Nursing Theorists

llg, PhD, RN · Mar 7, 2008

Well ... the wrong way to do it (which is the way a lot of students do it), is to pick the one for which you can find the most information quickly. Do the assignment quickly, move on, and never think about it again. That will get the assignment done, but you won't grow as a professional very much that way.

There are several right ways to do it:

1. Skim through your textbook and notes etc. from your theory class. Ask yourself questions such as, "Which theory do I like the best?" "Which theories address topics that are related to my clinical topic?" "Do any of these theories seem to fit well with what I would like to focus on in my paper?"

2. Another way is to review articles on your clinical topic -- wound care -- and see if any of those articles use a theory that at least semi-appeals to you. You could build on that.

I recommend a combination of #1 and #2 above. Reflect on your topic a little, review the literature, etc. and decide on a general focus of your paper. Are you going to focus on patient teaching? Are you going to focus on the physiology on wound healing? etc. Simultaneously review the theories you studied in theory class. Pick the theory that either provides you an overall approach to nursing care that appeals to you most -- or the one that has some direct linkages to the specific aspects of care you want to emphasize.

For example, if you want to focus on "self-care" ... use Orem's Theory. If you want to focus on patient comfort, use Kolcaba's work. If you want an over-arching theory to tie all aspects of care together under a general umbrella of caring, consider Watson or Swanson. If you want to focus on patient needs, consider Henderson. etc. etc. etc.

Just about any theory can be applied to just about any situation. You just have to decide which theory you prefer to work with -- and which one matches the particular aspect of care you want to emphasize.

You did take a theory class, didn't you? You do have a theory book?

Once you've picked a theorist ... check out the online resources. Do a general search. There are websites devoted to a lot of the major theorists that provide extra information that might be of help to you.