Concept analys - Assignment Example

Concept Analysis in Nursing Practice Concept Analysis in Nursing Practice People have been studying to contribute more in the society. They cannot function well without the knowledge gained by learning which starts with theories. The theories provide wider perspective for the students to understand and analyze the situations and problems to solve. The broader awareness serves as the prerequisite of sound action, and the knowledge that widens the awareness comes from concepts. Concepts are formed from the understanding of men regarding certain phenomena.

They produce ideas with connections from thoughts that become established into concepts. They are proven to have logical connections, physical connections and causal relations (Sassen, 2000, p. 240). Concepts must provide explanations to certain phenomena or events using intuitive thinking which may provide a better understanding using reasons, symbols and cause-and-effect. In addition, concepts have been created by people to represent things to provide meanings to them so that people may get explanations leading to understanding (Novacek and Smrz, 2006, p. 70). In short, concepts do not need to be physically tested as they can be products of intuitive thinking.

Concepts are developed when certain phenomena exist with little or no explanations (Dashiff, 2010). People look for the explanations for the events that happen around them so they can better act and solve if ever problems exist. New concepts may also be formed when the established concepts are already out-of-date which require ground-breaking explanations to adapt to the current state of the phenomena (Dashiff, 2010). Change has been constant and some concepts may not be able to adjust to the environment and development so new concepts must be created.

Concepts may also come out when there are gaps between practice and research (Dashiff, 2010). Research has been present to provide evidences and support to improve the practice of certain professions.In nursing, it has been necessary to have concept analysis to provide further development for the practice of that profession. Concepts provide the framework for nurses and nursing students to understand certain phenomena in their profession by providing meaning and connections with abstract ideas (Fitzpatrick and Kazer, 2012).

For concept analysis to be successful, various traditional approaches have been developed.Concept analysis started with the approach created by Wilson which is composed of 11 steps (Meleis, 2012, p. 372). The steps must come to conclusion in choosing the words that best fit the meaning and concept applied in nursing through reflection. Words may have various meanings so it is essential to choose one among those definitions and label it (ibid, p. 378). A shorter version of the 11 steps had been made by Avant to provide a shorter approach to concept analysis.

Another method of concept analysis had been made by Chinn and Kramer wherein they focus on concept clarification as a way to develop critical thinking skills. They have created various steps starting off with the reasons for clarification followed by creating list of sources and ends with concept development (Meleis, 2012, p. 375). Another approach had been developed by Chinn and Jacobs wherein they provide the ideal form of the concept that allows a simulation in the mind to understand the phenomena (ibid, p. 384). The said model allows a better analysis of the characteristics, direction and relationship strength (ibid, p. 386). The main approach to be discussed in the write-up would be the equilibrium approach to concept analysis in nursing.

The evidence-based practice develops in response to the evolutionary changes from simple to complex entities. In addition, that approach requires the observation and consideration of the wholeness which later develops into a holistic approach to concept analysis. Rogers developed the approach as influenced by Greek and Buddhist philosophies that showcase the development of knowledge in the process (Meleis, 2012, p. 316). It tends to unite the theory, research and practice in the nursing field to provide further development for the said field or profession.

In addition, it has been a big concern on how to maintain the balance that became the aim of the aforementioned approach to concept analysis (Andrist et al., 2006, p. 214). Truly, concept analysis has undergone various transformations to cater the increasing needs in concept development. After all, creating more concepts is needed to open doors to certain phenomena that are less studied.ReferencesAndrist, L., Nicholas, P. and Wolf, K. (2006). A history of nursing ideas. USA: Jones and Bartlett.

Dashiff, C. (2010). Concepts and practice. USA: University of Alabama.Fitzpatrick, J. and Kazer, W. (2012). Encyclopedia of nursing research. USA: Springer.Meleis, A. (2012). Theoretical nursing: Development and progress. USA: Wolters Kluwer Health.Novacek, V. and Smrz, P. (2006). Empirical merging of ontologies – A proposal of universal uncertainty representation framework. In Y. Sure and J. Domingue (Eds.), The semantic web: Research and applications. Germany: Springer.Sassen, B. (2000). Kants early critics: The empiricist critique of the theoretical philosophy.

United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.