Nursing Theory Applicable in the 21st Century Term Paper

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Range Theory in Nursing

The credibility of a profession is mainly based on the professional's ability to create and apply the appropriate theory. Theories are notions or concepts used for inferring observations, elucidating experiences, and unfolding relationships of project results. Theories are derived from conceptual models. The main function of a theory is to narrow and fully specify the phenomena that is contained in the conceptual model. The theory should also provide a relatively concrete and specific structure for interpreting the initially puzzling situations, behavior, and events. A nursing theory is defined as a set of concepts, relationships, definitions, and assumptions that are derived from nursing models and project a systematic view of phenomena by designing particular inter-relationships among concepts with the purpose of explaining, describing, predicting, and prescribing. Theories are derived using either deductive reasoning or inductive reasoning (Smith & Liehr, 2013). Nurses make use of various theories in their daily care for patients and families. The nurse will mostly focus on the theory that will offer the best care to his/her patient. There is much uncertainty in the delivery of care to patients both directly and indirectly. There are increased overhead costs, and nurses are finding themselves caught in the middle of all these administrative decisions regarding staffing. There are also demands for technological advancements that directly affect the delivery of care in the future.

In the midst of all these, the nurse is still supposed to offer proper care the patient at all times. There are three nursing theories that are applicable for nurses, and each theory is crucial in the different abstraction aspects of nursing. The first one is grand theory, which has a broad scope and present general propositions and concepts and this makes it not suitable for empirical testing. The grand theory is limited to directing, predicting, and explaining nursing in particular situations.

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The second one is situation-specific theory, which is a narrow range concept offering high specificity when compared to the others. This theory is useful in guiding specific actions for achieving desirable objectives. The third is the middle range theory, and it will be the main focus of this paper. The middle range theory is the most applicable theory for the nursing profession in the 21st century.

Middle Range Theories

Middle-range theories are deemed to be more concrete and narrower than grand theories because they are made up of limited numbers of concepts and propositions, which are written at relatively specific and concrete levels (Fawcett, 2005). Middle range theories are directly linked to practice and research. It is possible to develop middle range theories inductively using practice observations and qualitative research or deductively using synthesis and logical analysis. It is possible for practicing nurses to use middle range theories for the development of practice guidelines. For example, nurses in oncology could develop protocols for caring for patients who are receiving chemotherapy by using the unpleasant symptoms theory. The middle range theories are at the conceptualization levels that could inform the nursing practice and research, which would advance the foundational knowledge and enhance the quality of care offered to patients (Lenz, Pugh, Milligan, Gift, & Suppe, 1997). Middle range theories were created to assist the nursing profession to realize its overall mission and goal in the present and in the future. The nursing profession mission has always been alleviation of pain, distress, and suffering, as well as promoting health seeking behaviors that lead to improved health outcomes. Middle range theories are found between grand theories and situation-specific theories, which makes them more targeted to specific interventions that can be easily implemented. It is for this reason that middle range theories are designed….....

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