untitled

The primary purpose for nursing theory is to ad-
vance the discipline and professional practice of
nursing. One of the most urgent issues facing the

One of the most urgent issues facing the

discipline of nursing is the artificial sepa-

ration of nursing theory and practice.

discipline of nursing is the artificial separation of
nursing theory and practice. Nursing can no longer
afford to see these endeavors as disconnected, be-
longing separately to either scholars or practition-
ers. The examination and use of nursing theories
are essential for closing the gap between nursing
theory and nursing practice. Nurses in practice
have a responsibility to study and value nursing
theories, just as nursing theory scholars must un-
derstand and appreciate the day-to-day practice of
nursing.
When practicing nurses and nurse scholars work
together, the discipline and practice of nursing ben-
efit, and nursing service to our clients is enhanced.
Examples in this book are plentiful as use of nurs-
ing theories in nursing practice is described and
theory-based research to improve practice is high-
lighted. In addition, many of the nursing theorists
in this book developed or refined their theories
based on dialogue with nurses who shared descrip-
tions of their practice. Examples from each section
of this book include Ernestine Wiedenbach,
Dorothea Orem, and Marilyn Ray.
The need to bridge the gap between nursing the-
ory and practice is highlighted by considering a
brief encounter during a question period at a con-
ference. A nurse in practice, reflecting her experi-
ence, asked a nurse theorist, “What is the meaning
of this theory to my practice? I’m in the real world!
I want to connect—but how can connections be
made between your ideas and my reality?” The
nurse theorist responded by describing the essential
values and assumptions of her theory. The nurse
said, “Yes, I know what you are talking about. I just
didn’t know I knew it and I need help to use it in
my practice” (Parker, 1993, p. 4). To remain current
in the discipline, all nurses must be continuing stu-
dents, must join in community to advance nursing
knowledge and practice, and must accept their ob-
ligations to perform an ongoing investigation of
nursing theories. Today, agencies that employ
nurses are increasingly receiving recognition when

they acknowledge a nursing theory as a guiding

framework for nursing practice. This provides ex-

cellent opportunity for nurses in practice and in

administration to study, review, and evaluate nurs-

ing theories for use in practice. Communicating

these reviews with the nursing theorists would be

useful as a way to initiate dialogue among nurses

and to form new bridges between the theory and

practice of nursing.

This chapter discusses evaluating and selecting

nursing theories for use in nursing: practice, educa-

tion, administration, research, and development.

Methods of analysis and evaluation of nursing the-

ory set forth in the literature are presented.

Although nursing theory is essential for all nursing,

the main focus of theory analysis and evaluation in

this chapter is the use of nursing theories in nursing

practice. The chapter begins with responses to the

questions: Why study nursing theory? What does

the practicing nurse want from nursing theory?

Reasons for Studying

Nursing Theory

Nursing practice is essential for developing, testing,

and refining nursing theory. The everyday practice

of nursing enriches nursing theory. When nurses

are thinking about nursing, their ideas are about

the content and structure of the discipline of nurs-

ing. Even if nurses do not conceptualize them in

this way, their ideas are about nursing theory. The

development of many nursing theories has been

enhanced by reflection and dialogue about actual

nursing situations. We might consider that as as-

pects of nursing theories are explored and refined

in the day-to-day practice of nursing. Creative

Creative nursing practice is the direct re-

sult of ongoing theory-based thinking,

decision making, and action of nurses.

nursing practice is the direct result of ongoing the-

ory-based thinking, decision making, and action of

nurses. Nursing practice must continue to con-

tribute to thinking and theorizing in nursing, just

as nursing theory must be used to advance practice.

Nursing practice and nursing theory are guided

by the same abiding values and beliefs. Nursing

practice is guided by enduring values and beliefs as

well as by knowledge held by individual nurses.

CHAPTER 2 Studying Nursing Theory: Choosing, Analyzing, Evaluating 15