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Discussion

Desperate for help with theoretical framework

I am in my final semester of grad school, earning a MSN in the Pediatric NP track. My master's exam is a comprehensive project that pulls together all aspects of master's level education. I am writing a "problem-solving" paper about educating school nurses on insulin pumps (based on a study that described nurses' perceived needs for further education). I need to base my proposed program on a theoretical framework; this can be from any discipline such as nursing, education, psych. I am really struggling, and I'm about to panic about passing this paper! Any advice on finding a theoretical framework???

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  • Expert
I am in my final semester of grad school, earning a MSN in the Pediatric NP track. My master's exam is a comprehensive project that pulls together all aspects of master's level education. I am writing a "problem-solving" paper about educating school nurses on insulin pumps (based on a study that described nurses' perceived needs for further education). I need to base my proposed program on a theoretical framework; this can be from any discipline such as nursing, education, psych. I am really struggling, and I'm about to panic about passing this paper! Any advice on finding a theoretical framework???

I am having trouble understanding what you are trying to do. Theoretical Frameworks are typically used in studies. The most coherent definition of a theoretical framework is this: "a structure that guides research by relying on a formal theory constructed by using an established, coherent explanation of certain phenomena and relationships"

To properly cite this:Holland, Dorothy C. and Margaret A. Eisenhart Educated in Romance: Women, Achievement, and College Culture

A problems solving paper does not really fit into this construct (or a thesis either for that matter). For a theoretical framework you need a theory for example "School nurses have educational needs to with regards to students with insulin pumps. This theory is then placed inside your theoretical framework. Here you place the research within the body of the theory.

It is difficult to put a problem solving paper into this context. One way might be to use the nursing theory - role theory and put it into this context. The role theory would be that "Improving understanding of students with insulin pumps by school nurses leads to (whatever outcome you want here). The theoretical framework would be the Role of school nurses in outcomes of students with insulin pumps.

The Sigma Tau conference usually has a couple of good papers on this:

http://stti.confex.com/stti/sos13/techprogram/paper_11241.htm

Your thesis adviser should be able to help you on this to get exactly what is expected.

David Carpenter, PA-C

  • Expert

I recommend you look at the "Novice to Expert" theoretical model of Patricia Benner. It describes the characteristics and learning needs of nurses as they progress from being a beginner at something to being an expert. It's the most prevalent nursing education model out there and is VERY widely used in staff development.

How about the Health Promotions Model by Pender? You can google Nola Pender.

I am in my final semester of grad school, earning a MSN in the Pediatric NP track. My master's exam is a comprehensive project that pulls together all aspects of master's level education. I am writing a "problem-solving" paper about educating school nurses on insulin pumps (based on a study that described nurses' perceived needs for further education). I need to base my proposed program on a theoretical framework; this can be from any discipline such as nursing, education, psych. I am really struggling, and I'm about to panic about passing this paper! Any advice on finding a theoretical framework???

Try researching the theories of 'Adult Education' and 'Humanism'. Under the adult education theory, the teacher would have to recognize that adult learning is very self-directed and in their control, and they really only want to learn information that is useful to them/ pertinent to their practice. You could base your education paper on how you presented the problem of school nurses needing more information regarding insuling pumps by describing how that knowledge will be useful to them as adult learners and school nurses: that the incidince of diabetes in children is on the rise, as is the use of insulin pumps in children (perhaps cite data from the CDC) and explore various case studies in which the school nurse may come into contact with children having insulin pumps in which an in depth knowledge of the pumps is required to manage the situation effectively. That would be appropriate to motivate the school nurse to learn because it is applicable to their practice.

The theory of 'Humanism' asserts that all humans are internally motivated to learn as a means of reaching their full potential; think about Maslow's heirarchy and its upper levels of esteem and self-actualization; education is a great vehicle to meet the individual's needs for competence, confidence, and attainment of full potential.

For more information on theories behind teaching and learning in nursing, try:

Teaching in nursing: A guide for faculty (Billings & Halstead, 2005)

Nurse as educator: principles of teaching and learning for nursing practice (Bastable, 2003)

Good luck! I too am an MSN student who will be taking a cumulative exam this year...it is a lot of material to cover!

Cardiac-RN, BSN, PCCN

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