THEORY ANALYSIS
Theory Analysis Paper
Jessica Evans
Nursing Theory and Advanced Practice 502-B01
Liberty University
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THEORY ANALYSIS
Theory Analysis Paper
Theory evaluation and analysis is the process of systematically examining a theory
including the origins, meaning, logical adequacy, usefulness, generalization, and testability that
may create new insights on the theory being analyzed (McEwen et al., 2019). The grand theory
that will be examined and analyzed in this paper us Florence Nightingale’s Environmental
Theory. The approach used to analyze the Environmental Theory is Walker and Avant’s theory
analysis. Walker and Avant’s approach is comprised of eight stages. The eight stages include
selecting a concept, determining the purpose, identifying the uses of the concept, determining the
attributes, identifying a model case, identifying borderline, related, and contrary cases,
identifying antecedents and consequences, and defining empirical referents (Yazdani et al., 2016).
The purpose of this paper is to analyze Florence Nightingale’s Environmental Theory using
Walker and Avant’s approach to theory analysis.
Theory Analysis
Origins
In 1854, the Crimean War began, a war between Britain and the Russians (Iram, 2018). At
this time, Florence Nightingale was appointed by Minister at War, Sidney Herbert, to oversee the
care of the wounded soldiers (Iram, 2018). As the war was beginning, reports of poor medical
facility conditions began to arise. The poor conditions increased the number of fatalities and
misery of patients (Iram, 2018). Florence Nightingale was motivated to improve the conditions of
the environments the soldiers were being treated in. Nightingale led many nurses and founded the
Nightingale Training School for nurse at St Thomas’ Hospital in London in 1860 (Iram, 2018).
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THEORY ANALYSIS
The training school taught nurses the same ideas that Nightingale modeled the years prior (Iram,
2018). Nightingale was influenced to create the theory to impact healthcare providers to consider
environmental conditions in nursing practice (Iram, 2018).
Meaning
There are several definitions that are vital to recognize when discussing the
Environmental Theory such as the four concepts of the nursing metaparadigm and Nightingale’s
ten major concepts of the theory. Nursing is defined as a science, art, and a practice discipline
that involves caring (McEwen et al., 2019). Person can be defined as a being that is made up of
physical, intellectual, biochemical, and psychosocial needs (McEwen et al., 2019). Environment
can be defined as the external factors that affect a person (McEwen et al., 2019). Lastly, health is
defined as the ability to function independently (McEwen et al., 2019).
Additional concepts that should be defined and discussed are the ten major concepts of
the Environmental Theory. The first concept is health of houses. This concept describes
Nightingale’s belief that patients benefit from achieving and maintaining healthy living conditions
(Gilbert, 2020). To have healthy living conditions, a house must have pure water, pure air,
efficient drainage, cleanliness, and light (Gilbert, 2020). The next concept is ventilation.
Ventilation refers to keeping a patient’s room free of odor and containing pure air (Masters,
2015). Light refers to having adequate lighting in the patient’s room (Masters, 2015). Noise can
be defined as the prevention of noises that may suddenly awaken patients (Masters, 2015).
Variety is referred to as providing change to avoid boredom and depression (Masters, 2015).
Bedding refers to providing comfort measures such as keeping the bed dry and free of wrinkles
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THEORY ANALYSIS
(Masters, 2015). Cleanliness refers to keeping an environment clean (Masters, 2015). Nutrition
can be defined as having adequate food and liquids (Masters, 2015). Chattering hopes refers to
not speaking without reason or giving fictional advise (Masters, 2015). Lastly, social
considerations can be defined looking beyond a patient and looking at the social environment
they live in (Masters, 2015).
Logical Adequacy
Throughout the theory, Nightingale’s concepts were clear and concise in their meanings.
Each concept of the nursing metaparadigm are clearly identified within the theory. The ten
additional concepts of Nightingale’s theory are also adequately identified and defined. Each
concept in the theory it outlined using its meaning and how it can be applied to current nursing
practice. Nightingale takes each concept and discusses how to implement this theory and why it’s
important. Within the theory, for example, Nightingale explains five points of the healthy house,
while also explaining the meanings of human, environment, health, and nursing. The
Environmental Theory was formed using inductive reasoning. This theory began with the
observation that soldiers were being treated in unsanitary conditions. Nightingale was able to
observe these conditions and draw a conclusion about the conditions and overall situation.
Usefulness
The usefulness of Nightingale’s theory can be determined by how nurses use the theory in
their nursing practice alongside their knowledge and skills (Iram, 2018). The Environmental
Theory is one of the most useful theories in current nursing practice. This theory refers to the
role that the environment plays in the recovery of patients. Nightingale believed that nurses have
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THEORY ANALYSIS
to assess various environmental factors and determine the influence on their patients. She also
believed that it is the duty of the nurse to provide the finest conditions for patients to adequately
heal and recover (Iram, 2018). These conditions continue to remain as standards in many
hospitals and clinics today. The theory is relevant to nursing practice and nursing research.
Generalizability
Florence Nightingale’s theory has a high level of generalizability. The goal of the theory
is for nursing to alter environmental factors so that the patient achieves positive health outcomes.
It is also specific to the nursing profession in that the nurses involved in patient care are the ones
making change. This theory can be applied to a variety of nursing disciplines. It is a standard of
care for current nursing practice, taught throughout many baccalaureate programs, and has been
used in may research studies.
Testability
This theory can be simply tested and has produced a wide range of research. Nightingale’s
theory can be used to test various hypotheses related to her ten major concepts such as noise or
light. The Environmental Theory has resulted in many clinical studies accelerating the healing
and recovery of patients. There are several factors of this theory that can be easily tested for their
impact on a patient’s healing. The factors that can impact the health of patients include
ventilation, nutrition, noise, and light. There has been extensive research conducted using
Nightingale’s theory.
Conclusion
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THEORY ANALYSIS
Throughout this paper, Florence Nightingale’s Environmental Theory was analyzed using
Walker and Avant’s theory analysis framework. Within the summarization of the theory, various
crucial concepts were identified and explained. The thorough analysis of the Environmental
Theory concentrated on the origin, meaning, logical adequacy, usefulness, generalizability, and
testability. Overall, this paper described and depicted every aspect of the Environmental Theory
and was discovered to be a nursing theory that was quite applicable to current nursing practice
and can be used in a wide variety of healthcare settings.
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THEORY ANALYSIS
References
Gilbert, H. A. (2020). Florence Nightingale's Environmental Theory and its influence on
contemporary infection control. Collegian, 27(6), 626–633.
Iram, M. (2018). Ensuring Holistic Care: Application and Evaluation of Florence Nightingale’s
Environmental Theory on Tuberculosis Patient. Global Journal of Medical Research: F
Diseases, 18(3).
Masters, K. (2015). Nursing theories: a framework for professional practice. Jones & Bartlett
Learning. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2020.09.006
Sher, A.N., & Akhtar, A. (2018). Clinical Application of Nightingale's Theory. Journal of
Clinical Research & Bioethics, 9, 1-3.
Utley, R. A., Henry, K., & Smith, L. (2018). Frameworks for advanced nursing practice and
research: philosophies, theories, models, and taxonomies. Springer Publishing Company.
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