T F N

THEORY
mere guess, unproved (laymans terms) no credibility
literally, means a vision or a beholding scene
in scientific terms, it implies that something has been
proven and is generally accepted as being true
an explanation of a set of related observations or
events based on proven hypotheses and verified many
times by groups of researchers
generally, an attempt to make sense of what we
observe and experience

THEORY
- Powers & Knapp (1995), a set of
statements that tentatively describe,
explain or predict relationships among
concepts that
Have been systematically selected and
recognized as an abstract representation
of some phenomenon

Scientific LAW
A statement of fact that aims to explain, in
brief & simple terms, an action or set of
actions; gen. accepted as true &
universal; simple & absolute; no need for
complex external proofs they are
accepted at face value;
if a law ever did not apply, then, all
science based upon that law would
collapse
e.g. law of gravity, Newtons laws of
motion, Boyles law of gases

 HYPOTHESES an educated guess

based upon observation; a rational
account of a phenomenon based upon
what is observed but is not yet proven
can be supported or proven false by
experimentation or continued observation

COMPONENTS OF A
THEORY
Patterson (1966)
related and internally consistent assumptions
definitions relating elements of the theory to
observable data
hypotheses which predict what should result
from theory utilization, and
a meaningful organization of what is known

COMPONENTS OF A THEORY
Hage (1972)

1. concepts & definitions concepts & theoretical

and operational definitions

2. relational statements either theoretical or

operational statements that relate the different
concepts to one another and to different measures

3. linkages and ordering linkages of theoretical &

operational statements & the org of the concepts,
definitions into primitive & derived terms; premises,
hypotheses & equations
* concepts, assumptions, hypotheses & theoretical
model

CONCEPTS
Webster (1991), as something conceived in the
mind a thought or a notion
building blocks of theories; w/o these ideas
no one will be able to generate a theory.
can be defined in 2 ways:
A) operational based on how these concepts
are used or will be used
B) theoretical how these concepts are defined
in the dictionary

C) abstract not observable (e.g. hope, infinity)

independent of a specific time or place (e.g. family)

D) concrete relate to a specific time (e.g. Santos family)
E) discrete identifies categories/classes of phenomena
like pt, nurse, envt whether they belong to or not to a
part. category or class

is important it allows partitioning of concepts to

further classify the concept
F) continuous allows classification of dimensions or
gradiations of an observation or phenomenon across
a continuum e.g. level of pain

expressed in degrees or levels in a continuum

ASSUMPTIONS
judgments regarding unknown factors and the
future w/c are made in analyzing alternative
courses of action.
people think its true, but they never prove to
be true
involves antecedent/independent/determinant
concepts and consequent/dependent/resultant
concepts

CHARACTERISTICS OF A THEORY
1) THEORIES CAN INTERRELATE CONCEPTS
IN SUCH A WAY AS TO CREATE A
DIFFERENT WAY OF LOOKING AT A
PARTICULAR PHENOMENON.
theories are constructed from concepts and the
relationship must be clear
the concepts explicitly need to be defined
one can picture the events & experiences a
theory tries to describe, explain, predict
e.g. Need-oriented theories (self-care deficit
concepts by Orem)

2) THEORIES MUST BE LOGICAL IN

NATURE.
Torres (1990) defines logic as orderly
reasoning.
Interrelationships of concepts must be
sequential and consistently used
No contradictions in the definition,
relationships and goals
e.g. man-universe continuous in
interaction

3) THEORIES SHOULD BE RELATIVELY

SIMPLE YET GENERALIZABLE.
a theory is defined as tight or
parsimonious if it stated in the most
simple terms possible
a theory of communication that can be
explained simply and generalized to all
person-to-person interactions is
parsimonious

4) THEORIES CAN BE THE BASES FOR

HYPOTHESIS THAT CAN BE TESTED
OR FOR THEORY TO BE EXPANDED.
Quantitative research tests hypothesis
in clinical practice and use statistical
analyses to arrive at findings
These findings represent the testing of
the precision of the theory
Qualitative research focuses on the
lived experiences of persons

5) THEORIES CONTRIBUTE TO AND

ASSIST IN INCREASING THE GEN.
BODY OF KNOWLEDGE W/N THE
DISCIPLINE THROUGH THE
RESEARCH IMPLEMENTED TO
VALIDATE THEM
Theories can be tested whether
quantitative or qualitative methods
Validation enhances the nurses ability
to describe, explain, control nsg
practice

6) THEORIES CAN BE USED BY

PRACTITIONERS TO GUIDE AND
IMPROVE THEIR PRACTICE.

Torres (1990) states that one of the

most significant chax of a theory is its
usefulness to the practitioner. Theories
guide practice by explaining, describing
or predicting events in clinical practice

7) THEORIES MUST BE CONSISTENT W/

OTHER VALIDATED THEORIES,
LAWS AND PRINCIPLES BUT WILL
LEAVE OPEN UNANSWERED
QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE
INVESTIGATED
Torres(1990) states that the logic of
theories, their assumptions must be
based on laws, validated knowledge &
humanitarian values gen. accepted as
good and right

CATEGORIES OF NSG THEORIES

Needs/Problem-Oriented
Interaction-Oriented
1. Nightingale (Envt Theory)
1. Peplau
2. Abdellah
2. Orlando
3. Henderson
3. Wiedenbach
4. Orem
4. King
5. Hall
5. Paterson&Zderad
6. Watson
6. Erikson, Tomlin & Swain

Systems-Oriented
1. Johnson
2. Roy
3. Neuman
4. Levine
5. Leininger

Energy Field
1. Rogers
2. Parse
3. Newman

 Needs/Problem-Oriented - focus on the

needs and problems that clients have &
seek to meet/correct them by using the
nsg process.
Interaction-Oriented focus on the
communication process in meeting the
clients needs

 Systems-Oriented man is composed of

many parts or subsystems that when
added together are more than and
different from their sum
Energy Field persons are energy fields
in constant interaction w/ their envt or
universe

NURSING PARADIGM
PERSON refers to the direct receivers of care
pts in the hospital, community or in out patient
setting
also refers to the significant others who are r/t
patient
ENVIRONMENT the sum of everything outside
the person
includes air, food, shelter, etc.

HEALTH is a state of being.

a person is healthy if in complete physical
fitness, w/ sound mind, attuned w/ his feelings,
able to socialize and relate to others and has a
distinct relationship w/ a Higher Being
NURSING is an art; involves the use of
compassionate nursing, conscientious
competence and confidence; involves the art of
nurturing, serving, and caring for everyone who
needs it
is a science.

NURSING COMPETENCE
Knowledge information relevant & significant
in carrying out nursing responsibilities
(concepts, theories, principles, guidelines)
Skills the acquisition of technical know-how on
the different processes & procedures in the
delivery of nursing care
Attitude relates to the art in nursing.; cant be
taught nor learned, it is inherent in each one of
us.