Who Cares About Nurse Theorists?

Nurses Men

Published

DEAR all,

I don't know where to begin, but I don't know why anyone cares about nurse theorists or thier ideas on what nursing is or how one should act. can someone please tell me the importance of studying a nurse theorist or a group of them. I do not think they are needed within the profession and I do not think we need to copy thier ideas to become a profession or patend any of their ideas to aline with our mission statement within hospitals. maybe this is just a guy thing, I don't know.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I believe that if we didn't have nurse theorist then we wouldn't have the atonomy in the profession that we have today.

-David H.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

autonomy,

well nurse theorists rarley conduct studies or prove points with evidence based practice. alot of the theorists, like jean watson, just make up touchy feely words that do not exist and try to prove to fellow nurses that what we do as nurses is way more of a transpersonal moment, or a spiritual connection. I just don't see what exactly the theorists have done for the profession. they do not fight for rights. most of them are more interested in describing what nurses are and what they do to whoever will listen.....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

I don't. Haven't used a theory since I got out of school.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Personally, I think nursing theorists are part of nursing history - something to learn about but not practical nowadays.

I am like Canoehead: learned about them in school, never use them in "real life."

Should have spent the time on other things more practical like prioritization of care, solid assessment skills, etc.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Home Health, Informatics.

I can agree with most of the points about the "classic" theorists. Or as they are called now the Grand Theories. In the grand theories there are some pearls among the aggrandized concepts and made up words. I liked Betty Neuman's model of Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary interventions. In addition, her concept of lines of defense was a good analogy for the importance of prevention as an intervention in nursing. D. Orem's self-care deficit concept is a great way to learn how to figure out how much to do for the patient and what to let the patient manage on their own. As nutty and useless as Martha Rogers was she did help nursing with the concept that a human is greater than the sum of its parts - or that our patients are more than just a combination of organs, systems and diseases - this seems obvious now but back in the 70's holistic views of the patient was not the standard practice.

Now there are more theories that are practice related and smaller in scope and reality based. P. Benner' s novice to expert as it related to clinical competence is a spot on theory that is indispensable in the orientation of nurses. Eakes and Burke's theory of chronic sorrow is another modern theory that has practical application.

One of the reasons that I want to be a professor of nursing is that I would live to teach theory correctly. Too many instructors teach the old 1970's theories as religions that you are supposed to believe in and they neglect the practical theories from inside and outside of nursing that are actually useful in care. If I am lucky I will be the first male nursing theorist with my "Keep it simple, Keep it real, and keep it practical dude" theory of nursing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

One of the reasons that I want to be a professor of nursing is that I would live to teach theory correctly. Too many instructors teach the old 1970's theories as religions that you are supposed to believe in and they neglect the practical theories from inside and outside of nursing that are actually useful in care. If I am lucky I will be the first male nursing theorist with my "Keep it simple, Keep it real, and keep it practical dude" theory of nursing.

If you read some of my posts in similar threads, you will see that I agree with you. It's not that "theory is bad" so much as it is that theory is usually taught badly. Most nurses never think about theory after they graduate -- and have not updated their knowledge. That includes many of today's teachers of theory. They are teaching what they learned 20 years ago.

I started teaching theory 2 years ago as an adjunct professor in an RN-BSN program -- and I LOVE it. My students say my class is "not nearly as bad as they thought it would be" and a few have actually gotten really excited by theory. It's been fun. I hope you get a chance to teach theory, too, someday -- and look forward to reading more of your posts here on allnurses.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

nursing theory was boring and i pretty much thought of it as a waste of time. most people dont think of theory after school is over, just pass the class and keep on going.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Please people, if you're going into the world as educated professionals, learn how to spell!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
Please people, if you're going into the world as educated professionals, learn how to spell!

So you dug up an old thread that nobody has posted to for over 3years just to tell us we made a few spelling errors?

Edit: I now see that this is only your 3rd post even though you have been a member for many years. Your other posts were also about spelling errors. What gives?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

No, I meant no offense, I'm a nursing librarian searching for male nurses as a project for one of my faculty. The spelling just caught my eye. I'm trying to find information about male nurses who have made an impact on the profession.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am a Nursing Librarian, and proofread endless papers for students and faculty. Right now I am doing research for a faculty person who is looking for notable male nurses in the profession. I can't help myself with the spelling. My apologies.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment