Nursing Concepts and Theories Research
Nursing is a unique discipline, shaped by its own concepts and practices. The defining distinctions are framed by what’s commonly known as nursing theory. But to answer the question what is nursing theory, it’s imperative to understand why nursing theory exists and why it is relevant in the context of delivering high-quality patient care.Nursing Concepts and Theories Research
What Is Nursing Theory?
Nursing theories are organized, knowledge-based concepts that essentially define the scope of nursing practice. This scope would include what constitutes nursing, what nurses are typically tasked with, and the reasons why these tasks are in place.
These theories are crucial to the concept of nursing. They provide a foundational knowledge of care concepts that enable those in the profession to explain what they do for patients and the reasons for their actions. This is particularly important because it helps nurses articulate evidence that justifies the methodologies behind their practice.
The roots of nurse theory date to the late 19th century when it was first used as a key concept to advance nurse education. Today, the emphasis on evidence-based practice indicates that this educational component is still strongly present.
Nursing theories are generally categorized into three different levels:
● Grand Nursing Theories — These types of theories are based on broad, abstract, and complex concepts. They provide the general framework for nursing ideas pertaining to components such as people and health. These theories typically stem from a nurse theorist’s own experience.Nursing Concepts and Theories Research
● Middle-Range Nursing Theories — These theories drill down into specific areas of nursing rather than deal with sweeping concepts. They can emerge from nursing practice, research, or from the theories of similar disciplines.
● Practice-Level Nursing Theories — These theories narrow their focus even further, specifically focusing on concepts concerning a defined patient population at a specified time. These theories tend to directly affect patients more than the other two types of theories.
Why Nurse Theories Are Important for DNPs
In a nutshell, nurse theories help define what nurses do and why they do it. The framework provided by various nursing theories helps shape the parameters of patient care delivery. Without these theories in place, the concept of nursing would not have a linear focus; one that organically points back to patients and treating their health-related needs. Doctors of Nursing Practice (DNPs) can use these theories to help shape care delivery strategies for a health care facility in ways that align with a range of expected outcomes.
While grand theories can help establish a larger framework, middle-range and practice-level theories allow for the governance of specific types of nurses or certain health care scenarios. An example in action is the Neuman Systems model, named after famous nursing theorist Betty Neuman. This theory is built on the concept of treating the patient holistically, based on the notion that a patient’s many needs can disrupt their entire nature. It’s a theory that psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) utilize to treat a wide range of mental illnesses, including schizophrenia.Nursing Concepts and Theories Research
Another example is the Child Health Assessment Interaction Theory created by Kathryn E. Barnard, the pioneering infant mental health researcher. This theory puts forth the importance of the caregiver, the environment, and the child as key influencers of the parent-infant relationship, and acknowledges that adaptive behavior can further influence this dynamic. Pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) and family nurse practitioners (FNPs) utilize this theory to develop treatment strategies, such as using rocking chairs in hospital nurseries, that help foster a comforting environment that encourages parent-infant bonding.
Specializing in Nursing with a BSN to DNP Degree
Nurse theories are an inextricable part of a nurse’s professional life, regardless of the patient care specialization. These theories are in place to establish the guidelines of both broad and specific nursing practices. Those aspiring to utilize the theories associated with advanced practice nursing must possess a skill set advanced enough to effectively turn these theories into practice.
The online BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Regis College is designed to help students gain leadership, analytical, and communication expertise through a robust curriculum that dives deeply into nursing theory and nursing’s essential concepts. Additionally, the program offers five specializations that can help advanced practice nurses focus their craft to theories associated with specific aspects of nursing. The five specializations are as follows:
● Pediatrics (PNP) — This specialization focuses on attending to the health needs of children, from infants to teenagers.
● Family (FNP) — In this specialization, students develop the acumen to treat patients of all ages.
● Psychiatric Mental Health (PMHNP) — This specialization provides care to mental health patients via techniques related to psychotherapy.Nursing Concepts and Theories Research
● Women’s Health (WHNP) —Those in this specialization are tasked with providing care to women, including care concerning women-specific health care issues.
● Adult Gerontology (AGNP) — The focus here is on care related to aging, chronic illness, and end-of-life scenarios.
Putting Theory Into Practice
The theories that shape nursing concepts are centrally important to health care delivery. These nursing theories, however, can only help provide high-quality health care if nursing professionals are skilled and knowledgeable enough to work effectively within their parameters.
Learn more about how the online BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Regis College can help students bring nursing theories into practice — and help improve health outcomes for patients, their families, and communities.
The majority of nursing theories are developed by nurses, but at times other healthcare professionals, such as physicians have provided input into the development of nursing theories. Nurses may develop a theory on their own or in collaboration with other nurses. Nurse theorists often have a desire to explain, predict and describe elements of nursing care and practice. Nurse theorists frequently draw from their academic and clinical experiences when formulating their theories. Many of the most clinically applicable nursing theories have been developed by nurses who are active in nursing practice and most acutely aware of the current state of the healthcare environment. Other times, nurse theorists are inspired by the works of previous nurse theorists and incorporate portions of another nursing theory into their own.Nursing Concepts and Theories Research
Nursing Theory and Nursing Practice
Nursing theories affect everyday nursing practice. Most nurses employ a number of theories in practice rather than using one theory exclusively. Using a variety of nursing theories during a given day, allows the nurse to choose the best theory to fit the situation. In an ideal setting, nursing theories serve to provide underpinnings to nursing care in every patient encounter. They help nurses use critical thinking skills, analytical skills and improve concept comprehension. Nursing theories improve patient care, patient outcomes, and nurse-patient communication. Through the use of nursing theories in practice, new knowledge and data are gleaned that can influence the future of nursing practice.
Nursing Theory and the Nursing Process
The nursing process is a scientific method used to ensure quality patient care that was first described in the 1950s and encompassed three steps. Today there are six steps in the nursing process: Assessment, nursing diagnosis, outcome identification, planning, implementation and evaluation. Each of these steps can be further divided into a number of individual steps, all with the goal of improving patient care. Many nursing theories incorporate the nursing process into their foundations. Other theories expand upon the nursing process and may add additional steps. Nursing theories can be helpful at all stages of the nursing process and may guide a nurse to perform specific actions or make certain decisions during patient care.Nursing Concepts and Theories Research
Nursing theories are a relatively new component of the nursing profession. Despite their recent appearance, nursing theories have a made a strong and lasting impact on the education, training and development of professional nurses. They have also influenced patient care and outcomes in everyday nursing practice. As the nursing profession continues to evolve and define itself, new nursing theories will be needed to guide nurses practicing at the bedside. Future nurse theorists should remain true to their clinical roots, making sure that theories continue to be applicable to nursing practice in the ever-changing healthcare landscape.Nursing Concepts and Theories Research