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1. What is Critical Theory?
Core Concepts
• Critical theory critiques and challenges society, with the goal of social justice and transformation.
• Focuses on power, inequality, and the social structures shaping health.
• Emphasizes that societal systems (health, legal, education, etc.) are not neutral and can create or sustain oppression.
• Nurses use this lens to recognize systemic inequities and advocate for more equitable care .
2. Feminist Theory in Nursing
Definition
• Feminism seeks equality for all genders.
• Challenges sexism, racism, and other forms of oppression.
• Highlights how identities (e.g., gender, race, class) shape access to health .
Application in Nursing
• Provide inclusive care considering intersecting identities.
• Challenge stereotypes and advocate for equity.
• Empower patients in their care decisions.
• Support nurses facing inequity in the profession .
3. Postcolonial Theory in Nursing
Definition
• Analyzes the ongoing effects of colonialism on global structures, including healthcare.
• Recognizes that modern systems are shaped by colonial power dynamics.
• Race is not biological—it’s a social construct that creates differences in treatment and access .
Application in Nursing
• Use a decolonizing lens to understand how history, economy, and racism affect health equity.
• Address how healthcare may continue colonial patterns of control or exclusion.
• Promote care that’s culturally safe and reflective of patient histories and experiences .
4. Post-Structuralism in Nursing
Definition
• Post-structuralism questions the idea of one “truth” or fixed way of seeing the world.
• Emphasizes that language, identity, and power are fluid and constantly shifting.
• Language is a powerful tool that can reinforce stereotypes or empower patients .
Application in Nursing
• Analyze how language shapes care experiences.
• Avoid terms that limit patients’ identities or reinforce biases.
• Ensure care communication empowers choice and respects diversity .
5. Intersectionality in Nursing
Definition
• Considers how multiple social identities (e.g., race, gender, class) intersect to produce unique experiences of oppression or privilege.
• Recognizes that health outcomes are shaped by the interactions between these identities .
Application in Nursing
• Avoid “one-size-fits-all” approaches.
• Consider all parts of a patient’s identity to ensure inclusive, respectful, and effective care.
• Supports holistic, person-centered practice .
6. Constructivist Theory in Nursing
Definition
• People actively construct knowledge through experience and reflection.
• Learning is personal, contextual, and social.
Key Principles
• Knowledge is built, not absorbed passively.
• Learning is active and experiential.
• There is no one universal “truth”; knowledge is shaped by context .
Application in Nursing Education
• BSN curriculum is grounded in constructivism.
• Encourages collaborative learning, critical thinking, and self-reflection.
• Emphasizes the role of social context and personal experience in knowledge development .
Summary: How Critical & Constructivist Theories Inform Nursing