Who Cares About Nurse Theorists?

[dlo]

DEAR all,

I don't know where to begin, but I don't know why anyone cares about nurse theorists or thier ideas on what nursing is or how one should act. can someone please tell me the importance of studying a nurse theorist or a group of them. I do not think they are needed within the profession and I do not think we need to copy thier ideas to become a profession or patend any of their ideas to aline with our mission statement within hospitals. maybe this is just a guy thing, I don't know.

[Alex Egan, LPN, EMT-B]

I think understanding nursing theory is important. Mabye not the the extent that some schools cover it, but as a professionals it's important that we are familiar with this aspect of our profession. Only knowing where we came from can we determine where we should be going. Also remember your probably not going to "use" a lot of stuff you learn in school. In my opinion the education is important to making nurses into thinking practiceing healthcare providers, rather than skills dispensing robots.

[8mpg]

I think nursing theory is a waste of time. I think much of nursing school was a waste of time as well. I believe we need a redo on nursing school. Cut out the history, theories, nursing diagnosis, etc...

Teach people the true stuff they need to know for their work. I have learned so much more within the first 3 months of work than the 2 years of my ADN.

[NikiCharles_01]

Personally I beg to differ with this. As much some persons may think that it is a waste of time I think they actually contribute to your nursing career in some way or the other whether you realize it or not and enables you to provide all rounded care for your patient making you a better nurse. I noticed Jean Watson was mentioned, so take her theory for instance. I've just been introduced to her theory this semester and to me that's my favorite theory so far. I like how she incorporates all aspects of your client to be addressed (total patient care). Take for instance two of her carative factors , the development of a helping trust relationship and the promotion and acceptance of expression of positive and negative feelings. When you meet your patient for the first time they may be wary of you or unwilling to communicate when you need to get certain information from them but as you communicate with the patient more and more and develop that bond they will just open up to you in ways you never thought possible which in turn leads them to think, ok I can express my fears or concerns freely when this nurse around without fear of being criticized because he/she has my best interest at heart and is interested in what I have to say and doesn't see me as "just another patient" but as an individual. Dorothea Orem's self care deficit is another one I think is great. But that's just my view on them :)

[8mpg]

Personally I beg to differ with this. As much some persons may think that it is a waste of time I think they actually contribute to your nursing career in some way or the other whether you realize it or not and enables you to provide all rounded care for your patient making you a better nurse. I noticed Jean Watson was mentioned, so take her theory for instance. I've just been introduced to her theory this semester and to me that's my favorite theory so far. I like how she incorporates all aspects of your client to be addressed (total patient care). Take for instance two of her carative factors , the development of a helping trust relationship and the promotion and acceptance of expression of positive and negative feelings. When you meet your patient for the first time they may be wary of you or unwilling to communicate when you need to get certain information from them but as you communicate with the patient more and more and develop that bond they will just open up to you in ways you never thought possible which in turn leads them to think, ok I can express my fears or concerns freely when this nurse around without fear of being criticized because he/she has my best interest at heart and is interested in what I have to say and doesn't see me as "just another patient" but as an individual. Dorothea Orem's self care deficit is another one I think is great. But that's just my view on them :)

See...thats the difference between you and I. While I do care how a patient feels, I do not think emotion can or ever will cause a physical problem. Jean Watson's theory of feeling of a nurse or a patient doesnt change the medically dictated care of a physician. Connecting a nurse and a patient does anything but relieve a little stress the patient might have. That wont cure sepsis.

Im straight and down to business. You are diagnosed with this problem, we are going to treat you with these procedures/medications and hope for the best.

[Pacs, RN]

See...thats the difference between you and I. While I do care how a patient feels, I do not think emotion can or ever will cause a physical problem. Jean Watson's theory of feeling of a nurse or a patient doesnt change the medically dictated care of a physician. Connecting a nurse and a patient does anything but relieve a little stress the patient might have. That wont cure sepsis.

Im straight and down to business. You are diagnosed with this problem, we are going to treat you with these procedures/medications and hope for the best.

That is a doctor's way of thinking, not a nurse's. We must not forget that a nurse's job and function are the three P's:

1.) Promotion of health

2.) Prevention of illness

3.) Palliative care

The curative function belongs to the realm of the physicians. As nurses, we are here to care, not cure.

As for the nursing theories, I appreciate these ideas formulated by the pioneering nurses. For if not for them, nursing will not be a respected and precise science. You may not realize it, but many of the theories being taught in nursing are applied in hospitals. You may even be applying those theories as you care for our patients right now. So please, give due respect to the nurse theorists and their ideas, for they are the ones who laid the foundation of our profession.

[BostonMurse]

I applaud these early practioners whose ideas at the time must have been revolutionary to the practice of nursing. Now a days, they seem like standard practice and stating the obvious. I think it is worth a brief mention in nursing school, but not the longevity that most schools seem to give it. We had to study someone (can't even remember her name) and do a major paper on it. I think there are far more important things to be studied.

[RNTwin]

to your orginal question.... they are just bunch of BS, that's why MDs can't take nurses seriously.

[aggie313]

seriously...the times when i'm sitting through nursing theory are when I wish I was in PA school....

[WSteven1]

Nursing Theorists provide the background for helping develop one's OWN theory of Nursing...this I have noticed from working with various Nursing students over the past 3-4 years at our university.

[PunkBenRN]

Nursing theory may have played an integral role in what nursing is today. It may not have. I don't care, it has not affected my practice in the slightest. I am glad I no longer have to study them.