nursing theory

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I am trying to understand different nursing theory and it's confusing to me...need help??

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Honestly, nursing theory is a lot of BS. A lot of the grand theories make no sense to anyone. I have never used nursing theory in daily life and it simply becomes more ridiculous at the graduate level. I have my flame retardant suit on as I will get flamed for this but really I believe some of the theorists had way too much time on their hands and huge egos that needed boosting.

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Specializes in LTC, Nursing Management, WCC.
Honestly, nursing theory is a lot of BS. A lot of the grand theories make no sense to anyone. I have never used nursing theory in daily life and it simply becomes more ridiculous at the graduate level. I have my flame retardant suit on as I will get flamed for this but really I believe some of the theorists had way too much time on their hands and huge egos that needed boosting.

I won't flame ya! :) To the original poster there are many theories. Could you give more information? And yes some theories are rather....well, elitist.

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Specializes in LTC, Nursing Management, WCC.

Also, if you are a student (not sure), maybe ask an admin to move this to the student section.

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

Can you be more specific with your question?

If you do a Google search, you'll find a lot of theories out there. Some actually feel relevant, and being able to speak to them can behoove you in an interview- there's one place I interviewed that's big on Jean Watson's Theory of Caring, something I did a paper on.

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Specializes in UR/PA, Hematology/Oncology, Med Surg, Psych.

I actually find Patricia Benner's theory the most applicable; Novice to Expert. I have little use for the other theories and certainly don't use them in my job. I remember I hated learning Orem's theory in particular. I always heard that BSNs learn theory, MSNs evaluate theory, and PhD nurses construct theory. I may be flamed but basically I find most nursing theory as an excuse for upper educated academic nurses to make themselves appear important and as a way for them to try and separate medicine and nursing. Which seems to be why they created Nursing Diagnosis' in the first place

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

What exactly do you not understand? This is a great site I think may help....a companion to nursing theories and models

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Nursing Theories and Nursing Models - Nursing Theory
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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

Theories help identify behaviors and why they do/do not affect the desired outcome. We use the caring theory in my hospital as part of our nursing philosophy - what behaviors show we care? If you want the patient to be responsible for self-care, then the self-care theory can guide you. Orlando's nurse-patient relationship theory is the one that the nursing process is based upon, but can work in "real life" too. You assess the situation, determine what needs to be addressed, plan an intervention then evaluate. Heck, you can choose a new care that way!

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