Theoretical Foundations in Nursing - Lecture Reviews

Practice flashcards covering the evolution of nursing, major eras of knowledge, philosophical perspectives, and key nursing theories from Florence Nightingale to Faye Glenn Abdellah.

Florence Nightingale

Founder of Modern Nursing, known as the 'Lady with the Lamp,' who established the Environmental Theory and advocated for infection control measures and dignified treatment regardless of status or disability.

Environmental Theory

The first nursing theory which focuses on the manipulation of the environment—including fresh air, light, warmth, cleanliness, and quiet—for the benefit of the patient's natural healing process.

The Columbia School (1950s)

An era that recognized the need to prepare nurses at the graduate level for administrative and faculty positions, operating from a biomedical model focused on functional roles of what nurses do.

Curriculum Era (1900-1940s)

A period focused on identifying the nature of knowledge needed for nursing practice toward the goal of standardized curricula, where procedures were practiced in a Nursing Arts Laboratory.

Theory Era (1980-1990s)

An era with a strong emphasis on theory development, resulting in numerous nursing journals, conferences, and the opening of new nursing doctoral programs.

Theory Utilization Era (21st Century)

The current era that shifted from theory development to theory application, recognizing the importance of frameworks for critical thinking and decision-making in professional practice.

Nursing Theory

An organized body of knowledge consisting of concepts and propositions that define what nursing is, what nurses do, and why they do it, providing a framework to guide practice.

Abstract Concepts

In nursing theory, these are ideas that are mentally constructed independently of a specific time or place.

Concrete Concepts

These are ideas that are directly experienced and related to a particular time or place.

Theoretical Definitions

Definitions that describe a particular concept based on the theorist's specific perspective or meaning.

Operational Definitions

Definitions that state how concepts are observed or measured in practice.

Discipline

Specific to academia, it refers to a branch of education, department of learning, or domain of knowledge.

Profession

A specialized field of practice founded on the theoretical structure of science or knowledge of a discipline and accompanying practice abilities.

Rationalism

An epistemology holding that reason is the chief source of knowledge, utilizing intellectual, deductive logic (general ideas to specific conclusions) and a priori (innate) ideas.

Empiricism

An epistemology advocating that sensory experience is the source of all knowledge, following an inductive (specific to general) reasoning process through data collection.

Metaparadigm of Nursing

The most global perspective of the discipline that includes four central components: Human Being (Person), Health, Environment, and Nursing.

Grand Theory

A type of nursing theory that is broad in scope and highly abstract conceptually.

Middle-Range Theory

A type of nursing theory that has a narrow scope and is more concrete or practical than grand theories.

Stages of Nursing Expertise

Patricia Benner's model consisting of five levels: Novice, Advanced Beginner, Competent, Proficient, and Expert.

Novice

In Benner's model, a beginner with limited clinical experience who relies on rules and protocols and requires close supervision.

Expert

In Benner's model, a nurse with a wealth of experience and an intuitive grasp of patient needs who can make decisions without consciously analyzing the situation.

Care, Core, Cure Theory

Lydia Hall's model where 'Care' is the exclusive function of the nurse (the body), while 'Core' (the person) and 'Cure' (the disease) are shared with other healthcare members.

Nursing Need Theory

Virginia Henderson's theory which defines the unique function of the nurse as assisting individuals with 14 basic components to achieve independence as rapidly as possible.

Roper-Logan-Tierney (RLT) Model

A conceptual framework categorizing human life into 12 core Activities of Living (ALs) to promote individualized, patient-centered care.

Clinical Caritas Processes

Jean Watson's 10 specific factors (formerly Carative Factors) that guide the core of nursing, derived from 'Caritas' meaning to cherish, appreciate, and give special attention.

Helping Art of Clinical Nursing

Ernestine Weidenbach's theory which views nursing as the art of nurturing or caring for someone in a motherly fashion through the elements of Philosophy, Purpose, Practice, and Art.

21 Nursing Problems

Faye Glenn Abdellah's model that shifted the focus from disease-centered to patient-centered care by identifying overt and covert health needs across basic, sustenal, remedial, and restorative categories.