Nursing Theory - Week1

What is Nursology? What knowledge is it developed through?

• Nursology = the distinct knowledge base of nursing.

• “-ology” = branch of knowledge.

• It includes knowledge developed through:

  • Systematic inquiry

  • Theories

  • Research

• This knowledge is used to generate and test nursing knowledge.

• Nurses are not just users of knowledge from medicine, psychology, or other fields.

• Nursing has its own discipline-specific knowledge that guides nursing practice.

Why is Nursology important? how does it benefit? what does a advance?

• A distinct discipline important to health and well-being worldwide.

• A nurse-led and nurse-developed source of nursing knowledge.

• Provides authentic, comprehensive, and current nursing knowledge.

• Promotes nursing knowledge that improves human well-being globally.

• Helps advance:

  • Nursing science

  • Humanistic initiatives

Characteristics of Nursology (2)

Multidimensional

• Uses multiple theoretical and philosophical perspectives.

Example:
A nurse could look at a patient’s situation from physical, psychological, social, and philosophical perspectives rather than only looking at the disease.

Autonomous

• Based on nursing’s own values and ideals.

• Makes a unique contribution to healthcare.

Example:
A nurse does more than give medication. The nurse may also focus on the patient’s comfort, ability to cope, understanding of their illness, and ability to care for themselves.

What does the Nursology knowledge base include?

• Conceptual models

• Grand theories

• Middle-range theories

• Situation-specific theories

• Philosophies

• Methodologies

What does NOT define nursing? Why? Does nursing process define nursing?

Nursing tasks

Nursing cannot be defined only by tasks such as:

• Starting IVs

• Assessing

• Teaching

Why?

• Tasks can change depending on the setting.

• Some nursing tasks can also be done by other professionals or nonprofessionals..

Nursing Process

The Nursing Process:

1. Assess

2. Plan

3. Implement

4. Evaluate

is not enough to define nursing.

Because:

• It is a general problem-solving framework.

• It is not unique to nursing.

What defines a discipline? what does a domain of inquiry determine?

A discipline is defined by:

• A domain of inquiry

• Shared beliefs about the discipline’s reason for being

A domain of inquiry determines:

• What the field studies

• What questions it asks

• What perspectives it uses

• The boundaries of inquiry

Example:
Instead of only asking, “What disease does this patient have?” nursing may also ask, “How is this person’s health affecting their life, relationships, environment, independence, and well-being?”

Nursing’s Unique Focus (Donaldson and Crowley 1978) + Nursing Boundaries

Donaldson & Crowley (1978)

They described nursing as having a unique perspective on phenomena.

Nursing’s boundaries of inquiry include:

1. Life processes, well-being & functioning

Focuses on:

• How people live

• How people adapt

• How people maintain health; whether a person is sick or well

2. Human–environment interactions

Looks at:

• How the environment affects health

• Especially during critical life situations

3. Positive health change

Looks at how:

• Nursing interventions

• Caring

• Relationships

can help people improve their health status.

Concepts vs. Tasks — Nursing Identity

problem with defining nursing by tasks

Concept builds a foundation for?

Important Idea

Nursing should be defined by

concepts, not just tasks.

Tasks = things nurses do
Examples:

• Catheter insertion

• Medication administration

Problems with defining nursing by tasks:

• Tasks are finite.

• Once mastered, they provide less opportunity for continued growth.

Concepts

Examples:

• Context

• Holism

• Health

• Caring

Concepts provide a foundation for:

• Expanding knowledge

• Inquiry

• Advocacy

• Professional development

  
  

Important idea

When students understand that nursing has its own knowledge base, they begin to see that nurses:

• Are guided by nursing knowledge

• Are not simply consumers of knowledge from other disciplines.

The Metaparadigm

The metaparadigm is the broadest framework in nursing.

It identifies 4 core concepts shared by nursing theories:

Person

The recipient of care:

• Individual

• Family

• Group

• Community

Viewed as a holistic being:

• Physical

• Psychological

• Social

• Spiritual

2. Environment

All internal and external factors affecting health.

Includes:

• Physical

• Social

• Cultural

• Political

• Economic factors

3. Health

• A dynamic state of well-being

• Not simply the absence of illness

• Shaped by the interaction between person and environment

4. Nursing

Includes the nurse’s:

• Actions

• Roles

• Goals

• Caring

• Advocacy

• Support

• Interventions

General definition of theory? Who invented them? The way u understand phenomena depends on…?

General definition of theory

A theory is a framework of ideas that can:

• Describe phenomena

• Explain phenomena

• Predict phenomena

• Control phenomena

Theories are created/invented by humans. They help us:

• Make sense of experiences, AND Understand phenomena

They are not simply something that is “discovered.”

Theories = Lenses

The way you understand a phenomenon can change depending on the theoretical perspective you use.

What is nursing theory? What should a nursing theory address? Why create theories?

Nursing theories:

• Express values and beliefs

• Organize nursing knowledge

• Guide nursing practice

Nursing theories must address the 4 metaparadigm concepts:

Person + Environment + Health + Nursing

Creating theories to explain nursing phenomena is an expression of human imagination, which is an important attribute of a discipline.

4 Purpose of Nursing Theory

1. Organize knowledge

Makes nursing:

• Teachable

• Researchable

2. Guide practice

Helps nurses decide how to approach patient care.

3. Advance nursing as a discipline

Helps distinguish nursing from:

• Medicine

• Psychology

4. Provide professional identity

Without theory, nursing could become defined mainly by tasks.