Theoretical Foundation in Nursing

Nursing
Is Is Is Is Is a profession.. an academic discipline.. a science.. an art.. caring..

Is a helping.. Is client-centered.. Is holistic Is adaptive Is concerned with health promotion, health maintenance, and health restoration.

Definitions:
A. Theory is a set of concepts, definitions, relationships and assumptions or propositions that project a purposive, systematic view of a phenomenon by designing specific relationships among concepts for the purposes of describing, explaining, predicting, and/or prescribing.

 Composed of a group of concepts that describe a pattern of reality. A statement that explains or characterizes a process, an occurrence, or an event, and is based on observed facts. Theories can be tested, changed, or used to guide research or to provide a base for evaluation.

Characteristics
Can correlate concepts. Must be logical in nature. Should be simple but generally broad in nature. Can be a source of hypothesis. Contribute in enriching the general body of knowledge.

 Used by practitioners to direct and enhance their practice. Consistent with other validated theories, laws, and principles.

B. Nursing Theory A conceptualization of some aspect of nursing communicated for the purpose of describing, explaining, predicting, and/or prescribing nursing care. (Meleis, 1997) Nursing theories provide nurses with a perspective to view client situations, a way to organize data, and a method to analyze and interpret information.

 Attempts to describe or explain the phenomenon (process, occurrence, or event) called nursing. (Barnum, 1998) Nursing is learned profession, a science, and an art. (Rogers, 1990) Nurses need a theoretical base to exemplify the science and art of the profession when they promote health and wellness for their clients.

C. Nursing Paradigms Paradigm A pattern of shared understandings and assumptions about reality and the world. Includes our notions of reality that are largely unconscious or taken for granted. A particular viewpoint or perspective. A worldview about the phenomena of concern in a discipline (Kuhn, 1970)

Metaparadigm Greek origin: Meta meaning with, paradigm meaning pattern The unifying force in discipline that names the phenomena of concern to that discipline.

Metaparadigms for Nursing

Nursing identified its domain in a paradigm that includes four linkages: Person
The recipient of nursing care. It is important to know that a person is multidimensional, thus care provided is individualized according to the needs of the patient.

Health The goal of nursing care. The degree of wellness or well-being that the client experiences. Dynamic and continuously changing A dynamic state of being in which the developmental and behavioral potential of the individual is realized to the fullest extent possible. (ANA, 1995)

Environment (or situation) Includes all possible conditions affecting the client and the setting as to which health care needs occur. Internal and external surroundings that affect the person. There is a continuous interaction between the client and the environment. Nursing The diagnosis and treatment of human responses to actual or potential health problems (ANA, 1995) The attributes, characteristics, and actions of the nurse providing care on behalf of, or in conjunction with the client.

D. Philosophy A type of knowledge which deals with wisdom, fundamental knowledge, and the processes we use to develop and construct our perceptions of life. Provides a viewpoint and implies a system of values and beliefs. As a nurse, the philosophy that one attains as an individual (personal philosophy) and those that were acquired through the process of education and practice forms the basis for providing nursing care.

E. Conceptual Models A set of highly abstract, related constructs that broadly explains the phenomena of interest, expresses assumptions, and reflects philosophical stance. A group of concepts that follow an understandable pattern. Concepts are thought of as bricks and boards used to build a house, with the conceptual framework/model as the blueprint.

F. Science Implies a body of knowledge. It involves observing, identifying, describing, investigating, and explaining events and occurrences that are perceived in this world. G. Knowledge Is an awareness of the reality one acquires through learning or investigation. Each individual builds up his/her own knowledge base in relation to his/her own personality.

H. Phenomenon An aspect of reality that can be consciously sensed or experienced. Within a specific discipline, phenomena are part of the domain of the discipline. In nursing, phenomena reflect the domain of nursing practice. Domain: the view or perspective of a discipline I. Concepts Mental formulations of an object or event that comes from an individual perceptual experience An idea or complex mental image of a phenomenon (could either be abstract or concrete) Building blocks of theories Like ideas, are abstract impressions organized into symbols of realities.

J. Definition

The general meaning of the concepts in the manner that fits the theory Describes the activity necessary to measure the constructs, relationships, or variables within a theory

K. ASSUMPTIONS

Statements that describe concepts or connect two concepts that are factual and accepted truths.

Theory

Thank you for listening!!!