is nursing theory important to nursing practice

Creamsoda, ASN, RN · Jul 8, 2009

I think what alot of people argue is nursing theory is used to "differentiate" us nurses from the doctor world. Our theories are what makes us a "proffession" rather that a trade or doctors slave so to speak. So that is one way of looking at it.

Jolie, BSN · Jul 8, 2009

[quote=precious nikz;3730977

PLS HELP US WITH OUR STAND,,NURSING THEORY IS REALLY IMPORTANT BUT MAYBE THERE ARE SOME THINGS TO BE ARGUED ABOUT IT..AND NURSING IS NOT REALLY ALL ABOUT THE THEORIES ITSELF..

PLSSS..... :cry: :cry:

Why don't you start off with the ideas your group has brainstormed.

Then we can critique them or add to them.

I'd hate to think we were doing your homework. Helping, sure. But doing it? Not so good.

Moogie · Jul 8, 2009

Why don't you start off with the ideas your group has brainstormed.
Then we can critique them or add to them.
I'd hate to think we were doing your homework. Helping, sure. But doing it? Not so good.

I agree with Jolie.

Besides, I would be of no help because I firmly believe nursing theory is important to practice. Thing is, it's hard to see that when you're in school---and you don't always see the value of theory until you've practiced for a while.

J9G2008 · Jul 8, 2009

Here's an angle: if nursing theory is the ONLY basis upon which to provide care, then the practitioners can become narrow-minded and not allow good ideas to affect their care, if it did not come from "approved" theoretical guidelines. There has to be room in healthcare for the "try it and see if it works" method even if it's never been tried before. JMHO

nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN · Jul 8, 2009

All the nursing theory in the world is useless unless you've got a good grasp of pathophysiology, A&P and psych. Otherwise, how would you know what interventions to apply? Self care deficit may technically be true, but useless if your patient's been dead for 2 hours...and we had someone bathe and try to feed a dead guy at the NH I did clinicals at for my LPN...

travel50 · Jul 8, 2009

Here is my problem with nursing theory. Some nurse comes up with a "new theory", write books, teaches on it, lectures, etc. I look at this "new theory" and think, well good grief, who doesn't know that. For example, the theorist who came up with the idea of "nursing as caring". How is that new? Of course it is caring...that is one reason why we do it. And if you don't care, you need to quit. But yet she is famous for creating this "new theory" that is just common sense to me.

jjjoy, LPN · Jul 8, 2009

I think one place to start is to define the word "theory" in regard to nursing theories. I just googled define: theory and most of the defintions refer to scientific theories. Nursing theories aren't scientific theories, they are more like paradigms. Whether a nurse's primary conceptual function is "to care for and help client to attain self-care" (Orem) or "to help client achieve maximal level of wellness" (Rogers), is that a crucial component to providing quality nursing care (assessments, education, carrying out orders, preventative care, etc)?

Here's a link that provides a quick snapshop of various nursing theories

http://www.nursingavenue.com/Nursing_Theories.html

Get back to us on what your group comes up with!

travel50 · Jul 8, 2009

All the nursing theory in the world is useless unless you've got a good grasp of pathophysiology, A&P and psych. Otherwise, how would you know what interventions to apply? Self care deficit may technically be true, but useless if your patient's been dead for 2 hours...and we had someone bathe and try to feed a dead guy at the NH I did clinicals at for my LPN...

I agree...and we had a RN here one time who was about to change a treatment order on a resident's bottom b/c "it doesn't look too good. It is purplish!" The resident had expired...and she didn't realize it...!!!

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Jul 8, 2009

Theory...the only way I've used theory is to back up the idea that we do for the patient what they cannot do for themselves...it's helped me differentiate myself from a maid or butler. Admin wants maids, and that's not nursing, and thats how I differentiaate nursing tasks from just nice things to do. Amazingly I did it in 2 sentences, not several books, so that will tell you how much use I have for nursing theory.

What useful practice questions does theory answer (that we can't get elsewhere)?

Many times theories are supposed to differentiate between medicine and nursing...if it has to be prescribed, or the docs have to insert/ start it by law it's medicine, otherwise it's nursing.

By many nursing theories housekeeping and meals are nursing- do we really want to own these tasks? Do they need specialized knowledge? Is nursing the best group to provide it?

I'm going to someday write my own nursing theory. Nursing is a coordinator between specialties, family, patient, and community. Tasks can be taught and delegated. Assessment of physical and self care, and then coordinating all the knowledge and resources is really what nursing does that makes a difference to our patients.

theatredork · Jul 8, 2009

My nursing school didn't have a strong emphasis on nursing theory while I was there. I graduated from a ADN program. I think when it comes to actual practice at the bedside, it's not important. I think what we're taught and how we care for the patients, use our knowledge, and coordinate care are all things we do regardless of what theory it happens to fall under.

For someone that has never really been exposed to the theory of nursing, I don't feel that I'm lacking when it comes to my practice.

Edit: After researching a bit, it seems that Nursing Theory is another name for Evidence-based Practice, which makes sense to me.

Penguin67 · Jul 8, 2009

I have taught nursing research and nursing theory. Theory can be hard to understand, with the different language and the different way of viewing things. But without theory, nursing as a profession cannot and will not advance. We used to have to "borrow" theories from other professions and disciplines and we don't have to do that as much now that nursing theory is emerging.

To help my students understand nurisng theory, I ask them to think of their own religion and how it pretty much guides your life, the decisions you make, the way you live, etc...That is how nursing theory should be for nurses. It is hard to find just one that personifies any nurse or nursing department at a hospital, but there are many hospitals who have nursing theorists as the basis for their nursing philosophies at the hospital. I believe that Magnet hospitals must have theory based philosophies.