Nursing Theory
Nursing Theory
Nursing Theory
“a creative and rigorous structuring of ideas that projects a tentative, purposeful and systematic
view of phenomena”. – Chinn and Kramer (1991)
Component of theory:
Concepts
Proposition Systematically THEORY PHENOMENA
VIEW
Assumption organized
Definition
Nursing Theory
A group of interrelated concepts that are developed form various studies of disciplines and
related experiences. This aims to view the essence of nursing care. Theories
are specifically contributed by different nursing theorist from different times and ages.
Describes
NURSING
Theory Explains
CARE
Predicts
Prescribes
“a complete nursing theory is one that has context, content and process”. – Barnum (1994)
Nursing is the “diagnosis and treatment of human responses to actual or potential health
problems.” – American Nursing Association (ANA)
Nursing encompasses “autonomous and collaborative care of individuals of all ages, families,
groups and communities, sick or well and in all settings. Nursing includes promotion of health,
prevention of illness, and the care of the ill, disabled and dying people. Advocacy, promotion of a safe
environment, research, participation in shaping health policy and in patient and health systems
management, and education are also key nursing roles.” – The International council of Nurses (ICN)
Nursing is “to assist clients in the performance of activities contributing to health, its recovery
and peaceful death that clients will perform unaided if they had the necessary will, strength or
knowledge”
Nursing is “a dynamic discipline. It is an art and a science of caring for individuals, families,
groups and communities geared toward promotion and restoration of health, prevention of illness,
alleviation of suffering and assisting clients to face death with dignity and peace. It is focused on
assisting the client as he/she responds to health/illness situations, utilizing the nursing process and
guided by ethico-legal moral principles.” – Association of Deans of Philippine Colleges of Nursing.
Nursing Paradigms
Patterns or models used to show a clear relationship among the existing theoretical works in
nursing. At present, many theories in nursing care are focused on relationships among four major
concepts (metaparadigms: Greek “meta” – with, and “paradeigma” – pattern)
Nursing
Person Health
Environment
1. Person – The recipient of nursing care like individuals, families and communities.
Example: Nightingale proposed that the physical, intellectual and spiritual being of a person is
not capable of manipulating the environment to promote health. This means that a person is a
passive recipient of care.
2. Environment – The external and internal aspects of life that influence the person.
Example: Physical environment is emphasized by Nightingale in her theory. She focused on
ventilation, warmth, noise, light and cleanliness.
3. Health – The holistic level of wellness that the person experiences.
Example: Nightingale defined nursing as “a profession for women (a calling) with the goal to
discover and use the laws governing health in the service of humanity.” She believed that the
goal of all nursing activity should promote client’s health.
4. Nursing – The interventions of the nurse rendering care in support of, or in cooperation with the
client.
Example: Nightingale emphasized that a nurse is responsible promoting well being of clients by
manipulating the environment.
Types of theories
Descriptive Theories (Factor-Isolating Theories) are known to be the primary level of theory
development. They identify and describe major concepts of phenomena. However, they do not explain
the relationship of the concepts. Their main purpose is to present a phenomenon based on the five
senses together with their corresponding meaning.
Ex: a descriptive research about the Filipino nursing practices like use of herbal medicines and other
alternative forms of treatment.
Explanatory Theories (factor-Relating Theories) are the type of theory that present relationship among
concepts and propositions. These theories aim to provide information on how or why concepts are
related. Cause and effect relationship are well explained using Explanatory Theories.
Ex: A research study about the factors affecting newborns in failing to thrive.
Predictive Theories (Situation-Relating Theories) are achieved when the relationships of concepts
under a certain condition are able to describe future outcomes consistently. This kind of theory is
generated and tested using experimental research.
Ex: A theoretical model based on the observation of the effects of unsanitary environment condition on
the recovery of the post-operative patients.
Prescriptive theories (Situation-Producing Theories) deal with nursing actions, and test the validity and
certainty of specific nursing intervention. This kind of theory is commonly used in testing new nursing
interventions.
Ex: Laurente’s (1996) theory validates and explains the different nursing management in the emergency
room in relieving anxiety among its client.
Concepts
Concepts are the building blocks of theories. It can come from an empirical phenomenon or any
abstraction of how person perceived an object that is not physically present or observed like charity,
caring, patience. A concept enhances one’s capacity to understand phenomena as it helps define the
meaning of a word.
Abstract Concepts are indirectly observed or intangible. It is independent of time and place. Ex:
love, care, and freedom.
Concrete Concepts are directly observed or tangible. Ex: nurse, mother and pain.
Conceptual definitions are the meaning of a word based on how a certain theory or relevant literature
perceives it to be. Ex. Roles/concepts of nurse, patient care, and environment.
Operational definitions are meaning of word based on the method of how it was measured or how the
person come up with that perception. An example of this is the significance of pain perception and
practiced nursing intervention.
Theoretical Models or framework are highly established or concepts that are testable. The following is a
theoretical framework as proposed by Lydia Hall, a nurse theorist.
Conceptual models or frameworks are representations of an idea or body of knowledge based
on the own understanding or perception of a person or researcher on a certain topic, phenomena or
theory. They can be represented thru a diagram or in narrative form which shows how concepts are
interrelated.
Phenomenon
A phenomenon can be defined as sets of empirical data or experiences that can be physically
observed or tangible such as crying or grimacing when in pain. is concerned with how an individual
person reacts using the human senses concerning their surrounding and assessing the different
behaviors and factors that affect such behaviors
Provide a justification for assembling trustworthy and valid data about the health prominence of
clients, which are necessary for effective decision making and execution.
Assist to build a common nursing terminology to use in communicating with other health
professionals. Planning is developed and words defined.
Patient
Comes from the Latin word, patior, which means ‘to suffer’
Defined as ‘one who suffers’
Client
Comes from the Latin word, clinare, which means ‘to lean’
Defined as ‘one who is the recipient of a professional service’