Nursing Theories

NURSING THEORIES: AN
OVERVIEW
PREPARED BY: VESA LARA MALAINE P. RAGA, RN
INTRODUCTION
ERLINGER views theories as a set of interrelated concepts
that give a systematic view of a phenomenon (an observable
fact or event) that is explanatory and predictive in nature.
Theories are composed of CONCEPTS, DEFINITIONS,

MODELS , PROPOSITIONS and are based on
ASSUMPTIONS.
They are derived through TWO PRINCIPAL METHODS:
1) DEDUCTIVE REASONING - is reasoning which constructs or evaluates deductive arguments.

Deductive arguments are attempts to show that a conclusion necessarily follows from a set of premises. A
deductive argument is valid if the conclusion does follow necessarily from the premises, i.e., if the
conclusion must be true provided that the premises are true. A deductive argument is sound if its
premises are true. Deductive arguments are valid or invalid, sound or unsound, but are never true or
false.
2) INDUCTIVE REASONING - is a kind of reasoning that allows for the possibility that the
conclusion is false even where all of the premises are true. The premises of an inductive logical argument
indicate some degree of support (inductive probability) for the conclusion but do not entail it; i.e. they
do not ensure its truth.
Nursing theorists use both of these methods.

ursing Theory: Barnum(1998) - "attempts to describe or explain the
phenomenon (process, occurrence and event) called NURSING"
heories are for professional nursing.
HEORY is "a creative and rigorous structuring of ideas that projects

a tentative, purposeful, and systematic view of phenomena" .
theory makes it possible to "organize the relationship among the

concepts to describe, explain, predict, and control practice"
DEFINITIONS
ONCEPTS - are basically vehicles of thought that involve
images.
- building blocks of theories.
ONCEPTS are words that describe objects , properties, or events

and are basic components of theory.
ONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK – is a group of related
ideas, statements or concepts.
he term CONCEPTUAL MODEL is often used

interchangeably with CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK,
and sometimes with GRAND THEORIES, those that
articulate a broad range of the significant relationships
among the concepts of a discipline.
ODELS - are representations of the interaction among
and between the concepts showing patterns.
ROPOSITIONS - are statements that explain the

relationship between the concepts.
ROCESS - it is a series of actions , changes or

functions intended to bring about a desired result.
uring a process one takes systemic and continuous steps to meet a goal and uses
both assessments and feedback to direct actions to the goal.
particular theory or conceptual frame work directs how these actions are
carried out . The delivery of nursing care within the nursing process is directed
by the way specific conceptual frameworks and theories define the person
(patient), the environment, health and nursing.
he terms ‘model’ and ‘theory’ are often wrongly used interchangeably, which
further confounds matters.
n Nursing, models are often designed by theory authors to depict the beliefs in
their theory (Lancaster and Lancaster, 1981).
hey provide an overview of the thinking behind the theory and may
demonstrate how theory can be introduced into practice, for
example, through specific methods of assessment.
odels are useful as they allow the concepts in nursing theory to be

successfully applied to nursing practice (Lancaster and Lancaster,
1981).
heir main limitation is that they are only as accurate or useful as the
underlying theory.
IMPORTANCE OF NURSING
THEORIES
ursing theory aims to describe, predict and explain the phenomenon of nursing (Chinn and
Jacobs, 1978).
t should provide the foundations of nursing practice, help to generate further knowledge
and indicate in which direction nursing should develop in the future (Brown , 1964).
heory is important because it helps us to decide what we know and what we need to know
(Parsons, 1949).
t helps to distinguish what should form the basis of practice by explicitly describing nursing.
he benefits of having a defined body of theory in nursing include better patient
care, enhanced professional status for nurses, improved communication between
nurses, and guidance for research and education (Nolan, 1996). In addition,
because the main exponent of nursing – caring – cannot be measured, it is vital to
have the theory to analyze and explain what nurses do.
s medicine tries to make a move towards adopting a more multidisciplinary

approach to health care, nursing continues to strive to establish a unique body of
knowledge.
his can be seen as an attempt by the nursing profession to maintain its

professional boundaries.
CHARACTERISTICS OF
THEORIES
Theories
•Interrelate concepts in such a way as to create a different way of looking at a particular
phenomenon.
•Are logical in nature.
•Are generalizable.
•Are the bases for hypotheses that can be tested.
•Increase the general body of knowledge within the discipline through the research
implemented to validate them.
•Are used by the practitioners to guide and improve their practice.
•Are consistent with other validated theories, laws, and principles but will leave open
unanswered questions that need to be investigated
BASIC PROCESSES IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF NURSING THEORIES
ursing theories are often based on and influenced by broadly applicable processes and
theories. Following theories are basic to many nursing concepts.
A
. GENERAL SYSTEM THEORY:
•It describes how to break whole things into parts and then to learn how the parts work
together in " systems".
•These concepts may be applied to different kinds of systems, e.g.. Molecules in

chemistry , cultures in sociology, organs in Anatomy and health in Nursing.
B. ADAPTATION THEORY
•It defines adaptation as the adjustment of living matter to

other living things and to environmental conditions.
•Adaptation is a continuously occurring process that effects

change and involves interaction and response.
•Human adaptation occurs on THREE LEVELS:
--- THE INTERNAL ( self )
--- THE SOCIAL (others)
--- and THE PHYSICAL ( biochemical reactions )

C. DEVELOPMENTAL THEORY
•It outlines the process of growth and development of humans

as orderly and predictable, beginning with conception and
ending with death.
•The progress and behaviors of an individual within each stage

are unique.
•The growth and development of an individual are influenced

by heredity , temperament, emotional, and physical
environment, life experiences and health status.
THE METAPARADIGM IN
NURSING
our major concepts (collectively known as METAPARADIGM) common in nursing theory that influence and
determine nursing practice are:
ERSON
ERSON
*
Recipient of nursing care, including physical, spiritual, psychological, and sociocultural components.
*
Individuals, families, groups or communities.
NVIRONMENT
* All
internal and external conditions, circumstances, and influences affecting the person.
EALTH
* Degree of wellness or well-being experienced by the client.
URSING
* Actions, characteristics and attributes of the nurse providing care on behalf of, or in conjunction
with, the client.
ach of these concepts is usually defined and described by a nursing theorist , Often uniquely;
although these concepts are common to all nursing theories.
f the four concepts , the most important is that of the person. The focus of nursing , regardless
of definition or theory , is the person.
CLASSIFICATION OF
NURSING THEORIES
DEPENDING ON THE GENERALISABILITY OF THEIR PRINCIPLES
METATHEORY: the theory of theory. Identifies specific phenomena
through abstract concepts.
GRAND THEORY: provides a conceptual framework under which the key
concepts and principles of the discipline can be identified.
MIDDLE RANGE THEORY: is more precise and only analyses a
particular situation with a limited number of variables.
PRACTICE THEORY: explores one particular situation found in nursing.
It identifies explicit goals and details how these goals will be achieved.
THEORIES CAN ALSO BE CATEGORISED AS:
"NEEDS" theories.
"INTERACTION" theories.
"OUTCOME" theories.
"HUMANISTIC" theories
These categories indicate the basic philosophical

underpinnings of the theories.
"NEEDS" THEORIES
These theories are based around helping individuals to fulfill
their physical and mental needs. The basis of these theories is
well-illustrated in Roper, Logan and Tierney’s Model of
Nursing (1980).
Needs theories have been criticized for relying too much on
the medical model of health and placing the patient in an
overtly dependent position.
"INTERACTION" THEORIES
As described by Peplau (1988), these theories
revolve around the relationships nurses form with
patients.
Such theories have been criticized for largely
ignoring the medical model of health and not
attending to basic physical needs.
"OUTCOME" THEORIES
These portray the nurse as the changing force,
who enables individuals to adapt to or cope with ill
health (Roy 1980).
Outcome theories have been criticized as too
abstract and difficult to implement in practice
(Aggleton and Chalmers 1988).
"HUMANISTIC" THEORIES
Humanistic theories developed in response to the psychoanalytic thought
that a person’s destiny was determined early in life.
Humanistic theories emphasize a person’s capacity for self
actualization .
Humanists believes that the person contains within himself the potential
for healthy and creative growth.
Carl Rogers developed a person –centered model of psychotherapy that
emphasizes the uniqueness of the individual.
The major contribution that Rogers added to nursing practice is the
understanding that each client is a unique individual, so person-centered
approach now practice in Nursing.
THE END
THANK YOU
VERY MUCH!!!
vlmpr2010

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NURSING THEORIES: AN

Theories are composed of CONCEPTS, DEFINITIONS,

1) DEDUCTIVE REASONING - is reasoning which constructs or evaluates deductive arguments.

Nursing theorists use both of these methods.

heories are for professional nursing.

HEORY is "a creative and rigorous structuring of ideas that projects

theory makes it possible to "organize the relationship among the

- building blocks of theories.

ONCEPTS are words that describe objects , properties, or events

he term CONCEPTUAL MODEL is often used

ROPOSITIONS - are statements that explain the

ROCESS - it is a series of actions , changes or

odels are useful as they allow the concepts in nursing theory to be

s medicine tries to make a move towards adopting a more multidisciplinary

his can be seen as an attempt by the nursing profession to maintain its

•These concepts may be applied to different kinds of systems, e.g.. Molecules in

•It defines adaptation as the adjustment of living matter to

•Adaptation is a continuously occurring process that effects

•Human adaptation occurs on THREE LEVELS:

--- THE INTERNAL ( self )

--- THE SOCIAL (others)

--- and THE PHYSICAL ( biochemical reactions )

•It outlines the process of growth and development of humans

•The progress and behaviors of an individual within each stage

•The growth and development of an individual are influenced

* Degree of wellness or well-being experienced by the client.

These categories indicate the basic philosophical

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