of needed skills which the public does not possess; that is skills which
are partly inherent and partly acquired
5. It must have developed a scientific technique which is the result of tested experience
6. It must require the exercise of discretion and judgment as to time an manner of the
performance of duty. This is in contrast to the kind of work which is subject to standardization
in terms of unit performance or time element
7. It must have a group of consciousness designed to extend scientific knowledge in technical
language
8. It must have sufficient self-impelling power to retain its members throughout life. It must
not be used as mere stepping stone to other occupations
9. It must recognize its obligations to society by insisting that its members live up to an
established code of ethics
 CRITERIA OF A PROFESSION
BY FLEXNER A. (1915)
1. A profession applies its body of knowledge in practical services that are vital to human
welfare and especially suited to the tradition of seasoned practitioners shaping the skills of
newcomers to the role
2. It constantly enlarges the body of knowledge it uses and subsequently imposes on its
members a lifelong obligation to remain current in order to “do no harm”
3. A profession functions autonomously (with authority) in the formation of professional policy
and in monitoring its practice and practitioners
4. It utilizes in its practice a well-defined and well-organized body of knowledge that is
intellectual in nature and describes its phenomenon and practitioners
5. A profession has a clear standard of educational preparation for entry into practice
6. A profession is distinguished by the presence of specific culture, norms and other values that
are common among its members
These criteria have historical significance because they provide an understanding of the
developmental path that nursing followed.
There are similarities and differences in the sets of criteria used to evaluate the status of
professions; however, they all include the importance of developing and using a body of
knowledge that is basic to the practice of a certain profession - nursing
This commitment to theory-based practice is helpful to the nurse-patient relationship because it
provides an organized, educated approach to nursing practice
It also serves the profession of nursing because nurses are known for the contribution they
make in the healthcare of humanity
These criteria have historical significance because they provide an understanding of the
developmental path that nursing followed.
There are similarities and differences in the sets of criteria used to evaluate the status of
professions; however, they all include the importance of developing and using a body of
knowledge that is basic to the practice of a certain profession - nursing
This commitment to theory-based practice is helpful to the nurse-patient relationship because it
provides an organized, educated approach to nursing practice
It also serves the profession of nursing because nurses are known for the contribution they
make in the healthcare of humanity
Professional practice requires a systematic approach that is focused on the patient
Nursing theoretical works provide a perspective of the patient
The conceptual models of nursing are complete and they guide the reader to the details of
practice
The nursing theories are more specific and they provide more direction for practice
The application of existing theories to nursing forms a new knowledge; it is the way in which
existing information is combined and used that makes it unique
For the nursing practice to grow and develop, application of knowledge is of great importance
to expand competency and effectiveness on nursing interventions to improve client outcomes
In a nutshell, nursing theories give out an immense source of knowledge to interpret explain
and clarify the essence of what really nursing is
Moreover, it is a useful tool for reasoning, critical thinking and decision making in nursing
practice
 NURSING THEORY AND THE NURSE
PRACTITIONER
Theory helps the nurse to:
 organize, examine and analyze patient’s data
 make decisions about effective and efficient nursing
 make a S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-bounded) plan of care
 predict and evaluate outcomes
 THINGS TO REMEMBER
Nursing Theory (Theory-Based Practice) Provides the principles that support nursing practice
Profession Specialized field of practice; line of work
Nurse Practitioner Practices the profession of nursing with the
application of acquired nursing knowledge and
concepts
Criteria Sets of rules and principles against which something
may be evaluated