Title: 
Headings: 
Nursing  theories
open access articles on nursing  theories and models
Nursing Theories -  Overview
INTRODUCTION
DEFINITIONS
IMPORTANCE OF NURSING THEORIES
CHARACTERISTICS OF THEORIES
BASIC  PROCESSES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF NURSING THEORIES
B. Adaptation Theory
C. Developmental  Theory
COMMON CONCEPTS IN NURSING THEORIES
HISTORY
CLASSIFICATION OF NURSING THEORIES
Depending on the generalisability of their principles
School of thoughts  in Nursing Theories-1950-1970
Categories of  Theories
"Needs" theories
"Interaction" theories
"Outcome" theories
"Humanistic" Theories:
MODELS  OF NURSING
Criticisms of nursing theories
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES

Content: IMPORTANCE OF NURSING THEORIES
Nursing theory aims to describe, predict and explain the  phenomenon of nursing (Chinn and Jacobs1978). It should provide the foundations of nursing practice,  help to generate further knowledge and indicate in which  direction nursing should develop in the future (Brown 1964). Theory is important because it helps us to decide what we  know and what we need to know (Parsons1949). It helps to distinguish what should form the basis of  practice by explicitly describing nursing. This can be seen as an attempt by the nursing profession  to maintain its professional boundaries. CHARACTERISTICS OF THEORIES
Theories: interrelate concepts in such a way as to create a  different way of looking at a particular phenomenon. are logical in nature. are generalizable. are the bases for hypotheses that can be tested.