I need some help with a question

nursemaa · Oct 1, 2003

There are multiple nursing theories out there, so I suppose the answer to your question would depend on which nursing theory you are using. Some theories are kind of "out there", and I'm not sure exactly how to use them, others are very realistic and can be used to establish a mindset about how you deliver nursing care. The mid-range theories are usually easier to understand and seem more applicable to what we do; the grand theories seem almost more like a philosophy about nursing. just my opinion.

passing thru · Oct 2, 2003

To keep it simple:

you make a decision to show the patient that you care for

him/her. That you are there to improve their health situation, either by administering medication, listening, encouraging, repositioning, advising, assisting.

Nursing is Caring. Assuming responsibility to CARE for the person. Making a committment to the patient - that his/her

positive outcome is your objective.

Nursing is "to nurture."

For more complex topics - type in "nursing theory" and visit and

read all the sites.

The one I use is the most basic and simplistic.

To "nurse" someone who is ill, to relieve their discomfort to

the best of my ability.

nursemaa · Oct 2, 2003

Passing thru:

Your statements are great, I think you have a wonderful philosophy about nursing. I would guess that you embrace the comfort theory, by K. Kolcaba. Philosophies and theories are not exactly the same thing. A philosophy is a statement about the values and beliefs of a discipline, whereas theory is about the conepts and phenomena that are used in a systematic way to guide research & practice. These concepts and phenomena are organized into a framework that can be used to define and guide practice. Specific decisions can be made about goal setting with the patient based on which theory you subscribe to. As I said, there are many theories out there and each one defines and organizes concepts differently. A good book to read is "Theoretical Nursing: Development & Progress" by Afaf Meleis. It discusses the various theories that have been developed and how they can be applied to practice.