Help me understand "nursing theory," pretty please. :)

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Specializes in Acute Care - Cardiology.

Hey all,

I'm going back to school for my RN-BSN degree online and am trying to do this paper/discussion. I plan to try and get in touch with my instructor tomorrow, but unsure when I will be able to reach her. Was hoping to get this assignment out of the way while it is fresh on the brain. Anyway, I have read Nightingale's Notes on Nursing and Marilyn Parker's first 2 chapters of Nursing Theories and Nursing Practice, a few times. I guess I just cannot grasp the concept of a nursing "theory." I know that I am probably making this WAY harder than it has to be, but I was working on my paper and read something that made me think I was going down the completely WRONG track and I think I just need a lil bit of guidance from you wonderful instructors out there. :)

One of the questions was how is Nightingale's work relevant to the criteria required for theory development? Well... I started addressing the things she talked about in Notes, i.e. preventing infection by handwashing, confidentiality, holistic nursing, and frequent VS checks on critical patients. Then I was going to talk about how those ideas have evolved into standard nursing practice... BUT HIPPA, INFECTION CONTROL, PROTOCOLS, etc. are not "NURSING THEORIES", are they?

See my dilemma? I think I totally missed the theological bus. I have looked theories up on the web and in the dictionary... but I guess I don't understand exactly what I am looking for. I have tried to think about the theories I know about that aren't nursing related, but that hasnt helped either. "What goes up, must come down..." Big help, Sir Isaac Newton... hehe.

Are nursing theories just generalizations about nursing and expected nursing behaviors?? I don't want anyone to write my paper for me or anything, I would just appreciate it if someone could give me an example of a relevant nursing theory that I would recognize or help define nursing theory in such a way that I will grasp the concept. Something that will put me on the right track? Thank ya'll!

I know this should be easier to understand... lol

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
Hey all,

I'm going back to school for my RN-BSN degree online and am trying to do this paper/discussion. I plan to try and get in touch with my instructor tomorrow, but unsure when I will be able to reach her. Was hoping to get this assignment out of the way while it is fresh on the brain. Anyway, I have read Nightingale's Notes on Nursing and Marilyn Parker's first 2 chapters of Nursing Theories and Nursing Practice, a few times. I guess I just cannot grasp the concept of a nursing "theory." I know that I am probably making this WAY harder than it has to be, but I was working on my paper and read something that made me think I was going down the completely WRONG track and I think I just need a lil bit of guidance from you wonderful instructors out there. :)

One of the questions was how is Nightingale's work relevant to the criteria required for theory development? Well... I started addressing the things she talked about in Notes, i.e. preventing infection by handwashing, confidentiality, holistic nursing, and frequent VS checks on critical patients. Then I was going to talk about how those ideas have evolved into standard nursing practice... BUT HIPPA, INFECTION CONTROL, PROTOCOLS, etc. are not "NURSING THEORIES", are they?

See my dilemma? I think I totally missed the theological bus. I have looked theories up on the web and in the dictionary... but I guess I don't understand exactly what I am looking for. I have tried to think about the theories I know about that aren't nursing related, but that hasnt helped either. "What goes up, must come down..." Big help, Sir Isaac Newton... hehe.

Are nursing theories just generalizations about nursing and expected nursing behaviors?? I don't want anyone to write my paper for me or anything, I would just appreciate it if someone could give me an example of a relevant nursing theory that I would recognize or help define nursing theory in such a way that I will grasp the concept. Something that will put me on the right track? Thank ya'll!

I know this should be easier to understand... lol

The definition of Nursing Theory: A system of articulated concepts that are very distinct which have propositions deeply rooted in the philosophy of nursing and used to guide nursing practice/research.

So HIPAA=confidentiality . . . . Infection control=handwashing . . .etc.

Hope this helps!!

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Specializes in Acute Care - Cardiology.

So then HIPPA, infection control, etc... ARE nursing theories?? Was I on the right track by assuming that? I guess I was thinking that these things aren't really "nursing" only theories... if THEORIES at all! lol

And, I have that very same definition... but I was having difficulty applying it to the question and thinking of it in terms of specific nursing examples.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
So then HIPPA, infection control, etc... ARE nursing theories?? Was I on the right track by assuming that? I guess I was thinking that these things aren't really "nursing" only theories... if THEORIES at all! lol

And, I have that very same definition... but I was having difficulty applying it to the question and thinking of it in terms of specific nursing examples.

Yes, you are on the right track.

The word theory can be loosely define as, a belief that can guide a behvior.....a well substantiated explanation .....a well-organized system of accepted knowledge that is applicable to a variety of circumstances.

Theories can incorporate facts and laws and hypotheses.

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Specializes in Acute Care - Cardiology.

"...a belief that can guide a behvior.....a well substantiated explanation .....a well-organized system of accepted knowledge that is applicable to a variety of circumstances." MUCH BETTER :idea:

I just needed the reassurance that I was doing okay... I've been reading this stuff for 2 days straight and it all started running together. Thanks again!

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
"...a belief that can guide a behvior.....a well substantiated explanation .....a well-organized system of accepted knowledge that is applicable to a variety of circumstances." MUCH BETTER :idea:

I just needed the reassurance that I was doing okay... I've been reading this stuff for 2 days straight and it all started running together. Thanks again!

Yeah. Your brain is tired. You just needed a little definition clarification. That is why we are here. Bounce off your ideas/questions and you get responses.

YOU wrote your own paper, too. I am proud of you!!

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Specializes in ICU/CCU/MICU/SICU/CTICU.

Ohhhhh, I had to read Florence's Notes on Nursing last semester in my MSN program. But my paper was to pick 3 of her "theories" and apply them to nursing today. I feel for ya! :kiss

With Siri's help you are on the right track!!! Good luck on the paper!

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Specializes in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds.

Florence Nightingale is one of my favorite nursing theorists and her environmental theory has amazing relevancy to today. She basically believed that it is the nurse's responsibility to "arrange" the environment in order to facilitate healing in the patient. Optimal environmental conditions activate the patient's innate "positive life forces," and this brings about healing.

Here are a few good links:

http://dana.ucc.nau.edu/~jbo4/WebWizard/courseworkdoc0.html

http://www.neetf.org/Health/NursingBooklet.pdf

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=3043773&dopt=Abstract

http://personal.uncc.edu/lmoore/nurs3200/theorists.htm

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Florence and all others have guided the nursing profession and the new word in theory is

EVIDENCED BASED PRACTICE

That is a buzz phrase that you can drop that will make your instuctor swell with pride LOL

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Specializes in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds.
Florence and all others have guided the nursing profession and the new word in theory is

EVIDENCED BASED PRACTICE

That is a buzz phrase that you can drop that will make your instuctor swell with pride LOL

Excellent point! Here is another great post:

https://allnurses.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1290783&postcount=367

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