Title: 
Headings: 

Content: 2003 Jul 30-Aug 5;17(46):33-7.doi: 10.7748/ns.17.46.33.s56. Author
          
Sarah Colley 1
              
Affiliation
          
1University Hospital Wales, Cardiff. sarahj27@lycos.co.uk
PMID: 12961951
    
DOI: 10.7748/ns.17.46.33.s56
    
Abstract
        
      
Background: Nursing theory should provide the principles that underpin practice and help to generate further nursing knowledge. However, a lack of agreement in the professional literature on nursing theory confuses nurses and has caused many to dismiss nursing theory as irrelevant to practice. This article aims to identify why nursing theory is important in practice. Conclusion: