Nursing theory-Do you use it at work?

TheOldGuy · Oct 1, 2007

:roll:roll:roll:roll

Too Funny!

:roll:roll:roll:roll

llg, PhD, RN · Oct 1, 2007

Here is a quote from one of the "respected" Nursing Theorists:
"Human becoming refers to the human being structuring meaning multidimensionally while cocreating rhythmical patterns of relating and contrancending with possibles."
HUNH???
If that is not Hogwash then I don't know what is. Try telling that to one of your patients and see what happens.
:monkeydance::monkeydance::monkeydance:

I'm not going to try to defend that sentence because, frankly, I don't like it either. But the fact that there are some theorists have problems expressing their ideas in ways that the average person can appreciate doesn't make all theory bad.

To condemn the existence and use of theory just because some theorists don't appeal to you is just bad logic. There are many theorists who have contributed valuable insights into the nature of nursing -- and you were probably taught in accordance with those theories in your original nursing program -- and you probably use those ideas every day. You just had faculty members who "translated" the material for you and helped make the ideas more accessable to their students without requiring the students to read the original theoretical material upon which their classes were based.

TheOldGuy · Oct 1, 2007

IMHO NS needs more meat and less garnish.....when you call a doc at 1am, do you talk theory or assessment?

Chaya, ASN, RN · Oct 1, 2007

Gee, there's another two-syllable phrase that comes to MY mind but the mods would censor me!

wayunderpaid · Oct 2, 2007

I will have to agree with Timothy as well. In my schooling, nursing theory/science was one of the first classes in the baccalaureate level, which did not prepare us to tackle the important issues such as understanding lab values, or a better understanding of disease process-treatment of major diseases. Nursing textbooks were just as lousy always concentrating on the nursing tasks, rather than in a comprehensive multidisciplinary empirical approach.

I have found that this heated debate has been actually enriching, though some find it offensive: To have people articulate their ideas with such passion is refreshing. Even those "half apologies" were amusing.

I will say that nursing theories simply re-state in confusing language what nursing does. Some nursing theorists even fall short of that simple task.

I enjoy the post from the musician-turned nurse. In music, there are many theorists who deal primarily in how music is taught and learned. General music theory per-se, is only one. Nursing could benefit from a simplification method such as other empiric disciplines instead of the hogwash it is currently in academia.

To be honest, I may use theory, I may not. Don't remember it from college, sold my used textbooks online to pay for them back. Who cares. I concentrate in providing good care everyday at work, be vigilant, advocate for my patients, and ... yes, fill out the care plans that are a complete waste of time and no one ever uses or looks at.

Peace

TJ8A · Oct 31, 2007

Here's the link to a funny, yet dead-on article about nursing theory.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2843/is_5_24/ai_67691837

It provided great comic relief as I completed a bogus paper in nurse anesthesia school about nursing theory. I feel like graduate nurses have to "sell-out" or get kicked out when it comes to embracing nursing theory. There's no room for descension.

Nursing Theory has many problems. Without getting into specific problems, suffice it to say that I don't and won't use nursing theory to deliver anesthesia. If you ever hear me say, "Orem's wholly compensatory nursing system is now in place" as I perform an induction, take away my license and send me to purgatory. Don't send me to academia, that would only exacerbate my disorder and I could infect others.

TJ8A · Feb 9, 2008

bumping this thread

Granolagirl17 · Feb 9, 2008

TJ, thanks for the bump. This is a great thread. I almost walked out of nursing school in the first two weeks because of the whole "Nursing Diagnosis" "Magnetic Unruffling/Therapeutic Touch" thing. That was not what I signed up for!! Show me the science (or new word "Evidence Based Practice")

I agree that nurses do so much today and the responsibilities are enormous - so I understand that there needs to be a way to describe what we do and the way we do it (ie we are not just little monkeys that pop pills in our patient's mouths) but I think that in the quest to prove the worth or role of the nurse, the garbledegook of some of this theory stuff has backfired.

EMS had a similar struggle in the past 30 or so years - pushing for respect and acknowledgement that we are not just ambulance drivers (well, we do drive 'em but we also intubate, push first line drugs, pace, etc). It seems to me (in my second semester ADN studies) that some in nursing have pushed so hard for "we are different, we are important" that they have gone off the deep end. If you want respect from the medical community, leave the magnetic unruffling to the back pages of The Enquirer (NEW! Copper / Magnet Bracelet! With Egyptian Runes! Cure Arthritis and Bring Love and Money!) and develop the skills of understanding the nuances of ABG's, etc.

I'm writing my danged old student 12 page plan of care. And I read the plan of care for my patients that are in the hospital in the real world. You know what they were/are? Risk of fall r/t..... Risk of impaired gas exchange r/t..... Each EXACTLY the same. So much for using the theory of acknowledging the "holistic person"....BUT the actual CARE that the patients received from their nurses WAS individualized. I don't think reading about FN made a whit of difference on HOW these nurses cared for their patients - unless you counted the fact that they had to create a POC and spend time on that paperwork rather than delivering the care to their patient.

queenjean · Feb 11, 2008

What nursing theory do we use at work? Uh, that would be a big fat NONE.

Unless you count eating pizza-at-4-am-and-drinking-beer-at-8-am-after-work theory, laughing-at-the-world's-longest-fart theory, and the anything-that-involves-poop-is-funny theory. Those are theories I can get behind.

Seriously, the school where I did my LPN-RN program didn't make us read or pretend to encorporate *any* nursing theory. It was so refreshing! Yes, in our management class we had to study a variety of social, economic, and professional theories; but there wasn't this pretense that someone's doctoral dissertation-turned-mealticket was going to change the course of our lives.

buddiage · Feb 12, 2008

:whe!:

I completely agree. Nursing theory can be "embarrassing."

3 more months to go for graduation!

Here's the link to a funny, yet dead-on article about nursing theory.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2843/is_5_24/ai_67691837
It provided great comic relief as I completed a bogus paper in nurse anesthesia school about nursing theory. I feel like graduate nurses have to "sell-out" or get kicked out when it comes to embracing nursing theory. There's no room for descension.
Nursing Theory has many problems. Without getting into specific problems, suffice it to say that I don't and won't use nursing theory to deliver anesthesia. If you ever hear me say, "Orem's wholly compensatory nursing system is now in place" as I perform an induction, take away my license and send me to purgatory. Don't send me to academia, that would only exacerbate my disorder and I could infect others.

nanacarol · Feb 13, 2008

Granolagirl17, to turn your comment about the magnetic bracelets around, do you have research data that supports your contention that this intervention does not work? If not then you risk sending a non professional opinion. Whether anyone agrees or accepts this fact, we are the product of and use nursing theory in our practice daily. Theory is foundational, we don't think about the cement that our houses are built on, yet without the foundation the house falls. Nanacarol

Granolagirl17 · Feb 13, 2008

Granolagirl17, to turn your comment about the magnetic bracelets around, do you have research data that supports your contention that this intervention does not work? If not then you risk sending a non professional opinion. Whether anyone agrees or accepts this fact, we are the product of and use nursing theory in our practice daily. Theory is foundational, we don't think about the cement that our houses are built on, yet without the foundation the house falls. Nanacarol

Hmmmm.....well, I have a lucky rabbit's foot that you can buy for $500. It will provide you true love, cure arthritis and gout, bring money and fortune and guarantee the health of your family. And get rid of wrinkles, too. :coollook:

Do you believe me? No? Where is YOUR research data to prove that MY intervention does not work?

Those who put forward interventions have the burden of proof, and I believe that if these interventions were sound, there would be a plethora of reproducible, verifiable studies out there that would recommend them and endorse them. Where are they? Is it a conspiracy theory or something? I looked up Therapeutic Touch in peer reviewed scientific journals and did not find support for the intervention. The articles I was pointed to by my nursing instructor who DOES approve of Th. T were NOT PEER REVIEWED articles/studies and were small number case studies without double blind, control groups, etc. We don't have any trouble reproducing double blind studies of pharmacology or studies proving efficacy of surgical interventions, but I haven't seen a lot of convincing proof that copper/magnetic/Egyptian runes are good solid therapy.

But honestly, I'm open - please send links to journal articles! Heck, I'll be the first to buy the bracelets if they work!!