Conceptual Framework?

SweetOldWorld, BSN, RN · Jun 16, 2008

Who are some of the theorists you've been studying and what are their conceptual frameworks? Do any of them strike you as particularly interesting?

When you say you will be doing research, what do you mean by that? Do you mean you will be writing a paper?

RNPATL, DNP, RN · Jun 17, 2008

Hi Everyone!! I need some help with my homework!! I'm working on my BSN and have an assignment that wants me to base some research off of a conceptual framework! I have no idea how to do that! I'm supposed to choose a theorist and use their conceptual framework to help me with my research. Any ideas? Any help with this would be greatly appreciated!!!

Your BSN program should have a theorist that they have based their curriculum develop on. This theorist should be the primary focus of much of your studies.

During my BSN program, the theorist that we used was Dorothea Orem and her Theory of Self Care Deficit. The conceptual framework from this theorist is that nursing is a profession that provides assistance to the patient during times of acute health crisis or chronic health management. Nurses define the patient's self care agency and provide assistance (defined as compensatory assistance) to help the patient regain their ability to manage self care (self care agency).

I once did a paper on Orem's theroy as implemented in an ICU setting. The paper was focused on the conceptual framework of the implementation of the theory into real clinical practice.

Good luck!

llg, PhD, RN · Jun 17, 2008

Your BSN program should have a theorist that they have based their curriculum develop on. This theorist should be the primary focus of much of your studies.
QUOTE]
Actually, the practice of choosing just one theorist to emphasize is waning. Schools are increasingly incorporating a variety of theories into their curriculum -- as nurses should be using a variety of theories in their practice. However, some schools still emphasize one theory over the other possibilities.
To the OP: What theories are included in your school's curriculum? Which theories are emphasized in your theory class?

HM2VikingRN, RN · Jun 17, 2008

We used the Roy model...

One way to look at the assignment is "How does illness affect the ability of the individual to participate in family life, vocational, social etc? What nursing interventions may be helpful in overcoming deficits?

Dakota28 · Jun 17, 2008

Thanks everyone for responding! I thought that a conceptual framework would be a long step-by-step way to do research!! I have asked the instructor about what this is before, but what she said just confused me even more and my classmates did too!! I'm doing a poster and my topic is high flow nasal cannulas for neonates. We currently use the oxyhood on my unit and I think the nasal cannula would be much easier to work with and better for bonding between the newborn and parents since the baby can still be held. With the oxyhood, the babies can't be held unless you take them out from under it. Any ideas on what theorist/conceptual framework would work best with this topic?

llg, PhD, RN · Jun 17, 2008

It's been a long since I've looked at it, so I might be wrong here ... but I strongly suggest you look at Ramona Mercer's mid-level theory on maternal-infant attachment.

The 2006 edition of "Nursing Theorists and Their Work" (probably available in your school's library.) has a chapter on her work. Of course, you could also do an online search for her original articles. But as some of them might be more than a few years old, you may have to order them or make a trip to the library to copy them yourself. They might not be in issues recent enough to be able to print them off for free.

You might also simply want to do a computer search of the professional literature (CINAHL or MEDLINE etc. NOT just a google search) on "maternal-infant attachment" or "maternal-infant bonding." See what theories are currently being used to study that phenomenon. That's how you find an appropriate theoretical framework.

Good luck! Let us know what you find.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Jun 17, 2008

ok - so in looking at neonates one theorist you would not use is Orem's self-care theory, since neonates cannot do self-care. One you might use is Watson's caring theory. What BEHAVIORS indicate you care about your patient and also take care of your patient?