Nursing Profession and Theories

¶ … 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. 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 to offer frameworks for managing patient experiences with symptoms and the ability to understand patient responses to illness and health phenomena. In order for the nursing profession to advance it is necessary to continue developing new knowledge on nursing. This will only be possible by using middle range theories.

It is posited that there have been few additions of the grand theories since the 1980s. The nursing profession is at risk of being consumed if enough attention is not given to the nursing field uniqueness. Middle range theories have been blossoming, and this signifies the growth of knowledge in nursing development (Davydov, 2014). There are numerous valuable organizing frameworks to phenomena being offered by middle range theories that are useful for nurses.

Nurses have to continue developing knowledge for continually improving patient care outcomes, and the quality of care offered to patients. In order to do this comfortably and in the best way they need to make use of middle range theories. There are three types of middle theories namely middle range descriptive theories, middle range explanatory theories, and middle range predictive theories. Middle range descriptive theories are the common and most basic kind of middle range theories.

A descriptive theory will describe and classify a phenomenon and may encompass only once concept. A middle range descriptive theory will only name the commonalities that are found in discrete observations of groups, individuals, situations, or events when it describes a phenomenon. On the other hand, when it classifies a phenomenon, the middle range descriptive theory will categorize the describes commonalities into overlapping, mutually exclusive, sequential, or hierarchical dimensions (Imenda, 2014). Taxonomy or typology is the name given to a middle range classification theory.

A good example for a middle range descriptive classification theory is Peplau's theory of interpersonal relations. The middle range explanatory theories define relations between two or more concepts. An explanatory theory will explain why and the extent that one concept is related to another concept. Correlational research is the means through which middle range explanatory theories are generated. This is typically a quantitative design. An example of middle range explanatory theory is Watson's theory of human caring.

The last one is the middle range predictive theory which moves beyond explanation to prediction of precise relationships among concepts. It also shows the effects that one concept will have on one or more concepts. It mainly addresses how changes in phenomenon take place (Imenda, 2014). Experimental research is the means through which middle range predictive theories are generated and tested. It is a quantitative design. A good example is Orlando's theory of deliberative nursing process. Conclusion The future of.