Help with Nursing theory paper

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Hi everyone. I am stuck. I am writing a paper on a chosen nursing theorist (I chose Flo) and how I will use the theory in my nursing student practice. The first part describes the theory and the second part is the application of how said theory can be used in my practice. Now Flo didn't write a theory as such, but more of a model. I love how elegantly simple it is and still so relevant to today. I find however, that I am being too general in application. My outline was to acknowledge how the fundamental aspects of fresh air, water etc can be applied even by students despite their lack of more in depth knowledge of other procedures. I then went on to talk about her commitment to formal education of nurses uses empirical knowledge and inductive reasoning. My last paragraph is focusing on social justice (advocacy) and becoming a competent practitioner then mentor. I like my outline but keep going between being too vague, then too detailed. We have a strict 6 page (apa format) requirement for the body and I am either way over or way under. Not sure why I can't be concise yet succinct. Help?? Am I way off base? Should I be trying to be more specific with concrete examples or continue looking to how the theory can generally be applied??

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Your outline sounds just fine to me, assuming it meets the requirement of your assignment of course. Perhaps you could get a good balance if you followed a consistent format for your discussion. For example, you might take the following (or similar) approach with each aspect of her work:

1. Make a general statement identifying the aspect of her work (or theory principle) that you are going to discuss in this section

2. What did Miss Nightingale say or do about that aspect

3. Give a contemporary example of how that aspect of her work could be used in contemporary practice

4. Then go on to the next aspect of her work

Such a framework might help keep you on track and giving the same type of attention to each major point you want to include.

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Thank you! Not sure why I am so scattered for this paper -maybe because it is worth 35% lol. I am going to start at it fresh this morning and give your suggestion a try. :)

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

Do you have a rubric to follow? If so, I would follow llg's suggestions as well as ensure I am following what there professor would like to be addressed in the paper. :yes:

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Thank you LadyFree28. I do. And you are right. Going through the rubric after writing is helping me see where to refocus. Great advice!

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Had a good chat with my prof (gotta love nursing profs, we talked on the phone while her pies were finishing before they left for thanksgiving dinner!) and I was getting too broad. I am going to just cover how as a student nurse I can use the basics of manipulating the environment to best care for my patients while I increasingly learn the skills of the RN. Whew! Getting closer to finishing.... Now to format it with APA....

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Have you tried Purdue owl? https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

Just curious....where is it Thanksgiving already?

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Esme, I am saving owl Perdue for after I get the content under control lol. Then I will concentrate on formatting my citations and structure properly. I am going to finish this paper today! I am!.... For sure..... :)

It is Thanksgiving in Canada. Man I am so thankful we don't have school today!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

LOL I just figured this out....here is a great theory site....Nursing Theorists

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Thanks Esme. I am walking away from my paper for ahwhile. I have the majority of it finished. I have a week before it is due so I will look at it with fresh eyes tomorrow. Still not totally happy with it. Nursing theory is certainly a challenging subject to write on!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

especially Flo.......I like Watson.

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You are right. Flo is especially difficult but I chose her for two reasons. I like the simplicity of her model. I also chose her because no one else does. She is probably the most difficult to tackle. I want my paper to stand out.

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