Title: Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice | Nurse Key
Headings: Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice
Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice
Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice
Objectives
Key Terms
The Domain of Nursing
Theory
Components of a Theory
Phenomenon
Concepts
Definitions
Assumptions
Types of Theory
Goals of Theoretical Nursing Models
Theory-Based Nursing Practice
Interdisciplinary Theories
Systems Theory
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Content: Theories constitute much of the knowledge of a discipline. Theory and scientific inquiry are vital links to one another, providing guidelines for decision making, problem solving, and nursing interventions ( Selanders, 2010 ). Theories give us a perspective for assessing our patients’ situations and organizing data and methods for analyzing and interpreting information. For example, if you use Orem’s theory in practice, you assess and interpret data to determine patients’ self-care needs, self-care deficits, and self-care abilities in the management of their disease. The theory then guides the design of patient-centered nursing interventions. Application of nursing theory in practice depends on the knowledge of nursing and other theoretical models, how they relate to one another, and their use in designing nursing interventions. Nursing is a science and an art. Nurses need a theoretical base to demonstrate knowledge about the science and art of the profession when they promote health and wellness for their patients, whether the patient is an individual, a family, or a community ( Porter, 2010 ). A nursing theory helps to identify the focus, means, and goals of practice. Common theories enhance communication and increase autonomy and accountability for care to our patients ( Meleis, 2011 ).