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Middle range theory of nursing

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Middle range theory of nursing

Components of the theory

The theory outlines a set of ideas that focuses on the limited platform of the reality of

nursing life. The theory is applied in guiding the nurses in their daily practices, thus obtaining a

reference for the nurse's needs. The theory offers guidance to the nurses regarding the selection

on the intervention regarding various patients care situations. The middle-range theory comprises

the following sub-theories; Synergy Model, Theory of Comfort, Theory of Group Power within

Organizations, The Framework of Systemic Organization, Theory of Maternal Role Attainment,

and Nurse as Wounded Healer.

The philosophical basis of this theory is to describe the ideas applied in nursing and the

level of disclosure required to the patient's health condition. Regarding the philosophical view,

the assumption and beliefs are highly recognized and utilized in this theory. They are regarded as

true and fair values regarding the practice and the research conducted in this theory. Therefore

the beliefs adopted in this theory helps in proper reasoning of the research and the practice
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conducted (Mabbott, 2015). The philosophical basis applied in appropriate conduction of the

activities in the nursing or in advancing the health services are as outlined below; Interactive,

through a proper mode of communication between the nurse and the patients, helps in boosting

the interactive level, which helps to improve the quality of the services offered.

The nurses need to be particulate that is they need to major in different areas of

specialization as these will help them advance the health services provided to the patients. The

nurses need to be deterministic; that is, they are supposed to be determined to help them execute

proper health services. Nurses should focus on transformative views as this will help the

practitioners make more advancement in the health services offered to the patients, thus

improving the overall health conditions of society. Nurses need to be united in their duties,

conducting the research and executing most of the practices through the ideas gathered as this

will help advance the quality of the health services offered to the patients and the whole society.

Structural aspects of the theory

The framework of the theory; in this structure, there is integrating of the theory and

empirical research, which makes the theory a sociological theorizing approach. In this structural

form, the empirical phenomenon starts as the first step where statements are generated, verified

using different data (Reimer & Moore, 2016). In the empirical level gathering of ideas is done

using various means like the questionnaire, interview, observation, and narrative—this

information aids in conducting additional research and practices in the nursing practices. The

theoretical level emphasizes on implementations of the ideas gathered to supplement the ideas

gathered at the practical level as these ideas help in the execution of different approaches

efficiently. The philosophical level is the level where ethical principles are well outlined, as these

principles help improve the model and criteria of offering the nursing practices to the patients.
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An area of your practice where this theory could be applicable

The theory helps in overcoming many challenges encountered in the nurse's practices,

like the turnover rate or shortage of the nurses. The theory helps understand the nurses' stress and

how they can cope with their work effectively. The area of interest in relationship with the

middle range theory is the nursing development and the practices that help advance the nursing

discipline (Chinn, 2013). The other area of interest concerning the nursing practices is ethical

practices, as they help in offering quality nursing services to the patients. The other area of

interest is the clinical nursing practices, where the middle range theory aids in providing

different ways in which the practitioners and the patients relate well.

Practice settings are essential in the nursing practitioner as they help achieve a quality level of

performance amongst the nurses as they are divided into different levels of nursing, thus

improving the competency in the way the patients are handled. Practice settings help manage the

patients with a lot of care and maintain the safety of the patients effectively. The practice setting

helps improve the clinical purposes' competency, thus boosting the health condition of the

population in the country.

The strengths and weaknesses of the middle-range theory are strengths; the theory offers

a platform for resolving the encountered situations. The theory provides a platform for analyzing

the situations and formulation of the proper decisions regarding the health of the patients and the

delivery of the services. The theory offers views and suggestions that help the practitioner take

care of the patients correctly. Through the theory, the nurses can improve their professional level

through the high level of education they acquire. Weaknesses; the theory does not offer the

psychological and social health of the patients and causes the environment have on the two
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factors. The theory has an assumption that the sickness is constant, thus relating to the

environment.

Use of middle-range theory in clinical practice.

The theory has been widely applied in clinical practice through the comfort model, where

comfort care programs should be offered to nurses and patients. These will improve the quality

of the services provided. The theory has helped the professionals in the clinical practices enhance

their reasoning skills, allowing them to perform their duties effectively, mostly in maternal care

(SWANSON, 2016). The theory helps the clinical offer platform to interpret the clinical data,

develop suitable plans, and offer solutions to the identified issues, which help provide quality

health care practices. Applying this theory in clinical practices has aided reduce maternal fatality

and malpractices in maternal services.

Evaluation of the theory

The theory is used to understand the nursing practices that are applied in nursing

professionals as it offers ideas that are vital in performing most of their obligations. The nurses

have a place to refer when needs arise in conducting their activities (Smith, 2015). The

weaknesses encountered in this theory are that the theory does offer some of the causes of certain

health issues amongst the patients; therefore, the theory does not focus on the patients' overall

health, including the factors contributing to some of the health conditions. The theory should

focus on all the health issues and aspects that affect the patients as this will give a wide range of

ideas that will help enhance good nursing practices.

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References

Chinn, P. (2013). Why Middle-Range Theory?. Advances In Nursing Science, 19(3), viii.

https://doi.org/10.1097/00012272-199703000-00001

Mabbott, I. (2015). Middle Range Theory Development Using King’s Conceptual SystemMiddle

Range Theory Development Using King’s Conceptual System. Nursing Standard, 22(47),

31-31. https://doi.org/10.7748/ns2008.07.22.47.31.b791

Reimer, A., & Moore, S. (2016). Flight nursing expertise: towards a middle-range

theory. Journal Of Advanced Nursing, 66(5), 1183-1192. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-

2648.2010.05269.x

Smith, A. (2015). Middle Range Theory for Nursing. Clinical Nurse Specialist, 19(1), 49.

https://doi.org/10.1097/00002800-200501000-00015

SWANSON, K. (2016). Empirical Development Of a Middle Range Theory of Caring. Nursing

Research, 40(3), 161???165. https://doi.org/10.1097/00006199-199105000-00008