Theory and Knowledge Development in Nursing - Essay Example

Theory and Knowledge Development in Nursing 1. The Relationship of Theory as a Guide for Nursing Knowledge Nursing knowledge is the way by which a wide range of caring for patients is done by using theoretical and practical knowledge. Theory is a systematic articulation of statements related to any topics providing a distinct idea. Nurses need to be efficient, effective and accurate to make a better result; and they will be useful and significant if they help nurses to understand and facilitate the human health problems. And the methods used to apply knowledge can be differed according to the convenience and particularity of the situations. Nursing is both a profession and a discipline nursing as field profession is a practice and when we consider it as knowledge it is a discipline. There are a number of theories advocated by scientists. Theories are definitely the backbone of any discipline and nursing is no exception here. Here I would like to make a brief explanation on the components of theory. Theory consists concepts that are inevitable for practice guidance. Nursing theories are formed out of concepts, definitions assumptions with or without the help of other disciplines or derived from different particular instances; and there are a number of inter- relationships made between them for predicting, explaining and prescribing things (Nursing Theories: An Overview). Theories universally contain concepts, prepositions, metaparadigm, philosophies and conceptual models. Concepts are occurred in mind as ideas on a phenomenon. This is an intellectual process through intuition. They indicate and signify ideas observations or experiences. For instance, relief can be an idea in nursing. Concepts can be useful in creating knowledge on phenomena. These concepts also are supported by constructs. Generally concepts are of three kinds; empirical, inferential and abstract. A statement of relationship between two concepts are said to be prepositions. Structural holarchy of contemporary nursing knowledge include components like metaparadigm, conceptual models, theories, and empirical indicators and their level of abstraction differs; and concepts and propositions are the important to explain a theory (Lesson, 2.1) There are several theories of nursing used by the practitioners today; and those theories are grouped into divisions according to the nature and functions of the theory. Nursing theories can be classified from different categories. Depending on its function it can be divided into four namely, descriptic, explanatory, predictive and perspective. Based on generalisability of their principles they are divided into Meta theory and grand theory. Middle range theory and practice theory are the third one based on the principles of the discipline. Looking from the stand point of philosophy, it can be needs theories, interaction theories, outcome theories and humanistic theories. But the important classification is into grand theories and middle range theories. Prominent among the theories today are Orland nursing theory, Newman theory, Parse theory, Peplaun Theory and Watson Theory. There are also theories called borrowed, which are adopted from other disciplines. Grand theories are the most abstract in nature. Grand theories are instrumental in making nursing as a science. Grand theories are built up on concepts and propositions that are less abstract. These theories are difficult to be practiced in daily nursing tasks. On the other hand middle range theory is more concrete. Middle range theories are originated from conceptual models directly. So, they are very much useful in current nursing practice. Middle range theories are of high middle level, middle- middle level and low middle level. 2. The meaning of metaparadigm of nursing? A metaparadigm is considered to be the way to describe concepts that concern any profession or domain. This concept was firstly introduced in early 1970’s. Several versions of metaparadigm theory has been invented since its beginning (lesson 2.1). Metaparadigms are more universal and extremely comprehensive. There is no particular direction for this. That is only a frame to work with. It is important because it is to recognize one discipline from all others. It also helps to treat a concept internationally one and it is easy to measure in this term. As Butts and Rich (2010, p. 108) describe, most of the disciplines will have a single metaparadigm but multiple conceptual models; so this multiple conceptual models help members of the discipline to view things from different angles keeping one metaparadigm. As Daniel (2004) points out, considering the metaparadigm of nursing, most of the exponents are tend to include four factors in it. Firstly, human being or person: participants in nursing such as families, individuals, communities and other groups are meant by this. It helps in identifying own strengths and using them effectively. Secondly, environment: The environment in which nurses work can be supportive or challenging. It indicates the physical surroundings such as cultural, social, economic, national and local conditions. Health: Health is a matter of everyday living and it is affected by various factors such as hereditary factors, cultures, circumstances and habits etc. By this, human process of living and dying is mentioned here. Lastly nursing: The actions taken by nurses on behalf of human beings include activities like diagnosis, planning, assessment, intervention, and evaluation. They work self motivated and self- directed that they adjust themselves with their environments (p. 54). 3. Metaparadigm linked with my current practice My profession is totally different from other professions. I have got a lot of responsibilities as it is important to take care of lives of the people. A nurse has to ensure the four central factors of nursing such as person, environment, health and my duty itself that is nursing. When I practice my profession, automatically I cover all those factors and do my best .Metaparadigm of nursing is all about the practical section. And I have found that the metaparadigm theory is really true regarding my current practice. I always give priority to my profession rather than thinking of the convenience of my work. When I am working in the hospital, I think in mind that I should be always alert to go to the patients. And when any of these factors are disturbed, the task becomes more complicated. 4. Philosophy of nursing Philosophy is very difficult define. And it also differs from person to person and according to the ideas. For some it is the hermeneutics of human experience and for others it is a way of life or way of looking at things. We philosophize in search of knowledge and truth. So it is an ongoing process; and it is an activity of thought and it requires intuition and cognitive thinking (Just what is Philosophy, anyway?). It includes analytical and synthetic mode of operation. It also has an importance for the demand for knowledge in society. Philosophy originates when we start questioning. Doubting is the first step in questioning. Philosophy of nursing refers to our thoughts on our thinking about the nature of profession. It includes what is the concept of nursing? Why nursing is important? How it should be treated? Philosophy of nursing differs from person to person as the thinking pattern is different. According to me nursing is a noble duty; other than a profession it is something that I ought to do. I am taking care of the life of patients as it used to be. So patient is trusting me and I must be responsible for the work that I do. Nursing is not a thing that someone does as wish. It is working on principles and theories that have been scientifically proved. My philosophy of nursing definitely influences my profession. Suppose, my philosophy of nursing is to work for the patience without considering the economic factors, I will certainly help a poor patient in time. I strongly agree with statement that the nursing is unique and it has got its own body of knowledge. Because it has been functioning on scientifically proved ideologies and are supported by a lot of current instances. And another factor that compels me to believe is that it is still being updated every day according to the need of the society. 5. Theory and knowledge development in nursing As Hila (2007) comments, theories and knowledge development continue to be on debate or discussion to invent new and sophisticated facts; and there are still a few who think that this may lead to further confusion. Theories and knowledge in nursing are to a great extent developed themselves and the disciplines work on them. Even though Nursing has borrowed some of the ideas from other fields, it has made the necessary modifications and given unique place in nursing. And to make it clear I would say that no disciplines stand by its own; every discipline has to take some ideas from other streams to explain concepts in a better way. Nursing is both a science and an art. And a number of other disciplines also contribute to the theory and knowledge development in nursing. 6. My greatest learning while doing this assignment By doing this assignment I have come across a different way of thinking and paraphrasing things. Moreover, it has boosted my interest in the topic that I decided to learn more on the topic. It also helped me to change my presupposed thinking of the past. The area of greatest learning while doing this assignment was that it gave me a lot of insights into the philosophy of nursing. I found great interest in this because I already possessed my own philosophy of nursing and the study broadened my thinking pattern. Now feel that I should work with more responsibility and human consideration. 7. Nursing theory in practice setting Theories are always facts and they are not merely created. They represent certain truthful ideas. Those theories that I have grasped from my study will always help me in understanding various problems that would occur in the profession. I will have to work with a lot of colleagues. There the terms used to describe and analyze the problems and symptoms will be those that I have studied in my study. And I also will work efficiently and update my knowledge day by day. The theories keep the profession one and same everywhere. So I will face no difficulty in working anywhere. Reference Butts, J. Rich, K. (2010). Philosophies and Theories for Advanced Nursing Practice. Jones & Bartlett Learning,. Danial, R. (2004). Nursing Fundamentals: Caring & Clinical Decision Making. Cengage Learning. Hila, S. J.(2007). Nursing Theory and Knowledge Development: A Descriptive Review of Doctoral Dissertations, 2000-2004. Advances in Nursing Science. 30,(1). p E1-E14. Just what is Philosophy, anyway? (2000). Retrieved From. http://www.qcc.cuny.edu/socialSciences/ppecorino/INTRO_TEXT/Chapter%2012Conclusion/What_is_Philosophy.htm Nursing Theories: An Overview. Retrieved From. http://currentnursing.com/nursing_theory/nursing_theories_overview.html Read More