Analysis And Evaluation Of Nursing Theory
Nursing theory analysis is vital because it allows nurses to assess a theory’s effectiveness (McEwen & Willis, 2014). By evaluating theories, nurses can become more informed and aware of which theories are supported by research and thus best suited to guide their practice (Im, 2015).
Are you interested in an original copy of “Analysis And Evaluation Of Nursing Theory”? Contact us
A portion of the Synthesized Method of Theory Evaluation will be used in this paper to analyze Florence Nightingale’s revolutionary nursing theories. The Synthesized Method of Theory Evaluation was developed by combining elements of multiple theory evaluation methods, which previously focused on grand theories, to create a method that could be used to analyze different classes of nursing theories, such as middle range and practice theories (McEwen & Willis, 2014).
Purpose
Nursing: What it Is and What It Isn’t Florence Nightingale’s theory is considered the first nursing theory developed, and it contained ideas that were ahead of their time and are still relevant today. Nightingale’s theory aimed to provide nurses with a method for anticipating patient needs and describing steps that nurses should take to meet those needs (McEwen & Willis, 2014). Before Nightingale’s comments, nurses were expected to be subservient to physicians and follow their orders without question. Nightingale also proposed in her theory that while nurses should carry out doctors’ medical plans, they should also think for themselves and work to promote health and healing throughout the population (Lee et al., 2014). She saw nursing as a distinct discipline from mine.
Scope
Nightingale’s theory is regarded as a grand nursing theory. Grand theories are abstract ideas that describe experiences and the human reaction to them (Matney et al., 2016). Nightingale’s nursing theory provided broad concepts that could be applied to almost any situation.
Origins
Florence Nightingale devoted much of her time to working as a nurse in army hospitals and treating soldiers. Based on her observations, she hypothesized that poor environmental standards, such as a lack of sanitation, were to blame for most soldier deaths rather than their injuries (McEwen & Willis, 2014). She made changes that promoted health and healing and gathered data to show that her methods were effective.
Important Ideas
The five significant points proposed by Nightingale’s theory were pure air, pure water, adequate drainage, cleanliness, and light (McEwen & Willis, 2014). She proposed that the environment affected healing and that keeping the environment clean by following these five points resulted in better patient outcomes. She also advocated for nurses to think independently of physicians while adhering to the medical plan. She urged nurses to observe their patients and document their findings (McEwen & Willis, 2014).
Important Theoretical Propositions
Nightingale proposed in her theory that poor environmental standards were to blame for many soldier deaths in army hospitals. She proposed that healing and health promotion would improve by ensuring nurses met the five standards of pure air, pure water, adequate drainage, cleanliness, and light (McEwen & Willis, 2014).
Important Assumptions
Nightingale provided a broad assumption that cleanliness prevents morbidity and that nurses could independently initiate tasks to ensure cleanliness by collecting data to prove her theory (McEwen & Willis, 2014).
Application Context
Nightingale’s theory provides a foundation for health promotion through cleanliness and is still used as the foundation for guidelines today. Her theory’s main concepts can be applied in any setting and to any patient population. Nightingale’s fundamental principles of disease prevention have withstood the test of time and are still used today, despite all modern advances in medicine and nursing (Lee et al., 2013).
Similar Post: Advanced health assessment of patients and populations
References
Im, E. (2015). The current status of theory evaluation in nursing. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 71(10), 2268–2278. doi:10.1111/jan.12698
Lee, G., Clark, A. M., & Thompson, D. R. (2013). Florence Nightingale – Never more relevant than today. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 69(2), 245–246.
Matney, S. A., Avant, K., & Staggers, N. (2016). Toward an understanding of wisdom in nursing. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 21(1). doi:10.3912/OJIN.Vol21No01PPT02
McEwen, M., & Wills, E. (2014). Philosophy, Science, and Nursing. In Theoretical Basis for Nursing (4th ed., pp. 2-22). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer.
ORDER A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE
We’ll write everything from scratch
Question
Nurses in advanced roles have increased responsibility and accountability for their practice. Therefore, these nurses must have a solid understanding of evaluating nursing theories for their appropriateness and utility.
Pick a nursing theory you may use in your future role (Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner). Briefly describe the theory and then pick three (3) evaluation criteria questions from the following list and use them to evaluate your chosen theory.
- Is the purpose of the theory identified? What is it?
- Are the significant assumptions explained? What are they?
- Are the significant concepts clearly defined? What are they?
- Are the significant relational statements (propositions) clear? What are they?
- Has the theory been tested? How?
- Has the theory been used in nursing practice, education, or leadership? How?