Theoretical Foundations of
Nursing Practice
Nursing Theories - answers-Theory-based nursing practice helps to design and implement nursing
interventions that address patient responses to health problems.
Theory is the foundation of the art and science of nursing
Theory is a standard part of nursing practice (whether you are aware of it or not!)
Theories offer well-grounded rationales for specific interventions and predicting patient behaviors and
outcomes.
Expertise in nursing is a result of knowledge and clinical experience.
The expertise to interpret clinical situations and make clinical judgements is the essence of nursing care.
(Benner, 2010).
Theory - answers-Theory: Helps explain an event by defining ideas or concepts, explaining relationships
among the concepts, and predicting outcomes.
Nursing Theory: Conceptualizes an aspect of nursing to describe, explain, predict, or prescribe nursing
care.
Components of a Theory - answers-Phenomenon
Concepts
Definitions
Assumptions
,Phenomenon: - answers-A fact or situation that is observed to exist or happen, especially one whose
cause or explanation is in question. Ex. Caring (Watson), self-care (Orem), patient responses to stress
(Newman).
Concepts - answers-Ideas or mental images that help to describe or label phenomenon.
Definitions - answers-The definitions within a theory communicate the general meaning of the concepts.
Assumptions - answers-Are "taken-for-granted" statements that are accepted as true or as certain to
happen without proof. Ex. Patients are dynamic.
The Domain of Nursing - answers-Domain: perspective or territory of a profession or discipline
-Central concepts
-Values and beliefs
-Phenomena of interest
-Central problems of the discipline
The domain of nursing includes:
-The practical and theoretical aspect of nursing
-Knowledge of nursing practice
-Nursing hex
-Nursing theory
-Education
-Research
Nursing Paradigm - answers-A theory or a group of ideas about how something should be done, made,
or thought about.
A paradigm is a particular way of viewing the phenomenon of a concern
-It is in the eyes of the beholder: Two nurses may view "a patient".
Nursing Paradigm links the knowledge of science, philosophy, and theories accepted and applied by the
discipline. It links:
-What nursing is
-What nursing does
, -Why nurses do what they do
Nursing Metaparadigm - answers-A metaparadigm identifies common areas of concern
The paradigm of nursing includes the four links. Everything we do as nurses involves these elements:
1. Person
2. Health
3. Environment
4. Nursing
Person - answers-The recipient of care
Refers to the individual patient, families, and the community
Nursing views the person holistically-comprised of physical, developmental, psycho-social, cultural, and
spiritual components--our "whole is greater than the sum of our parts"
Health - answers-The goal of nursing care
A dynamic state of being, in which the developmental and behavioral potential of the individual is
realized to the fullest extent possible.
A continuum--wellness to illness, health to death
Environment/Situation - answers-Includes all possible conditions affecting patients and the settings in
which their health care needs occur.
Factors in the home, school, workplace, or community influence a patient's level of health and health
care needs.
As humans, we are surrounded by our environment:
-Internal
-External
-Interpersonal
Nursing Practice
Nursing Theories - answers-Theory-based nursing practice helps to design and implement nursing
interventions that address patient responses to health problems.
Theory is the foundation of the art and science of nursing
Theory is a standard part of nursing practice (whether you are aware of it or not!)
Theories offer well-grounded rationales for specific interventions and predicting patient behaviors and
outcomes.
Expertise in nursing is a result of knowledge and clinical experience.
The expertise to interpret clinical situations and make clinical judgements is the essence of nursing care.
(Benner, 2010).
Theory - answers-Theory: Helps explain an event by defining ideas or concepts, explaining relationships
among the concepts, and predicting outcomes.
Nursing Theory: Conceptualizes an aspect of nursing to describe, explain, predict, or prescribe nursing
care.
Components of a Theory - answers-Phenomenon
Concepts
Definitions
Assumptions
,Phenomenon: - answers-A fact or situation that is observed to exist or happen, especially one whose
cause or explanation is in question. Ex. Caring (Watson), self-care (Orem), patient responses to stress
(Newman).
Concepts - answers-Ideas or mental images that help to describe or label phenomenon.
Definitions - answers-The definitions within a theory communicate the general meaning of the concepts.
Assumptions - answers-Are "taken-for-granted" statements that are accepted as true or as certain to
happen without proof. Ex. Patients are dynamic.
The Domain of Nursing - answers-Domain: perspective or territory of a profession or discipline
-Central concepts
-Values and beliefs
-Phenomena of interest
-Central problems of the discipline
The domain of nursing includes:
-The practical and theoretical aspect of nursing
-Knowledge of nursing practice
-Nursing hex
-Nursing theory
-Education
-Research
Nursing Paradigm - answers-A theory or a group of ideas about how something should be done, made,
or thought about.
A paradigm is a particular way of viewing the phenomenon of a concern
-It is in the eyes of the beholder: Two nurses may view "a patient".
Nursing Paradigm links the knowledge of science, philosophy, and theories accepted and applied by the
discipline. It links:
-What nursing is
-What nursing does
, -Why nurses do what they do
Nursing Metaparadigm - answers-A metaparadigm identifies common areas of concern
The paradigm of nursing includes the four links. Everything we do as nurses involves these elements:
1. Person
2. Health
3. Environment
4. Nursing
Person - answers-The recipient of care
Refers to the individual patient, families, and the community
Nursing views the person holistically-comprised of physical, developmental, psycho-social, cultural, and
spiritual components--our "whole is greater than the sum of our parts"
Health - answers-The goal of nursing care
A dynamic state of being, in which the developmental and behavioral potential of the individual is
realized to the fullest extent possible.
A continuum--wellness to illness, health to death
Environment/Situation - answers-Includes all possible conditions affecting patients and the settings in
which their health care needs occur.
Factors in the home, school, workplace, or community influence a patient's level of health and health
care needs.
As humans, we are surrounded by our environment:
-Internal
-External
-Interpersonal
