Importance of Theory

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Importance of Theory
Laura Maupin
Chamberlain College of Nursing
NR 501: Theoretical Basis of Advance Nursing
Dr. Raithel

Introduction The nursing practice was built on nursing theories. “Theory is defined as a system of ideas proposed to explain something. Theory helps provide knowledge to improve practice by describing, explaining, predicting, and controlling phenomena (Blais, Hayes, Kozier, and Erb, 2006, 94).” The terms nursing model and nursing theory is interchangeable. The study of nursing theory allows nurses to develop insight, skills, and increase their knowledge of practice which is theory based. The first founder of nursing theory is Florence Nightingale. She is referred to as the first nurse theorist. The purpose of this paper is to explore Nightingales’ theory which is based on interaction, systems, and development and to relate it to today’s nursing practice.
Concepts of Theory Theory is based on concepts. Concepts are the building blocks of theory and are the abstract ideas of phenomena. “Concepts may be readily observable, or indirectly observable, or inferential, ideas such as pain and temperature; or nonobservable, or abstract, ideas such as equilibrium, adaptation, stress, and powerlessness (Blais, Hayes, Kozier, and Erb, 2006, 96).” The most global conceptual framework of a profession is known as a metaparadigm. This metaparadigm means simply establishing a relation or pattern. “The functions of a metaparadigm are to summarize the intellectual and social missions of a discipline and place a boundary on the subject matter of that discipline (Tourville and Ingalls, 2003, 22).” The four concepts of the nursing theory metaparadigm are person or client, environment, health, and nursing. The person or client concept references the individual with whom the nurse is interacting in a therapeutic manner. Environment refers to any place

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