Nursing Theorist - Research Paper Example

Nursing Theorist s Introduction This present paper focuses on two nursing theorists and the theories that they conceptualized. The research paper will commence by reviewing concepts that are related to the major nursing theorists and critical thinkers. Secondly, the research paper will discuss about two elements from each concept and then explain why these two elements are essential to a personal professional nursing practice.According to the writings by Carol and Carol (2001, p 46), a nursing theory refers to, “a coherent group of general propositions that are used as principles for explanation.

” While the term concept is described as, an idea of something that already exists and it is a basic component of a theory. Concepts of major nursing theoriesFlorence Nightingale With reference to the studies conducted by Tomey and Alligood (2002), it is noted that Florence Nightingale is one of the major theorist in the field of nursing and she is well known for her environmental theory, which stipulates that the environment surrounding an individual is a major determinant of the individual’s well-being or health status.

According to Tomey and Alligood (2002), the main concepts related to the Nightingale’s theory stipulated that the environment comprises of all factors including social, psychological, and physical factors, and hence, an individual’s health can be maintained at a desirable status by controlling or influencing the surrounding environment. The other key concept of the Nightingale’s theory stipulates that nurses are fully responsible for controlling patients’ environment by providing them with balanced diet, clean surrounding, warmth, and even fresh air.

Virginia Henderson With reference to the writings by Evelyn and Melanie (2002), it is stated that another notable contributor to the body of knowledge in the field of nursing is Virginia Henderson, who is best known for her theory on the nature of nursing. The Henderson theory states that the key role of a nurse is to assist an individual to perform activities that can contribute to his or her well-being or recovery from an illness or disability. One of the concepts under the Henderson’s theory is that the key role of a nurse is to help patients regain back their independence in terms of being self-reliant.

Secondly, a nurse should be able to visualize or presume a patient’s plight so that he or she can know the true needs of the patient. Significance of the elements to professional nursing practiceIn regards to Nightingale’s theory, the two main elements that stand out are the environment element and the role of a nurse in controlling the environment. These two elements are essential to my own professional nursing practice since they acknowledge that the surrounding of an individual affects his or her well-being and in order for a patient to recover, the nurse has to play a critical role in adjusting the surrounding environment so that the patient can regain back good health.

For example, people who live in polluted environment such as near a dumpsite are known to suffer from many disease that range from diarrhea to cholera but they regain good health at the hospital because nurses provide them with fresh air, good diet, clean water and beddings, besides medication.As for the Henderson’s theory, the two main elements stipulate that the role of nurses is to help patients regain back their independency and that for nurses to properly care for the patient they should fully understand the patients’ needs.

These two elements are in essential to my professional practice since they stipulate the roles I should play as nurses. For example, a patient who has suffered injuries from an accident cannot start to walk again if as nurse I do not assist him or her to regain back his or her ability to walk, moreover, I cannot know how well to assist the patient if I cannot imagine or visualize having a broken leg.ReferencesCarol, T. and Carol, L. (2001). The Art and Science of Nursing Care. (4th edition). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and wilkinsEvelyn, W.

and Melanie, M. (2002). Theoretical Basis for Nursing. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and wilkinsTomey, M. and Alligood, M. (2002). Nursing theorists and their work. (5th edition).  Philadelphia: Mosby Publisher