Do you find the nursing theorists/theories you studied in school useful in real life?

MunoRN, RN · Jun 18, 2012

We need to think in terms of tweaking ... and evolving ... and continued development ... etc. and not just think in terms of the extreme options of either "drinking the cool-aide" or "It's all garbage and a waste of time." The middle ground needs to be found.

I think the "theory bashers" have been pretty clear that there are good theories, and the critique is that we don't as a profession make enough of an effort to separate the quackery theories from those that serve their intended purpose. I'm a big fan of good theories, which is why I resent the unchallenged acceptance of the bad ones.

llg, PhD, RN · Jun 18, 2012

I think the "theory bashers" have been pretty clear that there are good theories, and the critique is that we don't as a profession make enough of an effort to separate the quackery theories from those that serve their intended purpose. I'm a big fan of good theories, which is why I resent the unchallenged acceptance of the bad ones.

I can agree with you on your main point -- but I've seen lots of theory-bashers on this site saying that all of it is a total waste, students should have to study theory, etc. Not you, particularly -- but several people don't think we should have any respect for anyone who has anything to do with any nursing theory.

I think that we can agree that both sets of extremists are wrong. Can't we?

llg, PhD, RN · Jun 18, 2012

Actually that's exactly what it means. This would be true if you were stating that she utilizes theories in general (which is true of every living human), although that's clearly not the definition you were using.

I disagree on that point. Just because a person isn't identifying herself as a theorist doesn't mean she isn't one. She identified concepts and postulated relationships between those concepts. According to many definitions of "theory," -- that's theorizing. They were our profession's early attempts at formalizing (organizing) the functions and processes of nursing. Yes, her work was pretty basic and seems simplistic by today's standards, but it was profound. It greatly influenced the world around her and continues to be relevant today.

MunoRN, RN · Jun 21, 2012

I can assure you llg that none of the critics of bush league Nursing theories fail to see the importance of identifying concepts and postulating relationships between those concepts. That could be called "theorizing", but it's also referred to as "cognition". This is an ability inherent to all Nurses regardless of their views on Watson, as well as all other sentient beings, whether they be scientists, chimpanzees, or Golden retrievers.

ShayRN · Jun 21, 2012

I am currently in grad school and in a class on theories. It is pretty fasinating to see now how my practice is influenced by theory. I was not able to connect the dots when I was in my undergrad classes, because I had nothing to base the theory on. Now, I can easily see where it fits. I have found this class to be absoluetely fasinating.

llg, PhD, RN · Jun 21, 2012

I can assure you llg that none of the critics of bush league Nursing theories fail to see the importance of identifying concepts and postulating relationships between those concepts. That could be called "theorizing", but it's also referred to as "cognition". This is an ability inherent to all Nurses regardless of their views on Watson, as well as all other sentient beings, whether they be scientists, chimpanzees, or Golden retrievers.

I agree that many of the nursing theories throughout history have reflected the youth of our professional knowledge development. That's why we need more people to get interested in theory -- to help it advance to more mature stages.

We don't help our children grow into healthy, productive adults by continually bashing them. We cherish their home-made Mother's/Father's Day cards and applaud their successes. We respect their need to take baby steps before they can run. We hang their childhood art projects on the refrigerator and encourage them to continue and encourage them to develop their artistic abilities further.

We need to do the same with nursing theory and research. We are still a relatively young profession -- and certainly "young" (and under-resourced) in our scholarly practice. We need to encourage the scholars of today to build on the scholarly work of the past and help it mature. These threads just tear things down. That's not good.

BTW:

1. There is a lot about Watson's theory I don't like. But that doesn't prevent me from seeing the positives as well as the negatives. I still get something of value from studying the theory even though I don't like it very much.

2. The level of understanding and thought reflected in the works of Florence Nightengale, Virginia Henderson, etc. etc. etc. far exceeds that of a chimp or dog. To suggest otherwise is just plain silly -- and provides a distraction from the underlying message. Or do you really think that their work is of the level of chimps and dogs?

dudette10, MSN, RN · Jun 21, 2012

We need to do the same with nursing theory and research. We are still a relatively young profession -- and certainly "young" (and under-resourced) in our scholarly practice. We need to encourage the scholars of today to build on the scholarly work of the past and help it mature. These threads just tear things down. That's not good.

I agree. It happens in the clinical setting, too.

A nurse at my hospital is pursuing her master's degree. As part of her thesis, she introduced a new flow sheet on a pilot basis and is collecting data from it. A nurse I work with was complaining that we were all "guinea pigs" for her master's degree and "why should we help her get her degree?"

I was stunned.

MunoRN, RN · Jun 23, 2012

These threads just tear things down. That's not good.

I completely agree, so we need to ask why do people view the world of Nursing Theory as something that needs to be destroyed as a whole?

Nursing Theory is like a flower bed that's in desperate need of weeding. In fact it's so overgrown with weeds that many people look at and say "just till the whole thing under". I agree there are flowers in that flower bed and I'd like to see them not only survive, but flourish. But the only way that will happen is if we get rid of the weeds.

JZ_RN · Jun 23, 2012

No. No two patients are alike, no theory is all inclusive, and since I don't have time to focus on the patient's every single assessment that every stupid theory needs, because I'm trying to learn about the patient and assess them physically, then emotionally/mentally, and also provide care...

I just give care that is needed and try to include the patient in decision making. If they are not competent, I focus on safety first, tehn physical needs, then if they have an emotional or mental issue that needs addressed and I have a spare 5 seconds, i will work on that. Nursing is about priorities and figuring out which nursing theory to apply or what stage so and so is at... Nope, no time for that. I try to be holistic 'cause it helps, but gotta prioritize.

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Jun 24, 2012

I dunno if you'd consider it a specific theory, but I use therapeutic communication all the time. I use theories from behavioral health with psych patients. And I use Maslowe's Hierarchy to prioritize my care. Is that a nursing theory? IDK. I do not use care plans- I much prefer an interdisciplinary approach where the medical and nursing is very blended. One thing I love about ER nursing is how closely the nursing and medical staff work together.

tothepointeLVN, LVN · Jun 24, 2012

They are a good starting point to getting you thinking in the right direction before you have any experience but I find they are either difficult to interrupt, conflicting or not fluid enough for day to day use.

Maybe start our own. "Do the right thing but the right thing is always different."

llg, PhD, RN · Jun 24, 2012

I completely agree, so we need to ask why do people view the world of Nursing Theory as something that needs to be destroyed as a whole?
Nursing Theory is like a flower bed that's in desperate need of weeding. In fact it's so overgrown with weeds that many people look at and say "just till the whole thing under". I agree there are flowers in that flower bed and I'd like to see them not only survive, but flourish. But the only way that will happen is if we get rid of the weeds.

I agree with that. When I teach theory, I teach it as "history" -- as representing what some of the major ideas and frameworks that have influenced nursing over the years. I encourage my students to consider each theory and try to see why each was valued at one time or another. I encourage them to take what is valuable into their practice and don't worry about the rest.

I also don't think that there is/should be "1 right theory for everything.") I think it's a big mistake for a hospital to try to base all of its care on just one theory -- or for a school to choose just one to emphasize in its curriculum.