THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS IN NURSING
Mr. John Villegas || 2021-2021
NAME: Estorninos,Angela B.
COURSE & SECTION: BS Nursing 136 / Sec.8
WEEK 1: BASIC CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS
 INTRODUCTION:
This topic focuses on laying down the foundation
on basic concepts that you will encounter as we
move from simple to complex discussion. You
need to have a good grasp of this terminology in
order to understand how theory is being
conceptualized and categorized according to the
structure of nursing knowledge.
 LEARNING OUTCOME
At the end of this session, YOU will be able to:
• Define concepts related to theory.
• Identify the structure of nursing
knowledge.
• Define the metaparadigms of Nursing.
 OUTLINE
1. Structure of Nursing Knowledge
1.1 Philosophy
1.2 Conceptual Models
1.3 Theory
1.4 Concept
1.5 Middle-range theory
2. Metaparadigm
2.1 Person
2.2 Health
2.3 Environment
2.4 Nursing
STRUCTURE OF NURSING KNOWLEDGE
1.1 PHILOSOPHY
- a statement encompassing ontological
claims about the phenomena of central
interest to a discipline, epistemic claims
about how those phenomena come to be
known, and ethical claims about what the
members of a discipline value.
1.2 CONCEPTUAL MODELS (Conceptual
framework,conceptual system, paradigm,
disciplinary matrix)
- set of relatively abstract and general
concepts that address the phenomena of
central interest to a discipline, the
propositions that broadly describe those
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concepts, and the propositions that state
relatively abstract and general relations
between two or more concepts (Fawcett,
2005)
1.3 THEORY
- “creative and rigorous structure of ideas
that projects a tentative purposeful and
systematic view of phenomena” (Chinn
and Kramer, 1999 p.51)
- A group of related concepts that propose
actions that guide practice
- A set of concepts, definitions,
relationships, assumptions that project a
systematic view of a phenomena.
- Often called the building blocks of
Theories
- may be abstract & concrete concepts
- Mental formulation of an object or event
that come from individual perceptual
experience.
1.4 MIDDLE RANGE THEORY
- A theory comprising limited numbers of
variables, each of limited scope. Middle-
range theories maybe descriptive,
explanatory (specifying relationships
between two or more concepts), or
predictive (envisioning relationships
between concepts or effects of certain
concepts on others). It is made up of a
limited number of concepts and
propositions that are written at a
relatively concrete and specific level.
Middle-range theories are generated or
tested by means of research and are used
as the evidence for practice activities,
such as assessment and intervention.
1.1 BASIC CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS

METAPARADIGMS connections and technology. This metaparadigm

component theorizes that a person can modify
- Consist of the central concepts of person,
her environmental factors to improve her health
environment, health and nursing
status.
- A metaparadigm is a set of ideas that provide
1.4 NURSING
structure for how a discipline should
The nursing component of the metaparadigm involves
function. For a nursing discipline, these the delivery of optimal health outcomes for the patient
theories consist of four basic concepts that through a mutual relationship in a safe and caring
address the patient as a whole, the patient’s environment. The nursing component applies
health and well-being, the patient’s principles of knowledge, skills, technology,
environment and the nursing collaborations, professional judgement and
responsibilities. communication to carry out duties and responsibilities
1.1 PERSON for achieving the best possible scenario in patient
health outcome. This nursing component values a high
The person component of the metaparadigm
degree of service, and integrates with other
focuses on the receiver of care. However, the
metaparadigm components for patient well-being.
person connection also includes family members
and other groups important to the patient. The
care structure considers the person’s spiritual
and social needs as well as health care needs. The
resulting health outcome is attributed to how the
person interacts with these physical and social
connections. The premise is that the person is
empowered to manage his health and well-being
with dignity and self-preservation with positive
personal connections.
1.2 HEALTH
The health component of the four metaparadigms
refers to the extent of wellness and health care
access that a patient has. This health component
is characterized as one with multiple dimensions
in a constant state of motion. Health and wellness
covers a person’s lifespan and genetic makeup,
and how the physical, emotional, intellectual,
social and spiritual well-being is integrated in
health care for maximum health benefits.The
theory is that these factors influence the patient’s
state of well-being.
1.3 ENVIRONMENT
The environment aspect of the nursing
metaparadigms focuses on the surroundings that
affect the patient. The environment consists of
internal and external influences, and contends
that how a person continuously interacts with her
surroundings has a bearing on health and
wellness. Interactions with family, friends and
other people are part of the environment, as are
physical and social factors such as economic
conditions, geographic locations, culture, social
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