Philosophies general info

What are the three loose categories nursing theories can be placed under?

1. Philosophies: Definitions of nursing in general

2. Grand theories: Discussions of broad nursing practice areas

3. Middle range theories: Assertions about specific nursing actions, processes, or concepts

What is the focus of philosophies in nursing theories?

They provide definitions of nursing in general.

What do grand theories in nursing encompass?

They include discussions of broad nursing practice areas.

What do middle range theories in nursing address?

They assert specific nursing actions, processes, or concepts.

Which universities played a key role in the education of early nurse theorists?

Columbia University Teachers College in NY and Yale University in New Haven, CT.

Name some early theorists that graduated from either Columbia University or

Peplau, Henderson, Hall, Abdellah, Orlando, Wiedenbach, King, Rodgers.

What was significant about Florence Nightingale's "Notes on Nursing" published in 1859?

It was the first of its kind to theoretically describe nursing.

When did nursing theories begin to develop, and why?

The 1950s, when nursing started being viewed as a science rather than just an apprenticeship.

When were the first doctoral programs for nursing established?

1960s.

What were the two primary reasons for developing nursing theory?

• To further nursing as a scholarly profession

• To organize/improve the delivery of nursing care.

Who published after Nightingale?

Pepula's work was the next earliest published (practice based theory).

How are theory, practice, and research related?

Theory, practice, and research are interrelated and interdependent.

Why are theories important

Provide structure and order for guiding and improving professional practice, teaching, learning and research.

What is the scientific method (logical positivism)?

Developed in the 1920s, this method emphasizes that knowledge must be proven through rigorous observation and experimentation. It relies on objective measurements and empirical evidence to establish facts.

What were the focuses of Columbia and Yale in nursing?

Columbia University adopted a biomedical model, concentrating on the role of nurses in relation to medical treatments and physical health. Yale University, on the other hand, focused on nursing as a process, emphasizing the interpersonal and dynamic aspects of patient care.

What is Qualitative Research?

Qualitative research explores the 'lived experience' of individuals, focusing on non-numerical data such as interviews, observations, and narratives to understand meanings and patterns within social phenomena.

What is Quantitative Research?

Quantitative research uses measurable, numerical data to answer specific questions. For example: 'Do axillary temperature measures accurately reflect core body temperature?' This approach relies on statistical analysis to establish relationships between variables.

What are the two types of definitions in nursing theory?

Theoretical: Explains the nature of something in a broad sense.
Operational: Explains exactly how something works/functions.

4 Nursing philosophers

Nightingale, Henderson, Wiedenbach, Watson

In what 2 ways should theories be though about

• Close up: What ideas are contained 

• From a distance: What is the overall composition of this work

What is philosophy?

A system of beliefs regarding morality, ethics, and how the world should be viewed.

What are nursing philosophies?

Explorations of how nursing fits into the universe, providing a broad perspective on the profession's role.