THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF NURSING: AN OVERVIEW

Flashcards covering key terms, definitions, and concepts from the lecture notes on theoretical foundations of nursing, including core terms, theory components, nursing science, and paradigms.

What is a Fact?

Something that is seen happening or existing; an empirical observation; information presented as having objective reality.

What is an Idea?

A group of interrelated facts; an image or formulation imagined and visualized, or something vaguely assumed, guessed, or sensed from related observations; a conception of the best example of something.

What is a Concept?

A word or cluster of words describing an object, idea, or event; an abstraction based on observed behaviors or characteristics; describes the essence of a thing.

What is a Conceptual Framework?

A set of interrelated concepts that serve as building blocks of theories; arranged in a relational scheme by relevance to a common theme.

What is a Hypothesis?

A statement of predicted relationships between two or more variables, tested in empirical studies; an educated guess.

What is an Assumption?

Basic principles accepted as true based on logic or reason without proof; a belief taken for granted that underpins a study’s design and interpretation.

What is a Theory?

A formal statement organized to explain an event; a group of related concepts that guide practice; a systematic way to describe, explain, predict, and control phenomena.

What is a Theoretical Framework?

A set of interrelated theories that organize the direction of a research endeavor; concepts and premises developed to scaffold a study.

What is the PURPOSE of a Theory?

To explain why the theory was formulated and specify the context, situations, and applications for it.

What are Concepts and Definitions in Theory?

Concepts are labels for objects/events; definitions relate concepts to others and allow description and classification.

What are Theoretical Statements?

Statements about the relationships between two or more concepts used to connect concepts and build the theory.

What are Structure and Linkages in a Theory?

The overall form of the theory and the reasoned explanations for how the variables are connected.

What are Assumptions in a Theory?

Beliefs about the theory’s propositions based on evidence, knowledge, or values that support the theory.

What are Models in Theory?

Schematic representations of aspects of reality; models use language/symbols and directional arrows to describe relationships.

Purpose of Nursing Theories in Education

Clarify central meanings and improve the profession’s status.

Purpose of Nursing Theories in Research

Limit questions to ask and methods to use; guide inquiry and evidence generation.

Purpose of Nursing Theories in Clinical Practice

Guide assessment/diagnosis/intervention; render practice more efficient, effective, and goal-directed.

Characteristics: Theories can interrelate concepts

Theories provide new perspectives by linking concepts in novel ways.

Characteristics: Theories must be logical

Theories should be coherent, reasoned, and based on logical relationships.

Characteristics: Theories should be simple yet generalizable

They should be parsimonious but applicable across similar phenomena.

Characteristics: Theories can form testable hypotheses

Theories provide testable statements that can be subjected to empirical research.

Characteristics: Theories contribute to knowledge

They expand the body of knowledge in a discipline through validated research.

Characteristics: Theories guide practice

They provide frameworks to guide clinical decisions and professional actions.

Florence Nightingale and Nursing as a Science

Her work emphasizes research-oriented nursing and the scientific basis of practice; foundational to nursing as a science (birth of modern nursing; Nightingale’s era and influence).

Nursing Paradigm

A set of theories, methods, and standards that guide research and practice in nursing.

Metaparadigm of Nursing

A global perspective identifying the primary phenomena of interest: Health, Nursing, Environment, and Person (often described as Man).