Who Cares About Nursing Theorists?

[dlo]

hello

ok lets be real, who cares about nurse theorists and why are they important to study in school, or follow to make nursing a profession and not an occupation. do you really think if we found fifty new nurse theorists to write down thier motos and ideas, it would make nursing a viable career option.?? do you think they are really needed or even listened to or followed within healthcare. think about jean watson or betty neuman, if they are so important, can each of you name five things that they have actually done, by themselves to promote nursing and make it what it is today???? Nursing is a subjective field and it means something different to each and every nurse, the main goal of course is to take care of sick people and promote health to all mankind. so if all of the popular doctorate prepared nurse theorists all say something different, than it is clear to me that they are just expressing thier ideas and thoughts on nursing for others to follow. we all know that opinions are only worth what you pay for them, and I'm sure some of them enjoy the kindness all of the book deals and movie deals and nursing magazines have brought them. I JUST DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY ANYONE CARES ABOUT THIER OPINIONS AND WHY THEY ARE TRULY NEEDED WITHIN OUR PROFESSION. Arn't my thoughts and opinions on nursing just as right and important.

[dlo]

who really cares?????

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

I do. Thanks to Orlando we have the nursing process. Theories are attempts to make order out of chaos and to give structure to our practice. If you found a better way to do something, shouldn't you share it for all nurses to benefit? We use nursing theory more often than you imagine but by the time it gets to the front line nurse it is called "policies and protocols".

[husker_rn, RN]

I appreciate that Jean Watson brought the holistic movement to the forefront and we learned to look at all aspects of the patient, not just the disease he/she sufered from. However once that point was made I got sick of her being pushed at us all the time. And I did attend a mandatory lecture with her live one time.....that day I would say she was a bit out there. Talked in circles about nothing, and kinda reminded me of Shirley McClaine with her off the wall words. Expected to here about reincarnation and who knows what else.

[mpccrn, BSN, RN]

theorists......hmmm lots of time in school, no time at the bedside....enough said.

[vashtee, RN]

It seems like theorists just put into words what people are already doing... I'm pretty sure that a holistic approach was taken before any theory was documented (any sensitive person would address emotional needs out of a need to be humane), and that people did assessed the effectiveness of their interventions long before a theorist wrote it down.

[LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM]

What about Hildegard Peplau and the advances she made in psychiatric nursing? Her theories about the nurse-patient therapeutic relationship made major changes in the way nurses practiced with psych patients and in the way nursing as a profession was viewed (thanks, Nurse Ratched!) It's theorists who help to raise nursing to an intellectual, educated profession, not just a training-based profession, and help to support the process of evidence-based practice.

[llg, PhD, RN]

1. Researchers need to have a framework upon/around which to organize the key concepts and relationships of their subject matter.

2. Teachers need to have a framework upon/around which to organize the key concepts and relationships of their subject matter.

3. Practicing nurses need to have multiple frameworks upon/around which to organize the key concepts and relationships they use everyday. Everyone uses theory ... but many people do it subconsciously. The study of nursing theory helps the student be more conscious of their thinking and why we do the things we do as a nurse. We use "germ theory" when we decide to wash our hands. We use theories of comfort and pain control we help patients be more comfortable. We use Henderson's theory when we think about helping a patient who is very dependent on the nurse for ADL's and try to help them become less dependent. etc. etc. etc.

The study of theory may not be everyone's favorite part of nursing school, but it is important that all professional nurses have a working understanding of the key concepts that nurses deal with as they practice. That means having a working knowledge of the theories that identify and define those concepts.

[-MNC_RN-]

We use nursing theory more often than you imagine but by the time it gets to the front line nurse it is called "policies and protocols".

Bingo.

No, nurses at the bedside don't sit around chatting theory. They do, however, use P&Ps to guide their care. Theory and research lead to change and improvement in practice.

Without theory, we would still be...

- Painting besores with molasas

- Reusing needles

- Not washing hands

- Not listening to hearts and lungs

- Not caring about a patient's autonomy

- Putting pain control at the bottom of our important list

From a staff development perspective, it's theory (Benner's Novice to Expert) that actually gets you an orientation. Back in the day, you were thrown out and expected to fly. Be grateful for that one.

I would challenge anyone to--rather than groaning and rolling eyes when learning about theory--actually think through a theory and see how it impacts your practice. In fact, try it here: post a theory and see how many of us come back with why it actually matters.

[OhBoy123]

I don't care enough to have had an entire class on them!

[woody62, RN]

Why is it generally the youngesters that hate theorists and those who have been nursing for quite a while, seeing their value?

Woody:twocents:

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

I don't hate theorists.