Importance of Nursing Theory

Theory Practice Gap Shonna Dillman Maryville University Theory Practice Gap To bridge the theory to nursing practice gap, one must understand first that theory provides legitimacy as a profession, the skill reflection must be learned to use theory in practice and nurses must take ownership of their language and practice. Nursing has a long history as a caring part of patient care; it must also advance itself as a medical profession through the use of theory (McCrae, 2011). Skills in nursing school and nursing practice must be aimed at viewing the bigger picture of nursing as a profession with a rich history of theory and models at the disposal of nursing for daily patient care in the practice area. The language and opinions of professional nurses must reflect a substantial understanding and practical use of theory in the clinical setting on a daily basis in the real world as well as in the book world of school (Sellman, 2010). The gap must be bridged early in the nursing students’ curriculum to promote change in this area for nursing to promote and achieve professionalism in the eyes of nursing as well as other medical professions.

Journal Of Advanced Nursing, 55(3), 320-329. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2648.2006.03899.x Meleis, A., Sawyer, L., Im, E., Messias, D., & Schumacher, K. (2000). Experiencing transitions: an emerging middle-range theory. Advances In Nursing Science, 23(1), 12-28. Meleis, Afaf Ibrahim. Transitions Theory: Middle-range and Situation-specific Theories in Nursing Research and Practice.

This method of reflecting on my own personal experiences in a specific set of circumstances promoted thought-provoking questions and ideas. It also helped me to realize the importance of having all the data prior to making a decision on a plan of care. It becomes obvious while attempting to answer questions on case studies when there is not enough information. Case studies are a great way to put yourself into the clinical situation so that as nurses we may have a greater understanding of critical thinking (Asselin, 2012). Challenges as an Evolving Leader Today’s nurse, as an evolving leader, must be compassionate, professional and treat the patient as a whole.

Nursing theories came about as an explanation, reasoning or through research and practice as a way to explain and come up for procedures of healthcare. The best way to look at nursing theories is like the foundational block. Nursing theories are important set the tone of how a nurse will practice. A nurse will use intuition, practice, past expertise and events, and couple with learned theories to work every day in order to give the best patient care. it is all the more important to appreciate what first advanced nursing beyond mechanisms of practice to becoming a knowledge-based force in healthcare: That force is nursing theory and the theoretical thinking and research that generate theory.

Nurse is a person who feels and thinks about the patient in addition to work (Sante, 2011). Nursing theory helps managers, executive level, nurses and other health care team to understand about nursing and its contribution in healthcare sector. Nursing theory helps to guide and solve problem in a clinical practice. Also, nursing theory is crucial for educators, acad... ... middle of paper ... ...uis, Missouri: Mosby. Cragin, L. (2004).

Journal of advanced nursing, (25), 648-651. Powell A. (2012). Virginia henderson’s need theory. Retrieved from http://currentnursing.com/nursing_theory/Henderson.html Vandemark L.M.

Nursing research notes persons, health, nursing practice, and environment as top priorities that nurses can use to generate new understanding or validate and verify, as well as modify, existing knowledge that effects nursing practice. If nursing practices were devoid of research, it would remain reliant on tradition, authority, trail and error, personal experiences, intuition, and borrowed evidence. Nurses should be equipped with the skills to read, evaluate, and apply nursing research to progress in higher quality treatment in care. Clinical expertise subjects nurses to use logical reasoning to conduct critical thinking and decision making. The matriarch of nursing, Florence Nightingale, was the first nurse to create... ... middle of paper ... ...ursing care.

Nursing Science Quarterly, 20(2), 155-160. doi: 10.1177/0894318407299577 Stephen J, O. C. (2007). Developing professional habitus: A Bernsteinian analysis of the modern nurse apprenticeship. Nurse Education Today, 27(7), 748-754. doi: 10.1016/j.nedt.2006.10.008 Tingle, J., & McHale, J. (2009). Specialist healthcare law for nurses: an introduction.

Owing to significant research into the relationship between physical, mental and social conditions, an awareness and understanding of psycho-social aspects in health care is vital (Walker et al, 2007). Those aspects are particularly important in nursing care, where an individual should be considered as the entire person with a need for physical, psychological, social, emotional, intellectual and even spiritual wellbeing (Holland et al, 2008). This essay will address psycho-social theory of health beliefs and attitudes in relation to nursing care. The essay will begin by considering how health beliefs lead to health behaviours. It will then discuss how theoretical models contribute to nursing care and their usefulness and importance in applying the theory to nurse patients.

Concepts are essential elements in theories which provide ideas for research in nursing. Concepts give knowledge that can be applied to nursing practice, education and administration. (Parker & Smith 2010). Concept analysis brings about clarity. The methods of concept analysis have the following steps.