Assignment 3.1: Grand Theory Written Assignment
Nursing theory gathers specific information regarding aspects of nursing and utilizes these findings to communicate and describe nursing phenomena. Theories provide a framework for nursing practice and processes. Grand nursing theories are broadest in scope and provide generalizations regarding nursing situations. Grand nursing theories consist of four schools of thought. Nursing theorists bring a unique definition, approach, and focus to these specific schools of thought.
The first school of thought includes theories that reflect an image of nursing as meeting the needs of patients (Meleis, 2012). When a patient is unable to meet their individual needs it is the responsibility of the nurse to provide what is necessary in assisting the patient towards independence. Virginia Henderson was a needs theorist who categorized human needs into 14 components: breathing normally, eating and drinking adequately, eliminate body wastes, move and maintain desirable postures, sleep and rest, select suitable clothes, maintain homeostasis, personal hygiene, protect the integument, avoid environmental dangers and injury to others, communicate with others, worship according to faith, participate in recreation, learn and discover, and work in such a way there is a sense of accomplishment (www.currentnursing.com).
Henderson defined nursing as assisting with these activities to help the individual achieve independence. A person’s ability to successfully perform activities of daily living is imperative to healing. Nurses can assist patients achieve this by identifying knowledge deficits and providing the person with knowledge to help restore wholeness.
The next school of thought is interaction. These theories were conceived by those who viewed nursing “…as an interaction process with a focus on the development of a relationship between patients and nurses” (Meleis,
References: Meleis, A. (2012). Theoretical nursing development & progress (5th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. currentnursing.com. (n.d.). Retrieved February 1, 2012, from http://currentnursing.com nursing-theory.org. (n.d.). Retrieved January 26, 2012, from http://www.nursing-theory.org