Importance of Nursing Theory
Nursing Theory
Wendy Benson
Chamberlain College of Nursing
Theoretical Basis of Advanced Nursing
NR501
July 20, 2013
Nursing Theory
Nursing theories are the basic concepts that define nursing practice and provide the explanation to why nurses do what they do. Nurses are exposed to theories everyday in their practice. Did I give much thought to nursing theories prior to becoming a student? No, I did not. Of course I utilized them in my everyday nursing practice, but never put much thought in the theory itself. The concepts of Leininger’s theory of cultural diversity will be discussed in relation to how it impacts patient care. The key concepts of Leininger’s theory and their relationships with one another will be summarized as well as its relationship to nursing education.
Importance of Nursing Theory During any given day, a nurse will utilize multiple nursing theories. These theories guide how a nurse treats patients, how tasks are performed, assessments completed and interventions established. By studying nursing theory, it allows for the student to start critically thinking. One way to look at a theory is as the foundation for good clinical practice. If the foundation is cracked, then it weakens the structure (i.e. clinical practice). Having a good comprehension of nursing theories coupled with compassion and intuition would make for a strong nurse. Nursing theory provides the foundation for nursing research which develops nursing practice. Nursing research is important to advance clinical practice which allows patients to receive the best nursing care possible. Early nursing theories appear to be common sense or things that we do automatically without thinking about it. However, somewhere in a nurse’s life, somebody taught that nurse about caring. By the time we become nurses, the art of caring has already been engrained in our personalities.
Key Concepts Listed below are the key concepts of Leininger’s theory of cultural
Wendy Benson
Chamberlain College of Nursing
Theoretical Basis of Advanced Nursing
NR501
July 20, 2013
Nursing Theory
Nursing theories are the basic concepts that define nursing practice and provide the explanation to why nurses do what they do. Nurses are exposed to theories everyday in their practice. Did I give much thought to nursing theories prior to becoming a student? No, I did not. Of course I utilized them in my everyday nursing practice, but never put much thought in the theory itself. The concepts of Leininger’s theory of cultural diversity will be discussed in relation to how it impacts patient care. The key concepts of Leininger’s theory and their relationships with one another will be summarized as well as its relationship to nursing education.
Importance of Nursing Theory During any given day, a nurse will utilize multiple nursing theories. These theories guide how a nurse treats patients, how tasks are performed, assessments completed and interventions established. By studying nursing theory, it allows for the student to start critically thinking. One way to look at a theory is as the foundation for good clinical practice. If the foundation is cracked, then it weakens the structure (i.e. clinical practice). Having a good comprehension of nursing theories coupled with compassion and intuition would make for a strong nurse. Nursing theory provides the foundation for nursing research which develops nursing practice. Nursing research is important to advance clinical practice which allows patients to receive the best nursing care possible. Early nursing theories appear to be common sense or things that we do automatically without thinking about it. However, somewhere in a nurse’s life, somebody taught that nurse about caring. By the time we become nurses, the art of caring has already been engrained in our personalities.
Key Concepts Listed below are the key concepts of Leininger’s theory of cultural
References: Allen, J. (2010). Improving cross-cultural care and antiracism in nursing education: A literature review. Nurse Education Today, 30(4), 314-320. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2009.08.007. Hawala-Druy, S., & Hill, M. H. (2012). Interdisciplinary: Cultural competency and culturally congruent education for millennials in health professions. Nurse Education Today, 32(7), 772-778. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2012.05.002. Leininger M. Culture care diversity and universality: A theory of nursing. New York: National League for Nursing Pres; 1991. Leininger, M. M. (1988). Leininger 's theory of nursing: Cultural care diversity and universality. Nursing Science Quarterly, 1(4), 152-160. doi:10.1177/089431848800100408.