Theoretical foundations in nursing practice

Nursing Theory

Theories behind nursing practices are becoming more and more holistic as time progresses. Two middle range theories, the Theory of Caring developed by Kristen Swanson, and Peaceful End of Life Theory developed by Cornelia Ruland and Shirley Moore, are useful ideas that intersect with each other. The purpose of this essay is to compare these two theories and find their overlapping similarities and distinguishing separate features.

Swanson (1991) took the idea of caring from Jane Watson's work. Essentially this theory suggests that a universal idea of caring does not exist and is subjective in nature. Although an exact definition of caring does not generally exist, five caring principles are associated with this idea. These principles include: knowing, being with, doing for, enabling and maintaining belief.

These principles are guiding ideas that suggest to the practicing nurse how one can care by doing many different things.

The Theory of Caring is a general approach to nursing and health care and has broad implications inherent in its agreements. Swanson suggested that "caring is a nurturing way of relating to a valued other toward whom one feels a personal sense of commitment and responsibility " (p.165). This theory introduces a human, non-mechanical approach to health care and nursing, placing the intangible solutions to health problems squarely within the mind of the healer. Nurses are expected to become more than just robots following doctor's orders using this theory. Nurses, when properly caring, must be able to function at a high social level and become not only a health care worker, but a friend to the patient.

This extra responsibility that nurses must take on under this theory places more importance on the nursing aspect of healing while somewhat reducing the medical practice of old. Psychology, art and philosophical understanding becomes important subjects for nurses to master in order to become prolific careers.

Ruland and Moore's (1998) work on Peaceful End of Life Theory is similar in many aspects to the Theory of Caring. Both are middle range theories which are like seeds that are expected to grow into a more general understanding. Both of these theories emphasize caring and standards of care as important benchmarks in the evolution of nursing.