Importance of Theory in the Nursing Profession The importance of nursing theory to nursing as a profession is of immeasurable magnitude. McCurry, Revell, & Roy (2010) clearly note that the nursing profession has an obligation to contribute to the well being of society by utilizing evidence-based practice. They continue to note that nursing knowledge is built on theories that answer the problem questions of science. Once a theory is validated by research it is articulated into nursing practice. These actions; theory, research, and evidence-based care will shape nursing’s values and goals to improve the quality of care and health of individuals, families, and society.
Therefore with the knowledge nurses receive from the research will become the new recommendations and standards for nurses to practice on patients in the future. In research, nurses have different roles in providing evidence on improving the outcome of patient care in the nursing profession. For example, “Some nurses are developers of research and conduct studies to generate and refine the knowledge needed for practice” (Burns & Grove, 2011, p. 27) While other nurses use the evidence from research to improve the quality of care for the patients (Burns & Grove, 2011). Consequently all nurses from any field of the nursing profession will participate in one aspect or another regarding research since nursing is an ever continuing improvement
Because the values and responsibilities of nurses is shaped by history the report was based on this idea, and was developed as a historical evidence grounded modern data. History shows evidence of what nurses can achieve, like how nurses were the founders of community health practices. History also helps in arguing about major policy issues. For example if nurses are allowed to participate as leaders and valued clinicians only will better, quality and easy health access can be achieved. Nursing historians are important to give advice on policy matters, so that all the interested parties can achieve the same goal and better patient care.
4. Effective workforce planning and policy making require better data collection and information infrastructure. Impact of IOM Report on Nursing Education The report recommends that nurses should attain higher education levels to meet the needs of today’s changing healthcare system; therefore nurses should achieve the necessary competencies to ensure the delivery of safe patient-centered care. The nursing education must be improved to accommodate these competencies which include leadership, system improvement, collaboration, emphasis practice based on evidence, research, community and public health, geriatrics, computer skills and information management. These are essential to emulate the technological advancement in healthcare today as opposed to the current fragmented system that is both antiquated and ineffective.
It is important to educate public about nursing profession and move away from the stereotypes that nurse’s job is to follow doctor’s orders. Patients need to know that nurses are patient’s advocates, care coordinators, critical thinkers, problem solvers etc. I believe that nurses and primary care providers play enormous role in patient care. New York Presbyterian Hospital focuses on the continuous quality improvement efforts. Recently management implemented share governance and primary nursing.
I believe my calling is to the role of Advanced Nurse Practitioner. In this new role, I will be able to take on more responsibility, autonomy, and can potentially make a greater impact on patients’ lives. I believe it is our obligation as nurses to stay up to date on our ever evolving practice. As nursing leaders, we should take the initiative to be involved in councils, read nursing journals, and further our education as much as the glass ceiling will allow. A thirst for knowledge is wonderful value to have.
Nursing knowledge expands to create a meaningful, holistic approach to providing health care needs and meeting the challenges of the social aspects of patient care. A profession must have advanced knowledge and seek improvement. Nursing has been a changing force in health care. It combines research, evidence base models and is moving toward reaching the goal of a profession. It uses a code of ethics, altruistic services, registration, a governing body
Within each of the roles of scholarship are the nursing core values of caring, integrity, diversity, and excellence (NLN). The scholarship of knowing seeks to build on the current foundation of nursing knowledge through the identification and research of health issues. Empirical and historical research, theory development, and methodological studies, generate new knowledge that forms the basis for new nursing theories and evidence-based practice. The APN scholarship of teaching assimilates new and existing knowledge, and transfers this information from expert to novice, teacher to student, and healthcare provider to the patient. The APN may teach by role modeling, or mentoring of students and new nurses.
Professional short and long- term goals My professional short-term goal is to become a critical care nurse. I want to increase my critical thinking skills from a novice to an expert. A critical care nurse is a nurse who can remain calm in a complex emergency situation. A critical care nurse is an expert in using special equipment while providing effective patient care. Always at the ready to provide care in a crisis patient, provide family education and collaborate multidisciplinary teams regarding patient care are also vital for a critical care nurses (Cottrel, 2010).
Introduction Nursing concept is a board spectrum in nursing. As we explore the use core concept of theories we found it provides a perspective from which to define nursing. Nursing theory provides the direction and knowledge for nurse to use in their daily practice. If it wasn’t for theory we would not be able to provide the quality of care and safety factors associated with care for our patients. The safety of our patients is our number one priority when giving medical care.