Response

According to Pearson 1992 nurses need to view the world of nursing practice as a world of action where “practitioners engage in both practical and theoretical endeavor, begins to open up a scene full of exciting opportunities" (Pearson, 1992, p. 222). This concept appears to be a good theory that generates practice, but if we add to this concept to the nursing history input and the research input, we can learn how these concepts are connected to each other. From my practical nursing experience and from the nursing classes that I have taken, it appears that all though all these concepts are connected with one and other, nursing practice was the one that started it all- history, theory and research. As healthcare becomes more complex, nurses are taking new and expanded roles and are charting new paths in nursing research, nurses are creating nursing history and through practice and research, nurses are creating new theories. However, nursing practice can still be described as Nightingale originally describe it over 100 years ago as “the act of utilizing the environment of the patient to assist him in his recovery” (Nightingale 1860).

Berragan L. (1998). Nursing practice draws upon several different ways of knowing. Journal of Clinical Nursing(Wiley-Blackwell), 7(3), 209–217. https://doi-org.ezproxy.snhu.edu/10.1046/j.1365-2702.1998.00146.x

Pearson A. (1992) Knowing nursing: emerging paradigms in nursing. In Knowledge for NursingPractice(Robinson K. & Vaughan B., eds). Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, pp. 213-226

Polit, D. F. Essentials of Nursing Research. [MBS Direct]. Retrieved from https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781496374929/

Joedene Stennett Response

Nursing encompass many different areas, and important area is learning and gathering knowledge that can affect how care is delivered,  The ways of knowledge in nursing gives nurses the knowledge needed to get a better understanding of  them self, their roles and the care they are providing.  History, theory, practice and research ways of knowing may have different meaning, but they are all important aspects in nursing practice.  They cover nurses learning about nursing in the past and understanding how it influences practice now.  They help in developing knowledge on nursing practice and how it explains different areas having to do with care.  They help nurses in carrying out the roles and responsibilities of providing care based on past and present knowledge and is based on evidence gathered through research on different topics that guides nursing practice and decision process.  They all play individual roles, but they are all needed in carrying out effective patient care and together promote competent and safe care. 

All four factors are intertwined, forming the basis of the nursing discipline.  While all are important, theory plays a major role as it involves all that goes in providing nursing care.  Theory helps in guiding attitudes, how nursing is practiced and how each clinical situation is approached and address, (Kim, 2012).  It is through theory that nurses gather and build on knowledge that involves the job and what it entails, their roles, patients, themselves and what is required and needed to function in the nursing role effectively.  Theory incorporates all other areas (history, theory, research), knowledge gained from studying/reading about history of nursing and practices, research and evidence supporting certain topics and claims and practicing what is learnt helps in getting a better understanding of nursing.  When nurses can incorporate all these areas in their daily practice, it promotes greater knowledge, improve care, better patient outcomes and overall more rounded, competent nurses. 

Reference

Kim, H. S. (2012). The role of theory in clinical nursing practice . ResearchGate, 26(2), 16-29. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236608232