THEORETICAL FOUNDATION OF NURSING

NCM 100

VIRTUAL CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE

PRELIM TOPICS

MIDTERM TOPICS

TOPICS FOR PREFINAL GRADING PERIOD

TOPICS FOR PREFINAL GRADING PERIOD

NCM 100 –

3 unit subject = 54 contact hours

Objectives: At the end of the semester, students are expected to:

1. Describe the different terms/terminologies;

2. Appreciate Nursing concepts holistically and comprehensively;

3. Explain the purposes of nursing theory in relation to practice, education and research;

4. Integrate relevant concepts and metaparadigm of theories on person ,health and

5. Describe the contribution of the nursing theorist in the nursing profession,

6. Apply evidence based nursing, in the practice of the profession.

Kozier & Erb's fundamentals of nursing : concepts, process, and practice. (2008). Upper Saddle River, N.J.
:Pearson Prentice Hall

Udan, J. (2020). Theoretical Foundations in Nursing. 2nd Edition. APD Educational Publishing House

Introduction to Nursing Theory:

Definition of Terms

Theory. A belief, policy, or procedure proposed or followed as the basis of action.

It refers to a logical group of general propositions used as principles of explanation.

Theories are also used to describe, predict, or control phenomena.

Concept. Concepts are often called the building blocks of theories. They are primarily the vehicles of
thought that involve images.

Concepts are elements used to generate theories

Models. Models are representations of the interaction among and between the concepts showing
patterns. They present an overview of the theory’s thinking and may demonstrate how theory can be
introduced into practice.

What are Nursing Theories?

Nursing theories are organized bodies of knowledge that define what nursing is, what nurses do, and
why they do it.

Nursing theories provide a way to define nursing as a unique discipline that is separate from other
disciplines (e.g., medicine). It is a framework of concepts and purposes intended to guide nursing
practice at a more concrete and specific level.
Nursing, as a profession, is committed to recognizing its own unparalleled body of knowledge vital to
nursing practice—nursing science. To distinguish this foundation of knowledge, nurses need to identify,
develop, and understand concepts and theories in line with nursing. As a science, nursing is based on
the theory of what nursing is, what nurses do, and why.

Nursing is a unique discipline and is separate from medicine. It has its own body of knowledge on which
delivery of care is based.

History of Nursing Theory

History of professional nursing began with Florence Nightingale.

The Columbia School- the 1950’s

in 1950s, the need to prepare nurses at the graduate level for administrative and faculty positions
was recognized

The Yale School- 1960s- theoretical thinking in nursing moved from focusing on a problem/need and the
functional roles to focusing on the relationship between nurse and the patient

Theorist of this school include Wiedenback and Orlando

1970s- the decade in which many nursing theories were first presented

1980s- many nursing theories were revised on the basis of research findings that expanded them

1990s research studies that test and expand nursing theory are numerous

History of Nursing Theories

In 1860, Florence Nightingale defined nursing in her “Environmental Theory” as “the act of utilizing the
patient’s environment to assist him in his recovery.”

In the 1950s, there is a consensus among nursing scholars that nursing needed to validate itself through
the production of its own scientifically tested body of knowledge.

In 1952, Hildegard Peplau introduced her Theory of Interpersonal Relations that emphasizes the nurse-
client relationship as the foundation of nursing practice.
In 1955, Virginia Henderson conceptualized the nurse’s role as assisting sick or healthy individuals to
gain independence in meeting 14 fundamental needs. Thus her Nursing Need Theory was developed.

In 1960, Faye Abdellah published her work “Typology of 21 Nursing Problems,” which shifted the focus
of nursing from a disease-centered approach to a patient-centered approach.

In 1962, Ida Jean Orlando emphasized the reciprocal relationship between patient and nurse and viewed
nursing’s professional function as finding out and meeting the patient’s immediate need for help.

In 1968, Dorothy Johnson pioneered the Behavioral System Model and upheld the fostering of efficient
and effective behavioral functioning in the patient to prevent illness.

In 1970, Martha Rogers viewed nursing as both a science and an art as it provides a way to view the
unitary human being, who is integral with the universe.

In 1971, Dorothea Orem stated in her theory that nursing care is required if the client is unable to fulfill
biological, psychological, developmental, or social needs.

In 1971, Imogene King‘s Theory of Goal attainment stated that the nurse is considered part of the
patient’s environment and the nurse-patient relationship is for meeting goals towards good health.

In 1972, Betty Neuman, in her theory, states that many needs exist, and each may disrupt client balance
or stability. Stress reduction is the goal of the system model of nursing practice.

In 1979, Sr. Callista Roy viewed the individual as a set of interrelated systems that maintain the balance
between these various stimuli.

In 1979, Jean Watson developed the philosophy of caring, highlighted humanistic aspects of nursing as
they intertwine with scientific knowledge and nursing practice.

SIGNIFICANCE OF NURSING THEORY for the following:

DISCIPLINE- specific to academia and refers to a branch of education, a department of learning, or

This knowledge is the scientific guide to living the art of nursing. The discipline-specific knowledge is
given birth and fostered in academic settings where research and education move the knowledge to
new realms of understanding.


Discipline - The goal of the discipline is to expand knowledge about human experiences through creative
conceptualization and research.

The significance of theory for the discipline of nursing- the discipline is dependent on theory for its
continued existence

Nurses moved from the functional focus, with an emphasis on what nurses do, to patient focus,
emphasizing what nurse know for thought, decision making and action.

PROFESSION- refers to a specialized field of practice, founded upon the theoretical structure of the
science or knowledge of the discipline and accompanying practice abilities.

 Profession - The goal of the profession is to provide service to humankind through living the art
of the science.

Members of the nursing profession are responsible for regulation of standards of practice and education
based on disciplinary knowledge that reflects safe health service to society in all settings

Significance For The Profession

Theory is essential for the existence of nursing as an academic discipline.

Theory is also vital to the practice of professional nursing.

Higher degree nursing is recognized as a profession today.

Nursing was the subject of numerous studies by sociologist who used the criteria for a profession.

Significance For The Profession

Nursing is recognized as a profession and emphasis is placed on the relationship between nursing
theoretical works and achievement of status as a profession.

The use of substantive knowledge for the theory-based evidence for nursing is a quality that is
characteristic of their practice.

The commitment to the theory-based evidence for practice is beneficial to patients in that it guides
systematic, knowledgeable care. (E)