Nursing Theorist for Theoretical framework of my thesis

llg, PhD, RN · Oct 11, 2009

1. First of all ... details of your study should flow out of your theoretical foundation. It rarely works well to slap a theory "on top of" of a study that has already been design. So, be careful there -- and be prepared to change your plans as you incorporate a theory foundation into your work. It is supposed to be BASED on the theory and that means that the theory needs to serve as the foundation that directs the study. You should not be starting with a title -- you should be starting with a general topic of interest and have your theory help to shape your specific focus.

2. Your title suggests that you are not really focusing on nursing in your study -- but rather the topic of change. That may be why you are struggling to find a nursing theory. Nursing theories focus on nursing -- and change theories focus on change. The study as you now picture it may better a change theory rather than a nursing theory. In other words, do a study of change (applying change theory) in a nursing setting. If you haven't already, discuss this paritucular issue with your academic advisor. She may have strong opinions about this issue.

3. Look at nursing administration literature. See what nursing frameworks they use. There are theories of administrative caring in nursing -- and other theories with an administrative focus. (There was a new framework published recently, but I can't recall exactly where -- I think it was in the Journal of Nursing Administration.) These models are generally not as well known as the major theories studied in theory class. They are middle-level models used by administrators to deal with groups of nurses rather than focusing on the single nurse-patient relationship.

4. There is also the Synergy Model. That might be a possibility as it includes a "place" for the administrative aspect.

5. If it were me, I would review all of the middle-level models found in the nursing administration literature and the Synergy Model and use that as a basic nursing foundation to set the nursing stage and put your project within the field of nursing administration. Then I would add a 2nd model -- a change model -- on top of that to use as a tool to do the change project.

It's probably not the quick and simple answer you wanted ... but it is probably the BEST approach to handling a research topic such as yours. It is the approach I would require if you were my student.

elkpark · Oct 11, 2009

1. First of all ... details of your study should flow out of your theoretical foundation. It rarely works well to slap a theory "on top of" of a study that has already been design. So, be careful there -- and be prepared to change your plans as you incorporate a theory foundation into your work. It is supposed to be BASED on the theory and that means that the theory needs to serve as the foundation that directs the study. You should not be starting with a title -- you should be starting with a general topic of interest and have your theory help to shape your specific focus.

That was my first thought as well -- you have a title, but not a theoretical framework? How does that work?

I'm used to the title being the final step in the process, as it is dictated by, and reflects, the content of the thesis, which flows from the basic (theoretical) framework of the project.

I second everything llg said (as usual :)).

adangerousbeauty · Oct 12, 2009

OIC. From where I'm studying, the process is we first submit a list of possible research titles -- then we undergo a title defense -- then thesis proposal -- then final defense. Thanks a lot for both responses. :up: I'll see what i can do about it.

llg, PhD, RN · Oct 12, 2009

I can see how that could work -- IF your title is only being used to start the process and it can be changed if the process takes you to a slightly different finished project. It sounds like your school is using your title as a statement of your general area of interest. That's OK -- as long as everyone understands that the research process may alter your focus a little. As you review the literature, etc. you may learn things that shifts your focus.

elkpark · Oct 12, 2009

That makes more sense -- that your "title" is really only identifying a general topic. Best wishes with your project!

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Oct 13, 2009

My favorite change theory is Prochaska's transtheoretical model (stages of change). It's not a nursing theory per se, but it has been used extensively in nursing literature. You may want to check it out for your 2nd model, per llg's post.

Here is a link: http://www.uri.edu/research/cprc/TTM/detailedoverview.htm