NR 501 Nursing Theory

NR 501 Nursing Theory Assumptions - ANS beliefs about phenomena one must accept as true to accept a theory about the phenomena as true. Borrowed or shared theory - ANS a theory developed in another discipline that is not adapted to the worldview and practice of nursing. Concept - ANS the elements or components of a phenomenon necessary to understand the phenomenon. They are abstract and derived from impressions the human mind recieves about phenomena through sensing the environment. Conceptual model/conceptual framework - ANS a set of interrelated concepts that symbolically represents and conveys a mental image of a phenomenon. Conceptual models of nursing identify concepts and describe their relationships to the phenomena of central concern to the discipline. Construct - ANS the most complex type of concept. They comporise more than one concept and are typically built or constructed by the theorist or philosopher to fit a purpose. "Concept" and "Construct" are often used interchangeably, but all constructs are concepts, but not all concepts are constructs. Empirical indicator - ANS Very specific and concrete identifiers of concepts. They are actual instructions, experimental conditions, and procedures used to observe or measure the concept(s) of a theory. Epistemology - ANS theories of knowledge or how people come to have knowledge; in nursing, it is the study of the origins of nursing knowledge. Hypotheses - ANS tentative suggestions that a specific relationship exists between two concepts or propositions. As the hypothesis is repeatedly confirmed, it progresses to an empirical generalization and ultimately to a law. Knowledge - ANS an awareness or perception of reality acquired through insight, learning, or investigation. Laws - ANS proposition about the relationship between concepts in a theory that has been repeatedly validated. They are highly generalizable. Metaparadigm - ANS the global perspective that subsumes more specific views and approaches to the central concepts with which the discipline is concerned. It is an ideology within which the theories, knowledge, and processes for knowing find meaning and coherence. Middle range theory - ANS a part of a disciplines's concerns related to particular topics which is narrower than that of broad-range or grand theories. Model - ANS graphic or symbolic representations of phenomena that objectify and present certain perspectives or points of view about nature or function or both. May be theoretical or empirical. Ontology - ANS the studey of existence and the nature of reality. Paradigm - ANS An organizing framework that contains concepts, theories, assumptions, beliefs, values, and principles that form the way a discipline interprets the subject matter with which it is concerned. Phenomena - ANS the designation of an aspect of reality; the phenomena of interest become the subject matter particular to the primary concerns of a discipline. Philosophy - ANS a statement of bliefs and values about human beings and their world. Practice or situation-specific theory - ANS a limited range of discrete phenomena that are specificially defined and are not expanded to include their link with the broad concerns of a discipline. Praxis - ANS the application of a theory to cases encountered in experience. Relationship statements - ANS indicate specific reliationships between two or more concepts. They may be classified as propositions, hypotheses, laws, azioms, or theorems. Taxonomy - ANS classification scheme for defining or gathering together various phenomena. It ranges in complexity from simple dichotomies to complicated hierarchical structures. Theory - ANS a set of logically interrelated concepts, statements, propositions, and definitions, which have been derived from philosophical beliefs of scientific data and from which questions or hypotheses can be deduced, tested, and verified. Worldview - ANS the philosophical frame of reference used by a social or cultural group to describe that group's outlook on and beliefs about reality.