Classification of Nursing Theories (part 1)

Summary

This video explores the classification of nursing theories, highlighting their significance in defining nursing practice. It categorizes theories into three levels of abstraction: grand theories, which are broad and complex; middle range theories, which focus on specific phenomena; and practice level theories, which are situation-specific. Additionally, theories are distinguished by their goal orientation, including descriptive theories that describe phenomena and prescriptive theories that guide interventions. The video emphasizes how these classifications provide frameworks for understanding nursing roles and interventions, essential for enhancing clinical practice.

Takeaways

• 😀 Nursing theories are organized bodies of knowledge that define nursing practice and its purpose.
• 📊 The classification of nursing theories can be based on levels of abstraction, including grand, middle range, and practice level theories.
• 🌍 Grand nursing theories are broad and complex, providing general frameworks rather than specific interventions.
• 🔍 Middle range theories focus on specific phenomena in nursing and can be derived from grand theories or research.
• 🧑‍⚕️ Practice level theories are narrow in scope and address specific patient populations, directly impacting nursing interventions.
• 🎯 Nursing theories can also be classified by goal orientation into descriptive and prescriptive theories.
• 📝 Descriptive theories identify and describe phenomena without attempting to change them.
• 🔄 Prescriptive theories guide nursing interventions and predict the outcomes of those interventions.
• 📈 Descriptive theories can be further divided into factor isolating theories and explanatory theories.
• 🙌 Understanding the different classifications of nursing theories is crucial for enhancing nursing practice.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of nursing theories?

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

How are nursing theories classified?

Nursing theories can be classified based on their function, levels of abstraction, or goal orientation.

What are the three major categories of nursing theories based on levels of abstraction?

The three major categories are grand theories, middle range theories, and practice level theories.

What characterizes grand nursing theories?

Grand nursing theories are abstract, broad in scope, and complex. They provide a general framework rather than guiding specific nursing interventions.

How do middle range nursing theories differ from grand theories?

Middle range nursing theories are more limited in scope and focus on specific phenomena in nursing, making them easier to test than grand theories.

What are practice level nursing theories?

Practice level nursing theories are situation-specific theories that focus on a particular patient population at a specific time, guiding nursing interventions and suggesting outcomes.

What are the two types of theories based on goal orientation?

The two types of theories are descriptive theories and prescriptive theories.

What is the function of descriptive theories?

Descriptive theories describe phenomena and identify their properties and components without being action-oriented.

How do prescriptive theories function in nursing?

Prescriptive theories guide practice by addressing nursing interventions for a phenomenon and predicting the outcomes of these interventions.

What are the two subcategories of descriptive theories?

Descriptive theories can be divided into factor isolating theories and explanatory theories.