CHAPTER

1

3

Marilyn E. Parker

Introduction to

Nursing Theory

Definitions of Nursing Theory

Nursing Theory in the Context of Nursing Knowledge

Types of Nursing Theory

Nursing’s Need for Nursing Theory

Nursing Theory and the Future

Summary

References

Florence Nightingale taught us that nursing the-

ories describe and explain what is and what is not
nursing (Nightingale, 1859/1992). Today, knowl-
edge development in nursing is taking place on sev-
eral fronts, with a variety of scholarly approaches
contributing to advances in the discipline. Nursing
practice increasingly takes place in interdisciplinary
community settings, and the form of nursing in

acute care settings is rapidly changing. Various par-

adigms and value systems that express perspectives

held by several groups within the discipline ground

the knowledge and practice of nursing. Because the

language of nursing is continually being formed

and distinguished, it often seems confusing, as does

any language that is new to the ears and eyes.

Nurses who have active commitments to the work

Marilyn E. Parker