Career Plan
Career Plan
Nursing theory is the bases of professional nursing practice. Chinn and Jacobs explain that nursing theory “aims to describe, explain, and predict the phenomenon of nursing” (Colley, 2003, p. 33). Nursing theory is important because it provides the foundation that defines how nurses should act toward their patients, their colleagues, and toward their profession. For instance, understanding the “Needs Theories” provides the rationale for nurses to enhance their skills in assessing patient needs. Thus, nurses would be able to act upon that knowledge and formulate appropriate nursing interventions accordingly. In the same manner, Colley (2003) states that nursing theory helps to distinguish the concepts that can be used as a basis for practice by explicitly describing nursing. It allows nurses to practice their skills based on a body of knowledge that is distinct from all other health-related professions. In effect, nursing theory provides nurses with a sense of identity apart from other members of the health care team. In doing so, nursing theory emphasizes the unique value of nursing contributions to the delivery of health care services to patients in all settings. Furthermore, Nolan enumerates the benefits of establishing a concrete body of nursing theories to include improved patient care, enhanced professional status for nurses, guidance for research and education, and improved communication among nurses (Colley, 2003).
Similarly, evidence-based practice originates from nursing theory. It allows the advancement of the status of nurses because it determines and clarifies the factors, which can affect critical decisions that nurses make daily. Evidence-based practice, according to Pipe, Wellik, Buchda, & Hanson, “provides a way to frame and address questions about how to provide the best patient care” (n.d., para. 1). It revolves around data that can affect decision-making and nursing interventions. It can advance nursing practice further because it
Nursing theory is the bases of professional nursing practice. Chinn and Jacobs explain that nursing theory “aims to describe, explain, and predict the phenomenon of nursing” (Colley, 2003, p. 33). Nursing theory is important because it provides the foundation that defines how nurses should act toward their patients, their colleagues, and toward their profession. For instance, understanding the “Needs Theories” provides the rationale for nurses to enhance their skills in assessing patient needs. Thus, nurses would be able to act upon that knowledge and formulate appropriate nursing interventions accordingly. In the same manner, Colley (2003) states that nursing theory helps to distinguish the concepts that can be used as a basis for practice by explicitly describing nursing. It allows nurses to practice their skills based on a body of knowledge that is distinct from all other health-related professions. In effect, nursing theory provides nurses with a sense of identity apart from other members of the health care team. In doing so, nursing theory emphasizes the unique value of nursing contributions to the delivery of health care services to patients in all settings. Furthermore, Nolan enumerates the benefits of establishing a concrete body of nursing theories to include improved patient care, enhanced professional status for nurses, guidance for research and education, and improved communication among nurses (Colley, 2003).
Similarly, evidence-based practice originates from nursing theory. It allows the advancement of the status of nurses because it determines and clarifies the factors, which can affect critical decisions that nurses make daily. Evidence-based practice, according to Pipe, Wellik, Buchda, & Hanson, “provides a way to frame and address questions about how to provide the best patient care” (n.d., para. 1). It revolves around data that can affect decision-making and nursing interventions. It can advance nursing practice further because it
References: Colley, S. (2003). "Nursing theory: Its importance to practice. " Nursing Standard 17.46: 33 Fullerton, C., McGuire, T., Feng, Z., Mor, V., and Grabowski, D. (2009). "Trends in Mental Health Admissions to Nursing Homes, 1999-2005." Psychiatric Shives, L. (2007).Basic concepts of psychiatric-mental health nursing. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Google Books.