CONTRIBUTION OF NURSING THEORIST
THEORIST PRACTICE
1.Virginia Henderson Assist nurses to describe, explain, and
predict everyday experiences.
Serve to guide assessment, interventions,
and evaluation of nursing care.
Provide a rationale for collecting reliable
and valid data about the health status
of clients, which are essential for effective
decision making and implementation.
Help to describe criteria to measure the
quality of nursing care.
Help build a common nursing terminology
to use in communicating with other health
professionals. 
Ideas are developed and words are defined.
Enhance autonomy (independence and self-
governance) of nursing through defining its
own independent functions.  compatibility of a general nursing theory
2. Faye Glenn he believed that as the education of nurses
Abdellah improves, nursing practice improves as well.  hospital where all five phases of care are
The most important impact of Abdellah’s
theory to the nursing practice is that it helped
transform the focus of the profession from
EDUCATION
Provide a general focus for curriculum design
Guide curricular decision making.
Many nurse educators feel that the PPC
available can provide clinical experience in
which the nurse can learn to solve basic
RESEARCH
Offer a framework for generating
knowledge and new ideas.
Assist in discovering knowledge gaps in
the specific field of study.
Offer a systematic approach to identify
questions for study; select variables,
interpret findings, and validate nursing
interventions.
Approaches to developing nursing
theory
Borrowing conceptual frameworks from
other disciplines.
Inductively looking at nursing practice
to discover theories/concepts to
explain phenomena.
Deductively looking for the
with nursing practice.
Questions from practicing Nurse about
using Nursing theory
She has been a leader in nursing
research and has over one hundred
publications related to nursing care,
education for advanced practice in
nursing and nursing research. 
being “disease-centered” to “patient-
centered.” The patient-centered approach
was constructed to be useful to nursing
practice as it helped bring structure and
organization to what was often been a
disorganized collection of nursing care
experiences. She categorized nursing
problems based on the individual’s needs and
developed a typology of nursing treatment
and nursing goals which served as a basis for
determining and organizing nursing care.
Her twenty one nursing problems made
nurses look at patients’ problems and come
up with nursing plan of care in a thorough
and organized way. Abdellah’s identification
of health needs as overt and covert assists
nurses in exploring unmasked conditions
about the client and plan appropriate
interventions to address them. Client
centered care emphasizes the principle that
every nursing goal should be geared towards
treating the patient and not just the mere
illness. It has been viewed that if all 21
problems are investigated, the patient would
be likely to be thoroughly assessed and thus
will aid the nurse organize appropriate
nursing strategies. Currently, the 21 nursing
problems have been updated to focus on the
patient and nursing diagnosis. It has
ultimately helped nurses develop their
individual critical-thinking skills leading to
increase in job satisfaction and more
productive nurse-patient and nurse-family
interaction.
nursing problems in meeting patients’ needs. 
The three month assignment of professional
nurses may no longer be realistic in such a
setting. 
Organization of hospital and community
services based on patients needs 
In the intensive care unit, the critically ill
patients are concentrated regardless of
diagnosis. 
These patients are under the constant audio-
visual observation of the nurse, with life
saving techniques and equipment immediately
available 
In the intermediate care unit are concentrated
patients requiring a moderate amount of
nursing care, not of an emergency nature, who
are ambulatory for short periods, and who are
beginning to participate in he planning of
their own care 
The self-care unit provides for patients who
are physically self-sufficient and require
diagnostic and convalescent care in hotel-type
accommodations. This unit serves as a link
between the hospital and the home. 
In the long-term care unit are concentrated
patients requiring prolonged care. The
grouping of such patients will permit staffing
patterns that are less costly 
3. Jean Watson Watson’s work can be used to guide and
improve practice.
It can provide the nurse with the most
satisfying aspects of practice and can provide
the client with the holistic care so necessary
for human growth and development.
Theories must be consistent with other
validated theories, laws and principles but
will leave open unanswered questions  that
need to be investigated
Watson’s work is supported by the
theoretical work of numerous humanists,
philosophers, developmentalists and
psychologists.
She clearly designates the theories of stress,
development, communication, teaching-
learning, humanistic psychology and
existential phenomenology which provide the
foundation for the science of caring.
4. Betty Neuman The Neuman systems model has been
applied and adapted to various specialties
include family therapy, public health,
rehabilitation, and hospital nursing.
The sub specialties include pulmonary,
renal, critical care, and hospital medical
units. One of the model’s strengths is that it
can be used in a variety of settings
Her work Nursing: the philosophy and
science of Caring, she defines her intent to
describe the core of nursing (those aspect s of
the nurse patient relationship resulting in a
therapeutic outcome) rather than the trim of
nursing (the priocedures, Tasks and
techniques used in the practice setting) The
framework is not limited to any nursing
specialty.. her works lead to thought-
provoking experience by emphasizing deep
inner reflection and personal growth.
The model has also been widely accepted in
academic circles.
It has often been selected as a curriculum
guide for a conceptual framework oriented
more toward wellness than toward a medical
model and has been used at various levels of
nursing education.
Watson’s theory is based on
phenomenological studies that
generally ask questions rather than state
hypotheses. Its purpose is to describe
the phenomena, to analyze and to gain
an understanding.
Theories contribute to and assist in
increasing the general body within the
discipline through research
implemented to validate them
According to Watson the best method
to test this theory is through field study.
An example is her work in the area of
loss and caring that took place in
Cundeelee, Western Australia and
involved a tribe of aborigines.
A study was published by Riehl and
Roy to test the usefulness of the
Neuman model in nursing practice.
There were two major objectives of the
study.
To test the model/assessment’ tool for
its usefulness as a unifying method of

Using this conceptual model permits
comparison of a nurse’s interpretation of a
problem with that of the patient, so the
patient and nurse do not work on two
separate problems.
The role of the nurse in the model is to work
with the patient to move him as far as
possible along a continuum toward wellness.
Because this model requires individual
interaction with the total health care system,
it is indicative of the futuristic direction the
nursing profession is taking.
The patient is being relabeled as a consumer
with individual needs and wants.
5.Myra Estine Levine Conservational model has been used for
nursing practice in different settings
Bayley discussed the care of a severely
burned teenagers on the basis of four
conservational principles and discussed
patient’s perceptual, operational and
conceptual environment
Pond used conservation model for guiding
the nursing care of homeless at a clinic,
In the associate degree program at Indiana
University.
One of the objectives for nursing graduate is
to demonstrate ability to use the Neuman
health care system in nursing practice. This
helps prepare the students for developing a
frame of reference centered on holistic care.
At northwestern State University in
Shreveport, Louisiana, the faculty
determined that a systems model approach
was preferred for their master’s program
because of the universality framework.
Acceptance by the nursing community for
education therefore is evident.
Conservational model was used as guidelines
for curriculum development
It was used to develop nursing undergraduate
program at Allentown college of St.Francis
de sales, Pennsylvania
Used in nursing education program
sponsored by Kapat Holim in Israel
collecting and analyzing data for
identifying client problems.
To test the assessment tool for its
usefulness in the identification of
congruence between the client’s
perception of stressors and the care
giver’s perception of client stressors.
Results indicated that the model can
help categorize data for assessing and
planning care and for guiding decision
making.
Neuman’s model can easily generate
nursing research.
It does this by providing a framework
to develop goals for desired outcomes.
Acceptance by the nursing community
for research applying this model is in
the beginning stages and positive.
Principles of conservation have been
used for data collection in various
researches
Conservational model was used by
Hanson et al.in their study of incidence
and prevalence of pressure ulcers in
hospice patient
Newport used principle of conservation
of energy and social integrity for
 shelters or streets
6. Hildegard Peplau Used widely around the world – nursing
education
Often integrated into policies without credit
to Peplau – Public Domain
Patient health education, palliative care,
oncology, AIDS care, quality of life, private
practice, nurse practitioners, home care & of
course, psychiatric nursing
Nurse counseling of individuals and groups
7. Calista Roy the nurse assesses first the behaviors and
second the stimuli affecting those behaviors.
In a third step the nurse makes a statement or
nursing diagnosis of the person’s adaptive
state and fourth, sets goals to promote
adaptation. Fifth, nursing interventions are
aimed at managing the stimuli to promote
adaptation. The last step in the nursing
process is evaluation. By manipulating the
stimuli and not the patient, the nurse
enhances the interaction of the person with
comparing the body temperature of
infant’s who had been placed on
mother’s chest immediately after birth
with those who were placed in warmer
U.S. focus has been on cost
containment, causing delivery to be
fragmented and restricted - minimal
research efforts
Research has been fairly inconsistent
and scattered abroad
Most within National Healthcare
System of Canada in recent years
Most research has been qualitative – not
quantitative
Home care, Public Health, Depression,
Education of Patients, Nature of Nurse-
patient relations, Role expectations,
Preferred Nursing care of ventilated
patients
(Peterson, 2009)
Yet worldwide influences on the
development of psychiatric nursing
practice have been substantial
For any theory, the acid test is utility in
practice
The adaptation model is also useful in If research is to affect practitioners’
educational setting. Roy states that the behavior, it must be directed at testing
model defines for students the distinct and retesting conceptual models for
purpose of nursing which is to promote nursing practice. Roy has stated that
man’s adaptation in each of the adaptive theory development and the testing of
developed theories are nursing’s highest
modes in situations of health and illness. priorities. The model must be able to
regenerate testable hypotheses for it to
In the early 1980’s be researchable.
the School of Nursing at
the University of Ottawa experienced a
major curriculum change. This change
 their environment, thereby promoting health.
Hamner in 1989 discussed
the Roy model and how it could be applied to
nursing care in a cardiac unit (CCU). Hamner
describes the model as enhancing care in the
CCU and being consistent with the nursing
process. Hamner found that the model
assessed all patients’ behavior, so that none
was excluded. The author discovered that
the Roy model provides a structure in which
manipulation of stimuli are not overlooked.
The model puts emphasis on identifying and
reinforcing positive behavior which speeds
recovery.
included incorporating a nursing model by
which to base their new curriculum. The
change included incorporating a nursing
model by which to base their new
curriculum. The Roy adaptation model
was one of the models to be included in
the first year of the baccalaureate
program. The professors had to meet four
challenges during this change:
1. Adapting the course to be congruent
with the Roy model,

2. Developing teaching tools suitable for

student learning.

3. Sequencing of content for student

learning

4. Obtaining competent role models.

8. johnson Johnson's theory can be applied to to
administrative nursing as well. The
behavioral model has been used to structure
administration departments of clinical
agencies.
Today nursing has made
large improvements in becoming a
profession, but has not yet met its
goal. The challenges that are faced
today are that our health care
system is fragmented. Hospitals are
receiving less money for services
provided, budget cuts are leading to
layoffs, and managed care is
controlling funding. Money for
nursing is decreasing and there is a
threat that associate degree
programs will be eliminated and
other programs will be downsized.
There is a need for urgency to
Johnson’s model of behavioral
subsystems has been, and continues to
be, utilized as a conceptual framework
for understanding and defining the
behavioral patterns demonstrated by
human beings as well as evaluating
patient care outcomes within the clinical
setting. Researchers have utilized
Johnson’s model in initiating studies on
matters such as the quality of nursing
care received by hospitalized patients,
the alterations in behavioral patterns of
psychiatric patients, management of pain
in patients with metastatic cancer,
accomplishments made by ill-stricken
children in comparison to those made by
children who are presumably healthy,

9. R o s e m a r i e  A transformative approach to all levels of
Rizzo Pars
nursing
 Differs from the traditional nursing
process, particularly in that it does not
seek to “fix” problems
 Ability to see patients perspective allows
nurse to “be with” patient and guide them
toward desired health outcomes
 Nurse-person relationship cocreates
changing health patterns
10. PENDER “We are moving toward an era of
science-based practice in nursing that
incorporates the latest findings from the
behavioral and biological sciences into
practice to assist people of varying cultural
backgrounds to adopt healthy lifestyles.” –
Pender
As what they say, prevention is better than
cure. Thus, health promotion is valued
continue theory development in
nursing to justify and guide practice.
As the field of nursing continues to
face decreases in funding, nursing
will have to continue to justify its
existence to governmental and
private sources in order to continue
to receive support. As nurses, it is
important that we continue to
understand the importance of theory,
research, and evidence based
practice; our "profession" depends
on it.
“I believe that the future will be
very bright and productive for nurses who
direct their careers toward understanding
disease prevention and health promotion
processes.” – Pender
Nurses are expected to be adaptive. Indeed,
changes are always constant. In health care
settings, patients come & go. Meet & greet.
Recover or expire. As this theory advocated,
etc; all of which have significantly
impacted profession of nursing and
differentiating it from the world of
medicine. Johnson’s model has assisted
researchers in studying and analyzing
various behavioral subsystems among
human beings spanning from the time of
birth well into seniority. The model has
been utilized and incorporated in the
development of numerous assessment
tools used to examine and measure
alterations in human behavior. Johnson’s
model has essentially paved the way for
the development of theory for the
purpose of developing a foundation of
knowledge for nurses to utilize in
practice.
 Enhances understanding of human
lived experience, health, quality of
life and quality of nursing practice
 Expands the theory of human
becoming
 Builds new nursing knowledge
about universal lived experiences
which may ultimately contribute to
health and quality of life
1. “I was committed to health
promotion and encouraged
other scholars to move in that
direction long before health
promotion and risk reduction
became popular.” - Pender
Research help Health Care
provider to develop a
systematic problem-solving
much. But how? Question seems hard…hard
as if you don’t know how to solve the
problems of the world…But how, again? If
super heroes could save life using their
super powers, we nurses could do more by
using our caring touch, and therapeutic
talks. Health teachings are always part of
nurses’ experience in the workplace.
Despite of various clinical & community
health care settings, we nurses are always
interacting with our patient/client.
ommunity health care setting is the best
avenue in promoting health & preventing
illnesses. Using Pender’s Health Promotion
Model, community program may be focused
on activities that can improve the well-
being of the people. Health promotion and
disease prevention can more easily be
carried out in the community, as compared
to programs that aim to cure disease
conditions. This is because the people in the
rural area tend to veer away from modern
medical methods. Most of them, due to
financial reasons, choose to avail of the
services offered by “herbolarios” and other
folk healers. In our local setting, promoting
health to our fellow Filipinos is very crucial.
Though, there are campaigns provided by
our government’s health agency, which is
the Department of Health (DOH), there’s
still a big percentage in the population who
live unhealthily and many are suffering from
different type of diseases.
Nurses, though are scattered in different
fields, have common primary concern: to
promote health to every individual. The
following are just examples of methods on
how to promote health to our fellows.
Insight from an ICU nurse… Although most
patients admitted in the ICU are
experiencing health problems, Health
Promotion Model may still be applied in one
way or another. This is projected towards
improving health condition and prevention
we should not allow our patients to
experience severe conditions if we could
only prevent them from encountering such.
We are expected to know, if not in depth,
the disease processes. Because of this know-
how, we could apply health promotion and
worsening prevention before the hands of
the clock stop moving.
Percentage of nurses is geared towards
continuing professional education. Attending
seminars & conventions. Enrolling to
masteral & doctoral classes. All are goaled
towards becoming competent nurses. Nursing
education is not a one-phase process. It does
not end after passing the licensing exam. It
is continuous. Unending. Ever changing. We
must be abreast with new technologies, new
approaches, and new techniques. Because of
this theory, we nurses could address more
the needs and problems of the client before
it progresses to exacerbation. This model
could be a basis for structuring nursing
protocols and interventions.
approach to improve and
develop strategies to promote
good health to individuals.
Through research we will be
able to clarify and verify the
phenomenon.
Evidenced-based practice is
fast emerging because of its
factual and substantive results.
These researches yield fruitful
outcome that of great help in
addressing arising problems and
in setting nursing protocols.
Much more research must be
done to tailor interventions to
individuals rather than to group
stereotypes.
If we could remember, common
research topics in our nursing
college days are health
promotion techniques and
disease prevention. To name a
few, some geared their
research on effectiveness of
Expanded Program on
Immunization, others on health
practices of mothers and
families, some on efficiency of
early detection of common
illnesses. These are all but few
of the model’s application to
research.
of further debilitating conditions. Diet
modifications and performing passive &
active range of motion exercises are
examples of its application.