Chapter 1
Statement of Intent
The intent of this chapter is to offer an approach to understanding nursing theory within the
context of the discipline of nursing, define the discipline of nursing and theory, describe the
purpose of theory for the discipline of nursing, identify the structure of the discipline of nursing,
and speculate on the future of nursing theory.
,Chapter 1
Key Terms
Nursing Community of scholars
Nursing knowledge Discipline
Professional practice Theory
Paradigm Worldviews
Framework Metaparadigm
Philosophy Conceptual model
Grand theory Middle-range theory
Nursing practice theory Clinical scholarship
Empirical indicators Domain
Caring Environment
Persons Health
Syntactical structure Conceptual structure
Specialized language Tradition
Values and beliefs Practice-level theory
Nursing process
,Chapter B1
Objectives
On completion of this chapter, students will be able to:
1. Compare and contrast definitions of nursing.
2. Describe the usefulness of theory to everyday practice.
3. Identify four phenomena of interest to nursing.
4. Name the primary purpose of nursing theory.
5. Describe characteristics of nursing as a discipline.
6. Discuss the importance of conceptualizing nursing as a discipline of knowledge.
7. Compare and contrast definitions of nursing theory.
, Chapter B1
Outline
What BIs BNursing?
Problems Bwith BDefining BNursing Bby BProcess, BFunctions, Bor BActivities
The BDiscipline Bof BNursing
Expression Bof BHuman BImagination
Domain
B
Syntactical Band BConceptual BStructures
Specialized BLanguage Band BSymbols
B
Heritage Bof BLiterature Band BNetworks Bof
Communication BTradition
B
Values Band BBeliefs
Systems Bof BEducation
B
Definitions Bof BNursing BTheory
As Ba BGeneral BTerm
As Ban BOrganizing BStructure
B Definitions Bfrom BOther BDisciplines
Definitions BUsed Bin BNursing BPractice, BEducation, BAdministration, Bor BResearch
The BPurpose Bof BTheory Bin Ba BProfessional BDiscipline
Structure
Further BDevelopment Band BUnderstanding Bof BNursing BPractice
B Multidisciplinary BCollaboration
The BStructure Bof BKnowledge Bin Bthe BDiscipline Bof BNursing
Statement of Intent
The intent of this chapter is to offer an approach to understanding nursing theory within the
context of the discipline of nursing, define the discipline of nursing and theory, describe the
purpose of theory for the discipline of nursing, identify the structure of the discipline of nursing,
and speculate on the future of nursing theory.
,Chapter 1
Key Terms
Nursing Community of scholars
Nursing knowledge Discipline
Professional practice Theory
Paradigm Worldviews
Framework Metaparadigm
Philosophy Conceptual model
Grand theory Middle-range theory
Nursing practice theory Clinical scholarship
Empirical indicators Domain
Caring Environment
Persons Health
Syntactical structure Conceptual structure
Specialized language Tradition
Values and beliefs Practice-level theory
Nursing process
,Chapter B1
Objectives
On completion of this chapter, students will be able to:
1. Compare and contrast definitions of nursing.
2. Describe the usefulness of theory to everyday practice.
3. Identify four phenomena of interest to nursing.
4. Name the primary purpose of nursing theory.
5. Describe characteristics of nursing as a discipline.
6. Discuss the importance of conceptualizing nursing as a discipline of knowledge.
7. Compare and contrast definitions of nursing theory.
, Chapter B1
Outline
What BIs BNursing?
Problems Bwith BDefining BNursing Bby BProcess, BFunctions, Bor BActivities
The BDiscipline Bof BNursing
Expression Bof BHuman BImagination
Domain
B
Syntactical Band BConceptual BStructures
Specialized BLanguage Band BSymbols
B
Heritage Bof BLiterature Band BNetworks Bof
Communication BTradition
B
Values Band BBeliefs
Systems Bof BEducation
B
Definitions Bof BNursing BTheory
As Ba BGeneral BTerm
As Ban BOrganizing BStructure
B Definitions Bfrom BOther BDisciplines
Definitions BUsed Bin BNursing BPractice, BEducation, BAdministration, Bor BResearch
The BPurpose Bof BTheory Bin Ba BProfessional BDiscipline
Structure
Further BDevelopment Band BUnderstanding Bof BNursing BPractice
B Multidisciplinary BCollaboration
The BStructure Bof BKnowledge Bin Bthe BDiscipline Bof BNursing
