A theory, as a general term, is a notion or an idea that explains experience, interprets observation, describes relationships, and projects outcomes. Theories help to organize these ideas. Many describe theories as lenses because they color and shape what is seen. The same phenomena will be seen differently depending on the theoretical perspective assumed. For these reasons, theory and related terms have been defined and described in a number of ways according to individual experience and what is useful at the time. Theories, as reflections of understanding, guide our actions, help us set forth desired outcomes, and give evidence of what has been achieved. Based on strongly held values and beliefs about nursing, and within contexts of various worldviews, theories are patterns that guide the thinking about, being, and doing of nursing. The primary purpose of nursing theories is to further the development and understanding of nursing practice. There remains conflict for nurses between propositional knowledge (theoretical knowledge) and practical experiential knowledge (practice knowledge), sometimes referred to as the ‘know‐that’ and the ‘know‐ how’ Know‐how’ knowledge is often gained through personal experience. It is usually not explained but is learned during practice, which equates with the art of nursing. ‘Know that’ is knowledge that usually comes from theory and research. It is generally more easily communicated verbally and could be described as the science of nursing. These are both 1 important to nursing, but unfortunately nursing theorists and nurses in practice continue to debate – is nursing a science or is it an art? Why can’t it be both? It is not enough to only have knowledge ‐ nurses also need the ability to apply it in their practice and need to be ‘knowledgeable doers’. Nurses should value knowledge gained from practice perhaps even if it was arrived at by intuition just as much as if it was arrived at by theoretical or scientific means ‐ but only when they are confident that it is of benefit to their patients. 1 Theories are part of the knowledge structure of any discipline. The domain of inquiry, metaparadigm, or focus nursing as a discipline is the foundation of the structure. The 4 concepts of nursing were – the person, the environment, health, and nursing. This is sometimes referred to as the metaparadigm of nursing. When the metaparadigm is put together in an organized fashion, usually by a nurse scientist, this knowledge structure becomes nursing theory. Although nursing models, theories vary according to philosophical world views at the time of their development, all flow from metaparadigm of nursing. Other levels of the knowledge structure include paradigms, conceptual models or grand theories, middle‐range theories, practice theories, and research and practice traditions. These levels of nursing knowledge are interrelated; each level of development is influenced by work at other levels. Theoretical work in nursing must be dynamic; that is, it must be continually in process and useful for the purposes and work of the discipline. This is where things can get a little confusing, as still happens to me. Now we are going to discuss knowledge and how concepts, theories, and frameworks are the foundation of nursing knowledge. For this presentation, please think of knowing as a verb – the action of how one might obtain information. Knowledge, on the other hand for our purposes today is taking information that has been synthesized so that relations and interactions are defined and formalized – and in this case, what nursing is based upon… Instead of explaining what all of the different types of theories mean, we’ll discuss them in 2 terms of examples of theories, frameworks, and models. With each keep the metaparadigm of nursing ‐ person, environment, health, and nursing – in mind. 2 A Model Provides way to visualize reality to simplify thinking. A Conceptual model Gives structure to something, and shows how various concepts are interrelated. Conceptual model […]
