NCM 100 – Theoretical Foundations in Nursing: Evolution of Nursing Theory

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering seminal theorists, schools, and key models that chart the historical evolution of nursing theory from Nightingale’s foundations through the refinement and integration eras of the late 20th century.

Nursing Theory

A formal body of knowledge that organizes concepts and guides nursing practice, research, and education.

Theory–Practice Relationship

The idea that theory informs practice and practice refines theory; summed up by Cross’s quote: “Theory without practice is empty and practice without theory is blind.”

Florence Nightingale

Founder of modern nursing who emphasized environmental factors in patient recovery and advanced statistics in healthcare.

Notes on Nursing (1859)

Nightingale’s seminal work outlining principles of cleanliness, fresh air, light, warmth, and quiet for healing.

Environmental Theory (Nightingale)

Concept that manipulating the environment (sanitation, ventilation, etc.) promotes patient recovery.

Crimean War Contributions

Nightingale’s reforms in British army hospitals that cut mortality by improving sanitation and care.

Coxcomb Chart

Statistical diagram created by Nightingale to display mortality data and advocate for health reforms.

Columbia School (1950s)

Early graduate program at Teachers College that generated the first conceptualizations of nursing science.

Hildegard Peplau

Columbia graduate who developed the Interpersonal Relations Theory focusing on nurse-patient interaction.

Interpersonal Relations Theory

Peplau’s model describing phases of the therapeutic nurse–patient relationship (orientation, working, resolution).

Virginia Henderson

Theorist who defined nursing’s unique function as assisting individuals in performing activities for health or recovery.

14 Basic Needs (Henderson)

Comprehensive list describing areas where nurses help patients gain independence.

Lydia Hall

Developer of the Core, Care, and Cure Model emphasizing patient (core), nurturing (care), and medical treatment (cure).

Core, Care, and Cure Model

Hall’s triad that separates patient-centered, nurturing, and medical aspects of nursing practice.

Faye Abdellah

Introduced patient-centered approaches and a classification of 21 nursing problems.

Dorothy Johnson

Proposed the Behavioral System Model, viewing the person as seven interrelated behavioral subsystems.

Behavioral System Model

Johnson’s framework focusing on maintaining or restoring behavioral system balance and stability.

Yale School (1960s)

Group of theorists shifting emphasis to the nurse–patient relationship and dynamic clinical processes.

Ida Jean Orlando

Creator of the Deliberative Nursing Process Theory centered on patient behavior and nurse response.

Deliberative Nursing Process

Orlando’s model where nurses use perception, thought, and feeling to understand patient distress and act purposefully.

Ernestine Wiedenbach

Authored the Helping Art of Clinical Nursing focusing on purposeful nursing actions to meet patient needs.

Helping Art of Clinical Nursing

Wiedenbach’s practice theory highlighting the purposeful nature of nursing interventions.

Myra Levine

Originator of the Four Conservation Principles aimed at preserving patient energy and integrity.

Four Conservation Principles

Levine’s focus on conserving energy, structural, personal, and social integrity.

Era of Expansion (1970s)

Decade marked by proliferation of new, often still-used nursing theories.

Dorothea Orem

Formulated the Self-Care Deficit Theory emphasizing patient self-care capabilities.

Self-Care Deficit Theory

Orem’s model comprising self-care, self-care deficit, and nursing systems to meet patient needs.

Betty Neuman

Developed the Neuman Systems Model viewing the client as an open system in constant interaction with stressors.

Neuman Systems Model

Systems theory focusing on stress, client stability, and lines of defense/resistance.

Sister Callista Roy

Created the Adaptation Model, portraying individuals as adaptive systems responding to stimuli.

Adaptation Model

Roy’s framework guiding assessment of physiologic, self-concept, role, and interdependence modes.

Jean Watson

Advanced the Theory of Human Caring highlighting transpersonal caring relationships and carative factors.

Theory of Human Caring

Watson’s philosophy emphasizing holistic caring moments and the human-to-human connection.

Paterson & Zderad

Authors of Humanistic Nursing theory stressing existential phenomenology and nurse-patient dialogue.

Humanistic Nursing

Theory focusing on authentic presence and mutual discovery between nurse and patient.

Margaret Newman

Proposed Health as Expanding Consciousness, viewing health-illness as a unitary process of pattern recognition.

Health as Expanding Consciousness

Newman’s view that illness offers opportunities for higher levels of consciousness and pattern understanding.

Refinement Era (1980s)

Period when existing theories were revised and new models (e.g., transcultural caring) emerged.

Madeleine Leininger

Pioneer of Transcultural Nursing and Culture Care Theory focusing on culturally congruent care.

Culture Care Theory

Leininger’s framework integrating cultural values, beliefs, and practices into nursing care.

Rosemarie Rizzo Parse

Developed Man-Living-Health (later Human Becoming) theory emphasizing human-universe process.

Human Becoming Theory

Parse’s paradigm of co-creating health through meaning, rhythmicity, and transcendence.

Modeling and Role Modeling

Theory by Erickson, Tomlin, and Swain using the client’s perspective (modeling) to plan interventions (role modeling).

Helen Erickson, Tomlin, & Swain

Authors who integrated developmental and holistic concepts into Modeling and Role Modeling theory.

Integration & Testing (1990s)

Decade characterized by empirical studies validating and expanding nursing theories.

Boykin & Schoenhofer

Introduced Nursing as Caring, positioning caring as the profession’s moral imperative.

Nursing as Caring

Theory asserting that caring is the essence and central focus of all nursing actions.

Imogene King

Created the Theory of Goal Attainment and a Systems Framework for understanding nurse–client interactions.

Theory of Goal Attainment

King’s model where nurses and clients communicate, set goals, and take actions to achieve them.

Martha Rogers

Formulated the Science of Unitary Human Beings describing humans and environment as irreducible energy fields.

Science of Unitary Human Beings

Rogers’ abstract theory highlighting pattern, pandimensionality, and integrality in human life processes.