Hand-outs in Theoretical Foundations of Nursing

Introduction

Definition of Terms

FACT
 something that is seen happening or existing
 an empirical observation

IDEA
• a group of interrelated facts
• an image or formulation of something imagined and visualized, of something
vaguely assumed, guessed or sensed out of related facts or observations
• a person’s conception of what is the best example of something

CONCEPT
 a word or cluster of words describing an object, idea or event
 an abstraction based on observation of certain behaviors or characteristics
 describes the essence of a thing
 Types of Concept
1. Concrete/empirical concept
◦ specific to time and place
◦ observable
2. Abstract concepts
 independent of time or place
 indirectly observable/not observable

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
 set of interrelated concepts that serve as building blocks of theories
 interrelated concepts or abstractions that are assembled together in some
relational scheme by virtue of their relevance to a common theme

HYPOTHESIS
 a statement of predicted relationships between two or more variables, subjected
to testing in empirical studies
 a temporary stand or prediction or guess while the investigation goes on
 educated guess

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ASSUMPTION
• basic principles that are accepted as being true on the basis of logic or reason
without proof or verification

THEORY
• a formal statement that is constructed in order to organize ideas & explain event
• a group of related concepts that propose actions that guide practice
• a systematic way of looking at the world in order to describe, explain, predict and
control it

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

• a set of interrelated theories that organizes the direction of a research endeavor /

scientific inquiry

COMPONENTS OF A THEORY
1. PURPOSE
• explains why the theory was formulated and specifies the context
and situations in which it should be applied

2. CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS

• Concepts are logistic labels that are assigned to objects or events .
• Definition defines the concept in relation to other concepts and
permits the description and classification of phenomena.

3. THEORETICAL STATEMENTS
• statements about the relationship between two or more concepts and
are used to connect concepts to devise the theory

4. STRUCTURE AND LINKAGES

• The structure of a theory provides overall form to the theory.
• Theoretical linkages offer a reasoned explanation of why the
variables in the theory may be connected in some manner

5. ASSUMPTIONS
• The assumptions of a theory are based on what the theorist
considers to be adequate empirical evidence to support propositions,
on accepted knowledge, or on personal beliefs or values.

6. MODELS
• schematic representation of some aspect of reality
• Theoretical models represent the real world through language or symbols
and directional arrows.

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CHARACTERISTICS OF A THEORY
1. Theories can interrelate concepts in such a way to create a different way of looking
at a particular phenomena.
2. Theories must be logical in nature.
3. Theories should be relatively simple yet generalizable.
4. Theories can be the bases for hypothesis that can be tested.
5. Theories contribute to and assist in increasing general body of knowledge within
the discipline through the research implemented to validate them.
6. Theories can be utilized by the practitioner to guide & improve their practice.
7. Theories must be consistent with other validated theories, laws & principles but will
leave open unanswered questions that need to be investigated.

PURPOSES OF NURSING THEORIES

In Education
◦ Theory clarifies the central meanings and improves the status of the
profession.
In Research
◦ Theory sets limits on what questions to ask and what methods to use to
pursue answers to the questions.

In Clinical Practice
◦ guides research
◦ provides the nurse with goals for assessment, diagnosis, and
intervention.
◦ a tool that renders practice more efficient, more effective, and goal
directed
◦ Language of theory provides us with common grounds for communication
and with labels and definitions for phenomena
◦ Professional autonomy and accountability are enhanced by theory use in
practice.

 NURSING AS A SCIENCE
owes much of its research-orientedness to the systematic works of Florence
Nightingale

NURSING PARADIGM
 patterns or models used to show a clear relationship among the existing
theoretical works in nursing

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METAPARADIGM
 global perspective of a discipline that identifies the primary phenomena of interest
to that discipline and explains how the discipline deals with those phenomena in a
unique manner
 Nursing metaparadigm: embodies the knowledge base, theory, philosophy,
research, practice, and educational experience and literature identified with the
profession.