Jennifer Dana Sawyer BSN, RNAmerican Sentinel University

Nursing Theory

The field of nursing is rapidly changing.

This is primarily due to: • New thoughts and opinions

• Technological advancements

• Health discoveries

• New medical dilemmas created from break-throughs

• Cuts in organizational budgets

(Huang, You, & Tsai, 2012)

Best philosophy for Nursing:

• Utilization of successful theories and models

• Following the best framework to ensure goals

• Extreme emphasis regarding the latest nursing education

• Successful training of methods for teaching patients

• Being an advocate for patients

(PNEG Professional Nurse Educators Group, n.d.)

Planned Change within the nursing field:

• Essential within the practice of nursing• Is better when staff understand the need • Allows individuals to prepare for different

methods• Often improves negative situations • New method of practice for a solution• More successful if planned over time• Often balances out systems for the better

(Mitchell, 2013)

Florence Nightingale:

• One of the first nursing theorists • Set the groundwork for modern day nursing• Ensured safe, compassionate surroundings

for patients • Was a determined patient advocate • Believed that everyone deserved quality care• Set the precedence for modern health

systems

(Selanders & Crane, 2012)

Dorothea Orem:

• High regard for nurse and patient education• Emphasized teaching patients to care

for themselves • Advocated importance for personal

growth• Facilitated patients self-empowerment

through enlightenment

(McEwen & Wills, 2014)

Malcolm Knowles:

• Explained how adult learners receive new information

• Stressed importance of changing the learner’s surroundings

• Proved learning success through customization of techniques

• Adults learn through association of relative experiences

• Adults more motivated to learn by reasoning

(Butts & Rich, 2011)

Theorists have commonalities:

• Question the way things are done• Bring forth innovative ideas • Discover new techniques for current

methods • Challenge existing systems to improve

them• Strive to create better solutions and

practices • Set baselines of values, beliefs and

standards

(McEwen & Wills, 2014)

Nursing theories and the profession of nursing:

• Perpetually innovative• Constantly changing and evolving• Improve existing techniques for current practices • Seek to find new solutions for problems• Continually strive to better individuals’ quality of

life • Raise the bar for standards of care • Remind caregivers to question current practices

(PNEG Professional Nurse Educators Group, n.d.).

References

Butts, J., & Rich, K. (2011). Philosophies and theories for advanced nursing practice. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Huang, C., You, C., & Tsai, M. (2012). A multidimensional analysis of ethical climate, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and

organizational citizenship behaviors. Nursing Ethics, 19(4), 513-529.

McEwen, M., & Wills, E. (2014). Theoretical basis for nursing (4th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Mitchell, G. (2013). Selecting the best theory to implement planned change. Nursing Management-UK, 20(1), 32-37.

PNEG Professional Nurse Educators Group. (n.d.). Forging the future through continuous professional development. Retrieved Septmeber 9,

2014, from PNEG Professional Nurse Educators Group: http://pneg.org/

Selanders, L., & Crane, P. (2012). The voice of Florence Nightingale on advocacy. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 17(1).