Nursing Theory???

[k123456]

Message deleted. No response necessary.

[Q.]

Originally posted by k123456

Hmmm...

The only theory I've really read on is Erikson (I don't think it's a nursing theory though per say) and I found myself reading about every 6th word and basically feeling like it was just a big bunch of crap. Isn't nursing science about science also? Maybe that doesn't come until the NP level.

Please keep your thoughts coming. This is really a crucial concern for me as I am applying to programs.

Erikson and most others who are mentioned in Child Development type classes are theories from the psychological discipline and are not nursing theories. Many of nursing's theories are actually "borrowed"concepts from those other disciplines.

Nursing science is about science yes, the nursing process in it's whole. It's a good basis for a new nursing student to begin patient care and organize thoughts.

[Q.]

Originally posted by k123456

Hmmm...

The only theory I've really read on is Erikson (I don't think it's a nursing theory though per say) and I found myself reading about every 6th word and basically feeling like it was just a big bunch of crap. Isn't nursing science about science also? Maybe that doesn't come until the NP level.

Please keep your thoughts coming. This is really a crucial concern for me as I am applying to programs.

Erikson and most others who are mentioned in Child Development type classes are theories from the psychological discipline and are not nursing theories. Many of nursing's theories are actually "borrowed"concepts from those other disciplines.

Nursing science is about science yes, the nursing process in it's whole. It's a good basis for a new nursing student to begin patient care and organize thoughts.

[whipping girl in 07, RN]

Ahhh, nursing theory...

I took it way back in 1995 the first time I went to nursing school. (I dropped out twice before I finished but that's another story...) Thank God when I applied to the school I eventually graduated from they counted it as credit for Nursing 101: Introduction to Nursing.

I don't remember much of it at all. I remember some names (Peplau, Orlando, Sister Calista Roy). I remember when Ally McBeal came out and I watched it the first time, I thought, Calista Flockhart, hey, she has the same first name as that nun nursing theorist.

I remember I had to do a group paper about one of the nursing theorists, but I can't remember which one, or even the names or faces of the people who were in my group. I do remember that we got an A on it though.

I guess my point is (other than the fact I don't have a good memory) is that don't use nursing theory on a regular basis, so I don't remember it. I know it's there in the library if I need it, and I'm glad some nurses cared enough about making nursing it's own field (rather than assisting the doctors) that they sat down and developed some theories.

I think their theories should be inspiration for practicing nurses to come up with their own theories. I have a couple.

1) The theory of quiet: If your patient who's been yelling for the past three nights you've worked suddenly becomes quiet, don't assume he's gone to sleep. Better go check on him.

2) The theory of defibrillators: If your patient (who's gone into v-fib four times on day shift) has gone six hours on your shift without coding, make sure to put new Zoll pads back on her after you give her a bath and hook them back up to the defibrillator.

I'm sure I have more but I probably won't remember them until I have to put them in practice again.

[whipping girl in 07, RN]

Ahhh, nursing theory...

I took it way back in 1995 the first time I went to nursing school. (I dropped out twice before I finished but that's another story...) Thank God when I applied to the school I eventually graduated from they counted it as credit for Nursing 101: Introduction to Nursing.

I don't remember much of it at all. I remember some names (Peplau, Orlando, Sister Calista Roy). I remember when Ally McBeal came out and I watched it the first time, I thought, Calista Flockhart, hey, she has the same first name as that nun nursing theorist.

I remember I had to do a group paper about one of the nursing theorists, but I can't remember which one, or even the names or faces of the people who were in my group. I do remember that we got an A on it though.

I guess my point is (other than the fact I don't have a good memory) is that don't use nursing theory on a regular basis, so I don't remember it. I know it's there in the library if I need it, and I'm glad some nurses cared enough about making nursing it's own field (rather than assisting the doctors) that they sat down and developed some theories.

I think their theories should be inspiration for practicing nurses to come up with their own theories. I have a couple.

1) The theory of quiet: If your patient who's been yelling for the past three nights you've worked suddenly becomes quiet, don't assume he's gone to sleep. Better go check on him.

2) The theory of defibrillators: If your patient (who's gone into v-fib four times on day shift) has gone six hours on your shift without coding, make sure to put new Zoll pads back on her after you give her a bath and hook them back up to the defibrillator.

I'm sure I have more but I probably won't remember them until I have to put them in practice again.

[Peeps Mcarthur]

Quote from Suzy

Nursing science is about science yes, the nursing process in it's whole. It's a good basis for a new nursing student to begin patient care and organize thoughts

I know you're really into the whole theory thing, but nursing theory is not science. Nursing theory is an attempt to separate what nursing students learn from what other allied health professions learn in degree programs, for the purpose of segregation not education.

Sjoe put it well,

If it will simplify things, instead of "theory," think "philosophy."

I don't think this person should be misled into thinking they are getting ready to embark on any kind of science course.

A career based in science, but certainly not an education that has much to do with reality based science.

You've worked very hard to get where you are and I respect that, but you are confusing what nurses do with what nurses learn in school.

[Peeps Mcarthur]

Quote from Suzy

Nursing science is about science yes, the nursing process in it's whole. It's a good basis for a new nursing student to begin patient care and organize thoughts

I know you're really into the whole theory thing, but nursing theory is not science. Nursing theory is an attempt to separate what nursing students learn from what other allied health professions learn in degree programs, for the purpose of segregation not education.

Sjoe put it well,

If it will simplify things, instead of "theory," think "philosophy."

I don't think this person should be misled into thinking they are getting ready to embark on any kind of science course.

A career based in science, but certainly not an education that has much to do with reality based science.

You've worked very hard to get where you are and I respect that, but you are confusing what nurses do with what nurses learn in school.

[Peeps Mcarthur]

Konni,

You're a theory of "water pitcher filling" away from writing a book!

Enthralling.

[Peeps Mcarthur]

Konni,

You're a theory of "water pitcher filling" away from writing a book!

Enthralling.

[adrienurse, LPN]

Peeps. You're burnt out from your studies -- I understand that (I can be blunt). There is nothing wrong with being a generalist and letting what ever source of knowledge guide your future practice as you want. Any good scholar recognizes that ideas are not limited to those of his/her field.

P.S. I didn't fully understand where the theory part fit into the "real" stuff that nursing is made of until I had worked for a few years. I'm still learning where this fits in.

[adrienurse, LPN]

Peeps. You're burnt out from your studies -- I understand that (I can be blunt). There is nothing wrong with being a generalist and letting what ever source of knowledge guide your future practice as you want. Any good scholar recognizes that ideas are not limited to those of his/her field.

P.S. I didn't fully understand where the theory part fit into the "real" stuff that nursing is made of until I had worked for a few years. I'm still learning where this fits in.

[Q.]

Originally posted by Peeps Mcarthur

I know you're really into the whole theory thing, but nursing theory is not science. Nursing theory is an attempt to separate what nursing students learn from what other allied health professions learn in degree programs, for the purpose of segregation not education

I never said nursing theory was science. The poster asked what IS nursing "science", other than the obvious science courses like chem, bio, etc. The nursing process is considered nursing science. If you read other posts of mine, I am not "into" the whole nursing thing but rather disgruntled at what there is out there. Please see the thread "Can Someone Be a Nurse without Jean Watson" where alot of us discussed the gaps between nursing theory and practice.

A career based in science, but certainly not an education that has much to do with reality based science.

You've worked very hard to get where you are and I respect that, but you are confusing what nurses do with what nurses learn in school.

In addition, I thought this poster was asking what nurses do in school, not in real life. Had she asked about a day in and day out portrayal of bedside nursing, I would have provided that.

I don't want to get into the argument of the usefulness or value of nursing theories. Like I stated, the common nurse I think tries to allign them with their daily practice, and that simply is not really the intended purpose. The purpose is to make it so our profession is measurable, justifiable and autonomous. I see nothing wrong with explaining that or my opinions on their value.

[Q.]

Originally posted by Peeps Mcarthur

I know you're really into the whole theory thing, but nursing theory is not science. Nursing theory is an attempt to separate what nursing students learn from what other allied health professions learn in degree programs, for the purpose of segregation not education

I never said nursing theory was science. The poster asked what IS nursing "science", other than the obvious science courses like chem, bio, etc. The nursing process is considered nursing science. If you read other posts of mine, I am not "into" the whole nursing thing but rather disgruntled at what there is out there. Please see the thread "Can Someone Be a Nurse without Jean Watson" where alot of us discussed the gaps between nursing theory and practice.

A career based in science, but certainly not an education that has much to do with reality based science.

You've worked very hard to get where you are and I respect that, but you are confusing what nurses do with what nurses learn in school.

In addition, I thought this poster was asking what nurses do in school, not in real life. Had she asked about a day in and day out portrayal of bedside nursing, I would have provided that.

I don't want to get into the argument of the usefulness or value of nursing theories. Like I stated, the common nurse I think tries to allign them with their daily practice, and that simply is not really the intended purpose. The purpose is to make it so our profession is measurable, justifiable and autonomous. I see nothing wrong with explaining that or my opinions on their value.