THEORY:

• A set of statements that tentatively

describe, explain or predict
relationships among concepts that
have been systematically selected
and organized as an abstract
representation of some
phenomenon.
THEORY:
• An explanation for some phenomena
that is based on observation,
experimentation and reasoning.
 Nursing Theory
Nursing theory is a group of interrelated
concepts that are developed from various
studies of disciplines and related experiences.
This aims to view the essence of nursing care.

-DESCRIBES
-EXPLAINS
THEORY NURSING CARE
-PREDICTS
-PRESCRIBES
 COMPONENTS OF A THEORY
• CONCEPTS
• DEFINITIONS
• ASSUMPTIONS
• PHENOMENON
 COMPONENTS OF A THEORY
CONCEPTS
• Often called the building blocks of theories
• Maybe abstract or concrete

• Example: noise, cleanliness, ventilation, bed

and beddings
 COMPONENTS OF A THEORY
DEFINITIONS

• Conveys the general meaning of the concepts in a

manner that fits the theory.
• 2 types:
1. Theoretical definition- defined in the dictionary or
theorists perspective
2. Operational definition- based on how these concepts
are used or will be used within the context of a
phenomenon being observed or experienced.
 COMPONENTS OF A THEORY
ASSUMPTIONS
• These are statements that describe concepts
or connect 2 concepts that are factual.
• Taken for granted, statements that determine
the nature of the concepts, definitions,
purpose, relationship of the theory.
 COMPONENTS OF A THEORY
PHENOMENON
• A TERM, description or label given to describe
an idea or responses about an event, a
situation, a process, a group of events or
group of situations.
• Examples: self care, caring moment with the
client
 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
• A SET OF INTERRELATED concepts that
symbolically represents and conveys a mental
image of a phenomenon.
 NURSING PARADIGM
• Are patterns or models used to show a clear
relationship among the existing theoretical
works in nursing.
• Explains the linkages of science, philosophy,
and theory that is accepted and applied by
the discipline.
• META(with) PARADIGM (pattern)
“ The Metaparadigm of Nursing”
Nursing identified its domain in a paradigm that
includes four linkages: the person, health,
environment/situation and nursing.

NURSING

PERSON HEALTH ENVIRONMENT

THE METAPARADIGM OF NURSING

 FOUR MAJOR CONCEPTS OF NURSING
THEORIES

1. PERSON

• Refers to all human beings. People

are the recipients of nursing care;
they include individuals, families,
communities and groups.
Example:
Nightingale proposed that the physical,
intellectual, and spiritual being of a
person is not capable of manipulating the
environment to promote health. This
means that a person is a passive recipient
of care.
 FOUR MAJOR CONCEPTS OF NURSING
THEORIES

2. ENVIRONMENT
• Includes factors that affect
individuals internally and
externally. It means not only
everyday surroundings but also
settings where nursing care is
provided.
Example:
Physical environment is emphasized by
Nightingale in her theory. She focused on
ventilation, warmth, noise, light, and
cleanliness.
 FOUR MAJOR CONCEPTS OF NURSING
THEORIES

3. HEALTH
• Addresses the person’s state of
well-being.
• The holistic level of wellness that
the person experiences.
Example:
Nightingale defined nursing as “a
profession for women (a calling) with the
goal to discover and use the laws
governing health in the service of
humanity”. She believed that the goal of
all nursing activity should promote
client’s health.
 FOUR MAJOR CONCEPTS OF NURSING
THEORIES

4. NURSING
• Is central to all nursing theories.
Definitions of nursing describe what
nursing is, what nurses do, and how
nurses interact with clients.
Example:
Nightingale emphasized that a nurse is
responsible in promoting well being of
clients by manipulating the environment.
PURPOSES OF NURSING THEORIES
A. In Education
• Provide a general focus for curriculum
design.
• Guide curricular decision making.
• Theoretical concepts primarily prepare
students for practice as members of the
professional community.
PURPOSES OF NURSING THEORIES
B. In Research
• Offer a framework for generating
knowledge and new ideas.
• Assist in discovering knowledge gaps in
specific field of study.
• Offer a systematic approach to identify
questions for study, select variables,
interpret findings and validate nursing
interventions.
PURPOSES OF NURSING THEORIES
C. In Practice
• Assist nurses to describe , explain and
predict everyday experiences.
• Serve to guide assessment, intervention,
and evaluation of nursing care.
• Help to establish criteria to measure the
quality of nursing care.
• Theories thoroughly guide critical thinking and
decision making in clinical nursing practice.
• Nurses will have a better understanding on the
basis and nature of their work and be able to
express it clearly in collaboration with other
professionals.
• Nursing theories strengthen professional
independence by guiding the deepest and
most important part of their practice.
 Nurses Note

Studying nursing theories develop

analytical skills and critical thinking
ability for the purpose of safe and
effective nursing practice!
 Four Ways of Knowing

Empirical
Ethical
Aesthetics
Personal
 Empirical Knowing
 We gain EMPIRICAL knowledge from research and objective facts. This
knowledge is systematically organized into general laws and theories. One
of the ways we employ this knowledge is through the use of evidenced-
based practice (EBP). This way of knowing is often referred to as the
“science” of nursing.
 knowledge obtained from textbooks, lectures, journals and online
resources.
 Examples:
David, a nursing student answers a question posed by the CI based on what he
learned from the school.
Elmer, a nurse researcher, uses scientific method to produce desired study
results.
Nurse Michael practices nursing interventions based from accepted clinical
practices.
 Ethical Knowing
 ETHICAL knowing helps one develop our own moral
code; our sense of knowing what is right and wrong.
For nurses, our personal ethics is based on our
obligation to protect and respect human life.  Our
deliberate personal actions are guided by ethical
knowing .
 The code of morals or code of ethics that leads
the conduct of nurses is the main basis for ethical
knowing.
 Ethical Knowing
 Example:
 Nurse Carl presents himself as a patient advocate and
defends his client’s right to choose care.
Sir Kevin, a CI, reprimands a student who cheated on a
quiz and explains the consequences.
Nurse Ai explains the concepts behind organ donation
to a terminally –ill patient.
“ involves the judgment of right and wrong in
relation to intentions, reasons and attributes of
individuals and situations.”
 Aesthetic Knowing
 Related to understanding what is of significance
to particular patients such as feelings, attitudes,
points of view. It is also the manifestation of the
creative and expressive styles of the nurse.
 Used in the process of giving appropriate nursing
care through understanding the uniqueness of
every patient, thus emphasizing use of creative
and practical styles of care.
 Aesthetic Knowing
 Focuses on empathy- the ability for sharing or vividly
understanding another’s feeling.

 Examples:
 Nurse John places himself in the “patient’s shoes” when
communicating, giving judgment and providing care.
 Nurse Melanie shows compassion, mercy and
understanding towards patients, co-workers and
supervisors.
 Nurse Anna uses layman terms in explaining the needs of
the patient with Right sided Heart Failure.
 Personal Knowing
 Encompasses knowledge of the self in relation to
others and to self. It involves the entirety of the Nurse-
Patient Relationship.
 Focused on realizing, meeting and defining the real,
true self. One nursing term defines this as self-
awareness!
 The most difficult to master and to teach.
 It is the key to comprehending health in terms of
personal well-being.
 It involves therapeutic use of self.( safe and effective
use of self)
 Personal Knowing
 Examples:
 Eunice , a nursing student, strives to promote a meaningful
personal relationship with his elderly patient.
 Rohaima, a nursing student, undergoes Psychological
Counseling and self-awareness sessions before her
Psychiatric Nursing Rotation.
 CATEGORIES OF NURSING THEORIES

METATHEORY
MIDDLE RANGE THEORY
GRAND THEORY
 METATHEORY
It refers to “theory of theories”.
Characteristics of Metatheory:
1. Focus on generating knowledge and theory
development.
2. Focus on philosophical issues and
methodological issues of nursing theory.
3. Focus on developing criteria for analysis and
evaluating nursing theory.
 MIDDLE RANGE THEORIES
Middle –range theories target specific
phenomena or concepts, such as pain and
stress; they are limited in scope yet general
enough to encourage research. It deals with
concrete and relatively operational concepts
and amenable to empirical testing. These
theories are highly specific to nursing. These
theories are relatively simple to understand
and apply.
Characteristics of Middle Range Theories:
1. Its concepts and propositions are specific to nursing.
2. It is operationalized.
3. It can be applied to many situations.
4. Propositions can range from casual to associative,
depending on their application .
5. Assumptions fit the theory.
6. It should be relevant for potential users of the theory
(nurses)
7. It should be oriented to outcomes that are important
for patients, not merely describe what nurses do.
8. It should describe nursing-sensitive phenomena that are
readily associated with the deliberate actions of nurses.
Examples:
Hildegard Peplau- Psychodynamic Nursing
Joyce Travelbee- Human to Human
Relationship Model
Madeleine Leininger- Transcultural Theory in
Nursing
Margaret Newman- Model Health
 GRAND THEORIES
Grand theories are the most complex and broadest in
scope.
Require further specification through research before they
can be fully tested.
Characteristics of Grand Theories:
1. Focus on broad and general areas and concepts.
2. It deals with nonspecific and relatively abstract concepts.
3. Concepts mentioned in grand theories lack operational
definitions.
4. Grand theories are not directly amenable to testing.
5. These can be used in variety of setting and populations.
Example: (Orem, Roy, Rogers)