NURSING THEORY

 A group of interrelated concepts that are developed from various studies of disciplines and related experiences.
This aims to view the essence of nursing care Melleis,1991) – an articulated and communicated
conceptualization of invented or discovered reality in or pertaining to nursing for the purpose of describing,
explaining, predicting or prescribing nursing care.(Barnum, 1994) – is composed of context, content and
process.
a. Context - resembles environment to which nursing act takes place.
b. Content - subject of the theory.
c. Process – method by which nurse acts in using nursing theory.

Diagram:
Describes

Explains
THEOR Nursing Care
Predicts

Prescribes

THE METAPARADIGM OF NURSING:

1. Person - is the recipient of nursing care like individuals, families and communities.
Example: Nightingale proposed that the physical, intellectual and spiritual being of a person is not
capable of manipulating the environment to promote health. This means that a person is a passive
recipient of care.
2. Environment –are the external and internal aspects of life that influence the person.
Example: Physical environment is emphasized by Nightingale in her theory. She focused
ventilation, noise, warmth, light and cleanliness.
3. Health - is the holistic level of wellness that the person experiences.
Example: Nightingale defined nursing as “a profession for women, a calling with the goal to
discover and use the laws governing health in the service of humanity”. She believed that the
goal of all nursing activity should promote client’s health.
4. Nursing - are the interventions of the nurse rendering care in support of, or in cooperation with the client.
Example: Nightingale emphasized that a nurse is responsible in promoting wellbeing of clients by
manipulating the environment.
NOTE: These four major concepts establish a better direction and understanding of nursing
profession.

TYPES OF THEORIES:
1. Descriptive Theories / Factor Isolating Theories
 Are known to be the primary level of theory development.
 They identify and describe major concepts of phenomena; however, they
do not explain the relationship of the concepts.