Forum 6 (Module 8)
Thread: How has your view of nursing theory, practice, and nursing knowledge changed
because of this course? Based on what you have learned in this course, how will you
apply nursing theory to your career? How would you respond if a colleague were to ask
you, “Why is nursing theory important to practice?”
In your thread, utilize content from McEwen & Wills’ chapter 23 commentary about
future issues in nursing theory and/or chapter 15 in Shelly & Miller. While other sources
may also be used, at least 1 of these course texts must be cited in your thread.
Submit your thread by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Thursday of Module/Week 8 and your replies
by Friday of the same module/week.
How has your view of nursing theory, practice, and nursing knowledge
changed because of this course?
In the beginning of this course I was not keen on nursing theory, however
knew that nursing theory was intertwined in my day to day application of nursing.
As nurses, I think that we get caught up in the day to day struggle of actually being
a nurse. At times the theory behind nursing gets lost. Especially with the
circumstances that have happened this year. I do however think that with this year
being “The Year of the Nurse” we are reminded that we would not be where we
currently are without the philosophy of our past frontier nurses that paved the way
for this nursing profession (McEwen & Willes, 2019). I feel that getting back to the
basics of nursing theory, makes us realize just how much each and every one of
them influence our everyday nursing activities and care. It is also a good reminder
to review the four metaparadigms; person, environment, health, and nurse. With
those as a reminder, we can implement each of those specific situations in to our
everyday activity. It was also a great reminder since it is “The Year of the Nurse” of
who the root of theory is. Florence Nightingale and her concept of caring for the
whole person; body, mind, and spirit with caring as the essential component of
nursing aligns well with my spiritual beliefs and daily nursing practice of caring for
my patients (McEwen & Willes, 2019).
Based on what you have learned in this course, how will you apply
nursing theory to your career?
As this class has progressed over the past eight weeks with multiple chapters
read, and copious journal research conducted, I can affirm that Dr. Jean Watson and
her Theory of Caring is truly the core of my daily nursing practice. Such a decision
to care is not taken lightly and is reflected in the compassion, energy and caring
reflected in the critical care patient population I care for daily. This course has not
changed my view on nursing theory, it just made it more relevant. If anything this
course reinforced the caring aspect of my nursing practice. I found this course to be
more of a self-discovery of how Watson’s Theory of Caring and Florence Nightingale
have always been guiding my daily nursing practice without an actual theorist label
to it.
How would you respond if a colleague were to ask you, “Why is nursing
theory important to practice?”
Nursing theory is important for the continued growth and development of
nursing practice. Nursing theories enhance understanding of the principles, values
and meanings of nursing profession. They serve to guide assessment, intervention,
and evaluation of nursing care. Nursing theory assists nurses to describe, explain,
and predict everyday experiences. The benefits of having a defined body of theory
in nursing include better patient care, enhanced professional status for nurses,
improved communication between nurses, and guidance for research and
education.
I think it is important to continue the study of nursing theorists and embrace
them and use them as health and illness challenges the 21st century. We must
continue to focus and improve the theories we know now, but be open to combining
them with new research methods. It is vital to continue to improve our process as
the healthcare industry is ever changing.
References
McEwen, M., & Wills, E. M. (2019). Theoretical basis for nursing (5th ed.).
Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins
Reply to Erica Maxwell:
Erica- Great discussion post.
Nursing theory as a general thumb can be somewhat boring, but once you
delve in deep and really apply the nature of each theorist you begin to learn just
how intertwined it is in your everyday nursing journey. I think nurses in general get
lost in the routine tasks of nursing and forget about the basis of the theorists. But
once you look back on how most care for their patient’s they are applying different
acclimates from many theorists.
I also did not know about the three ways of applying theory to research:
theory-generating, theory-testing, and theory as a conceptual framework (McEwen
& Will, 2019). I found this information to be very interesting and something that
was easily applied when reading journal research articles.
As you suggested, nursing theory is important for the continued growth and
development of nursing practice. Nursing theories enhance understanding of the
principles, values and meanings of nursing profession. They serve to guide
assessment, intervention, and evaluation of nursing care. Nursing theory assists
nurses to describe, explain, and predict everyday experiences. The benefits of
having a defined body of theory in nursing include better patient care, enhanced
professional status for nurses, improved communication between nurses, and
guidance for research and education.
I think it is important to continue the study of nursing theorists and embrace
them and use them as health and illness challenges the 21st century. We must
continue to focus and improve the theories we know now, but be open to combining
them with new research methods. It is vital to continue to improve our process as
the healthcare industry is ever changing.
References
McEwen, M., & Wills, E. M. (2019). Theoretical basis for nursing (5th ed.).
Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins
Reply to Rebecca Edwards:
Rebecca- I enjoyed reading your post. I have a lot of the same opinions in
regards to now having a greater appreciation of the work that the theorist have
done. We are able to base a foundation model of care that we give our patients
because of the theorists that made that possible. Some say that having a caring
attitude comes natural, but as a nurse you “learn” how to adapt to certain situations
of which us makes us more able to care and develop those intimate relationships
with our patients.
I think that my greatest asset form this class was reviewing the four
metaparadigms; person, environment, health, and nurse. With those as a
reminder, we can implement each of those specific situations in to our everyday
activity. I also found it interesting to learn about the three ways of applying theory
to research: theory-generating, theory-testing, and theory as a conceptual
framework (McEwen & Will, 2019). I found this information to be very beneficial and
something that was easily applied when reading journal research articles.
I agree with you that education is key. Having and reminding future nurses
about past theorists can not only benefit them but also help them provide
exceptional care to their patient’s. It was also a great reminder since it is “The Year
of the Nurse” of who the root of theory is. Florence Nightingale and her concept of
caring for the whole person; body, mind, and spirit with caring as the essential
component of nursing aligns well with my spiritual beliefs and daily nursing practice
of caring for my patients (McEwen & Willes, 2019).
I think it is important to continue the study of nursing theorists and embrace
them and use them as health and illness challenges the 21st century. We must
continue to focus and improve the theories we know now, but be open to combining
them with new research methods. It is vital to continue to improve our process as
the healthcare industry is ever changing.
References
McEwen, M., & Wills, E. M. (2019). Theoretical basis for nursing (5th ed.).
Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins
Rebecca Edwards
After completing this research course and learning more about the nursing theories, I do have a greater appreciation of the
work these theorist and the foundation it has provided for the nursing profession. According to McEwen and Wills (2019), there
is a common perception in nursing of a “gap” between theory and nursing practice. There is discord between nursing theory and
nursing practice. Nursing theory and nursing practice are typically viewed as two distinct but separate activities within nursing as
theorist develop ideals and others practice (McEwen & Wills, 2019). While I do see the discord, I feel we must intertwine these
two categories of nursing in order to improve our profession and provide the highest level of care possible for our patients and
their families.
Nursing education goals are to instill clinical competencies in order to deliver safe, quality care to our patients.
Incorporating theoretical content and framework into our nursing practice is not always a smooth process (Salifu, Gross, Salifu,
& Ninnoni, 2018). I would advise my colleagues that nursing theory is important to our practice because it identifies concepts
and framework to improve practice. Being able to bridge the “gap” between theory and practice, I feel is very important to
furthering the profession of nursing and ensuring we are providing the best care possible in a constantly changing health care
system.
In order to plan for the future for nursing in the health care setting, the nursing profession needs to direct its attention to
related theories, models, and concepts (McEwen & Wills, 2019). The four strategies needing focus are (1) making quality health
care accessible (2) promoting wellness and prevention of disease (3) improving patient outcomes (4) promoting and providing
compassionate care (2019). The nursing profession must continuously add to its body of knowledge by pushing the study of
relationships, concepts, and theories that are relevant to the profession of nursing (2019). Advancing he framework and
knowledge base without incorporating it into practice does not advance the nursing profession. Combining the art of nursing
practice with theory will advance the knowledge base while improving the nursing practice. Models, concepts, and theories,
along with nursing practice must be prepared to evolve and change with the change in health care settings and societal changes.
As nurses, we strive to provide compassionate, world-class care to our patients. Incorporating the concepts of theory into
practice will only enhance the care we are able to provide. According the bible, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewer of our mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and
perfect (Romans 12:2, NIV, 2005).
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