Nursing theory is defined as "a creative and conscientious structuring of ideas that project a tentative, purposeful, and systematic view of phenomena".[1] Through systematic inquiry, whether in nursing research or practice, nurses are able to develop knowledge relevant to improving the care of patients. Theory refers to "a coherent group of general propositions used as principles of explanation".[2]
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How to support Research with Theoretical and Conceptual Frameworks
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Nursing Frameworks/Theory, part 1
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Nursing Frameworks, part 1
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Introduction to Nursing Theory
Transcription
In the comments of one of my quantitative research videos I was asked: “how do you support your study relationship based on a theoretical or conceptual framework?” That is a great question! There has been a large push from academic institutions and journals in recent years for the explicit use of these frameworks in research studies. Theoretical or conceptual frameworks are used to support research in many ways. More than one framework may even be useful in your research. How they guide the development of a research study depends on your question and research design. Sometimes you need to know your theory before you begin your study and other times it makes more sense to select it after data collection. I always tell my students that the research question should drive all of the decisions in a study. Keep in mind, however, that sometimes your question actually comes from the theoretical framework. If your research is about testing, confirming, refuting, expanding on, refining or adding to an existing theory then you need to be sure you know what it is before the study begins and I would explain that theory in the literature review section of your paper. When you get to the results section of that paper it would likely make sense to organise your results in the same way the theory is organised. In the discussion section you can then examine how your results and other literature either support or refute the theory. Sometimes you will not set out to discuss a particular theory. A theoretical or conceptual framework will still be useful to support your question or organise your findings. When using a theory to support your question the theory needs to relate to the reason why you are doing the study. In Killam and Heerschap (2012) we used a theory about force field analysis to justify examining student perceptions of challenges to their learning in the clinical setting. Basically, the theory talks about how change occurs when positive forces outweigh negative ones. Therefore, if educators want students to be safe we need to remove barriers to students practicing safely. In order to remove these barriers we need to know what they are. And there you have how the theory supported the reason for asking the question. Quite honestly we added this theory in after the study was completed because the journal required that we have one. Our selected methodology, however, supported conducting the study without a theoretical frame up-front. We developed our own model to explain the findings. The theory did work well with discussion section that had already been written for the paper. I have done a few qualitative studies where I wanted to examine a topic broadly and have subsequently found a theory that helped me organise and explain the findings. For example, in Killam and Carter (2010) the Ecological model was used to organise the findings of a literature review about challenges that student nurses face while on clinical placement in rural settings. We did not select the Ecological Model as a lens until after the review was completed and we were in the process of analysing the data. You can look at this article for free by clicking on the link below this video. Notice that the Ecological Model is introduced in the literature review, used in the findings section to organise the collected data and again in the discussion. Originally we had used all the headings from the model in the discussion section but due to space limitations we had to condense it. When writing it up we did link the selection of the framework to the question. You will find that if you select the right framework the question and findings will fit nicely with it and the entire paper will flow nicely, making a high quality product. If your research is designed to generate a new theory it would make sense that you don’t know what it is before you begin. If so, you will want to explain the concepts you are examining in the literature review. In your findings you would then build the case for your theory based on your study data. Then in the discussion you would talk about how pre-existing literature also supports your theory. Another use for theory is to explain the culture of the group being studied or the worldview of the researcher. In qualitative studies it is useful to know these things when assessing the quality and transferability of the study. Sometimes studies will present a conceptual framework, which may include discussion of multiple views of a particular concept like in Killam et al. (2012). The entire paper still flows because it is about one topic but there is no clear pre-existing theory supporting the entire paper. What other ways have you seen theoretical or conceptual frameworks used to support study relationships? Do you think journals should require a theoretical framework in publications? Why or why not? Please share your views below. Thank you for watching. Be sure to subscribe if you want to be up to date with new videos as they are released. Feel free to ask me any questions that you have below and I will do my best to answer them. Videos are posed on Thursdays as often as I can. Right now I have a baby at home so they are not coming out weekly but hopefully in about February of 2014 they will start coming out weekly again. Thank you!
Nursing theory
Importance
In the early part of nursing's history, there was little formal nursing knowledge. As nursing education developed, the need to categorize knowledge led to development of nursing theory to help nurses evaluate increasingly complex client care situations.[3]
Nursing theories give a plan for reflection in which to examine a certain direction in where the plan needs to head.[4] As new situations are encountered, this framework provides an arrangement for management, investigation and decision-making. Nursing theories also administer a structure for communicating with other nurses and with other representatives and members of the health care team. Nursing theories assist the development of nursing in formulating beliefs, values and goals. They help to define the different particular contribution of nursing with the care of clients.[5] Nursing theory guides research and practice.
Not all theories in nursing are unique nursing theories; many are borrowed or shared with other disciplines.[6] Theories developed by Neuman, Watson, Parse, Orlando and Peplau are considered unique nursing theories. Theories and concepts that originated in related sciences have been borrowed by nurses to explain and explore phenomena specific to nursing.[7]
Types
Grand nursing theories
Grand nursing theories have the broadest scope and present general concepts and propositions.[8] Theories at this level may both reflect and provide insights useful for practice but are not designed for empirical testing. This limits the use of grand nursing theories for directing, explaining, and predicting nursing in particular situations. However, these theories may contain concepts that can lend themselves to empirical testing.[9] Theories at this level are intended to be pertinent to all instances of nursing. Grand theories consist of conceptual frameworks defining broad perspectives for practice and ways of looking at nursing phenomena based on the perspectives.
Mid-range nursing theories
Middle-range nursing theories are narrower in scope than grand nursing theories and offer an effective bridge between grand nursing theories and nursing practice. They present concepts and a lower level of abstraction and guide theory-based research and nursing practice strategies. One of the hallmarks of mid-range theory compared to grand theories is that mid-range theories are more tangible and verifiable through testing.[10] The functions of middle-range theories includes to describe, explain, or predict phenomenon. Middle-range theories are simple, straightforward, general, and consider a limited number of variables and limited aspect of reality.[7]
Nursing practice theories
Nursing practice theories have the most limited scope and level of abstraction and are developed for use within a specific range of nursing situations. Nursing practice theories provide frameworks for nursing interventions, and predict outcomes and the impact of nursing practice. The capacity of these theories is limited, and analyzes a narrow aspect of a phenomenon. Nursing practice theories are usually defined to an exact community or discipline.[11]
Nursing models
Nursing models are usually described as a representation of reality or a more simple way of organising a complex phenomenon. The nursing model is a consolidation of both concepts and the assumption that combine them into a meaningful arrangement. A model is a way of presenting a situation in such a way that it shows the logical terms in order to showcase the structure of the original idea. The term nursing model cannot be used interchangeably with nursing theory.
Components of nursing modeling
There are three main key components to a nursing model:[4]
- Statement of goal that the nurse is trying to achieve
- Set of beliefs and values
- Awareness, skills and knowledge the nurse needs to practice.
The first important step in development of ideas about nursing is to establish the body approach essential to nursing, then to analyse the beliefs and values around those.
Common concepts of nursing modeling: a metaparadigm
A metaparadigm contains philosophical worldviews and concepts that are unique to a discipline and defines boundaries that separate it from other disciplines. A metaparadigm is intended to help guide others to conduct research and utilize the concepts for academia within that discipline. The nursing metaparadigm consist of four main concepts: person, health, environment, and nursing.[12]
- The person (Patient)
- The environment
- Health
- Nursing (Goals, Roles Functions)
Each theory is regularly defined and described by a nursing theorist. The main focal point of nursing out of the four various common concepts is the person (patient).[4]
Notable nursing theorists and theories
- Anne Casey: Casey's model of nursing
- Betty Neuman: Neuman systems model
- Callista Roy: Adaptation model of nursing
- Carl O. Helvie: Helvie energy theory of nursing and health
- Dorothea Orem: Self-care deficit nursing theory
- Faye Abdellah: Patient-centered approach to Nursing
- Helen Erickson
- Hildegard Peplau: Theory of interpersonal relations
- Imogene King
- Isabel Hampton Robb
- Kari Martinsen Adequate care must involve both objective observation and perceptive response.[13]
- Katharine Kolcaba: Theory of Comfort
- Madeleine Leininger
- Katie Love: Empowered Holistic Nursing Education
- Marie Manthey: Primary Nursing
- Martha E. Rogers: Science of unitary human beings
- Ramona T Mercer: Maternal role attainment theory
- Virginia Henderson: Henderson's need theory
- Jean Watson
- Nancy Roper, Winifred W. Logan, and Alison J. Tierney: Roper-Logan-Tierney model of nursing
- Phil Barker: Tidal Model
Purposely omitted from this list is Florence Nightingale. Nightingale never actually formulated a theory of nursing science but was posthumously accredited with formulating some by others who categorized her personal journaling and communications into a theoretical framework.
Also not included are the many nurses who improved on these theorists' ideas without developing their own theoretical vision.
See also
References
- ^ Chinn, Peggy; Kramer, Maeona (November 30, 2010). Integrated Theory & Knowledge Development in Nursing (8 ed.). St. Louis: Mosby. ISBN 978-0-323-07718-7.
- ^ "explanation".http://intranet.tdmu.edu.te.ua/data/kafedra/internal/magistr/lectures_stud/English/First%20year/Nursing%20diagnosis/2.%20Nursing%20theory%20-%20history%20and%20modernity.htm
- ^ Alligood, Martha Raile, ed. (2014-01-01). Nursing theory: utilization & application (5 ed.). St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier Mosby. ISBN 9780323091893.
- ^ a b c "Nursing Theories: An Overview". currentnursing.com. Retrieved 2016-05-17.
- ^ Graneheim, U.H; Lundman, B (2004-02-01). "Qualitative content analysis in nursing research: concepts, procedures and measures to achieve trustworthiness". Nurse Education Today. 24 (2): 105–112. doi:10.1016/j.nedt.2003.10.001. ISSN 0260-6917. PMID 14769454.
- ^ Fawcett, Jacqueline; DeSanto-Madeya, Susan (2013). Contemporary Nursing Knowledge. Analysis and evaluation of nursing models and theories. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Company. p. 17. ISBN 978-0-8036-2765-9.
- ^ a b McEwen, Melanie; Wills, Evelyn (2014). Theoretical basis for nursing. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Williams. ISBN 978-1-4511-9031-1. OCLC 857664345.
- ^ Barnum, Barbara (1998). Nursing Theory: Analysis, Application, Evaluation. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 978-0-7817-1104-3.
- ^ McEwen, M., & Wills, E. M. (2014). Theoretical basis for nursing. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
- ^ Kolcaba, Katherine (March–April 2001). "Evolution of the mid range theory of comfort for outcomes research". Nursing Outlook. 49 (2): 86–92. doi:10.1067/mno.2001.110268. PMID 11309563.
- ^ McEwen, Melanie (2014). Theoretical Basis for Nursing. Wolters Kluwer. ISBN 978-1-4511-9031-1.
- ^ McEwen, Melanie; Wills, Evelyn (2014). Theoretical basis for nursing. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Williams. p. 41. ISBN 978-1-4511-9031-1. OCLC 857664345.
- ^ Martinsen, Elin Håkonsen (March 2011). "Care for Nurses Only? Medicine and the Perceiving Eye". Health Care Analysis. 19 (1). Berlin, Germany: Springer Science+Business Media: 15–27. doi:10.1007/s10728-010-0161-9. ISSN 1065-3058. PMC 3037482. PMID 21136173.
- Nursing theory - history and modernity. Prominent theories of nursing.
- Nursing Theories - a companion to nursing theories and models
- Nursing Theory and Theorists
External links
- Nursing Theory Page
- Nursing Theories and Sub-Theories
- Nurses.info
- Nightingale's Notes on Nursing at project Gutenberg
This page was last edited on 13 February 2024, at 09:42