Importance of Theory in Nursing Essay Discussions
Week 1 discussion Importance of Theory in Nursing For many students enrolled in NR501, this is an initial course for nursing theory. So, let’s have a debate!!! Is nursing theory important to the nursing profession? If you believe that it is important, explain why it is useful. If you do not believe that it is useful, explain why nursing theory is not necessary to the profession? Be sure to provide an example that demonstrates your opinion and a scholarly reference (not using the required textbook or lesson) which supports your opinion. Week 2 discussion Significance of Nursing Concepts within the Profession This discussion considers the metaparadigm of nursing and the four concepts of the nursing profession—person, environment, health and nursing profession. Select a practice area of the nursing profession (i.e. education, executive, informatics, healthcare policy, and advanced clinical practice) and apply EACH of the four concepts to the selected area. Be sure to apply EACH of the four concepts and include an example that demonstrates the application to the practice area. Don’t forget to support your initial posting with scholarly references. Week 3 discussion Steps of Concept Analysis At the end of Week 4 your concept analysis is due. This discussion provides an opportunity to start this assignment. Select a nursing concept (be sure to use a nursing theory) and then provide a response to each one of the steps included in a concept analysis regarding your selected concept. This information does not have to be comprehensive but provides a foundation to the upcoming assignment. Be sure to include a scholarly reference. Week 4 discussion Connection Between Theory and Advanced Clinical Practice While the focus of this course is nursing theory, some nurses say that theory has no role in clinical practice. What are your thoughts? Does nursing theory have a role in clinical practice? How would you use nursing theory to improve or evaluate the quality of clinical practice? Be sure to include an example that demonstrates your thoughts. Don’t forget to include a scholarly reference! Week 5 discussion Borrowed (non-nursing) Theories Applied to the Nursing Profession While the focus of this course is nursing theory, frequently the use of non-nursing or borrowed theories occurs. Select a nursing practice area (i.e. education, executive, advance clinical practice, informatics, and health care policy); then identify a non-nursing (borrowed) theory; and apply it to the area you have selected. Be sure to provide an example of how the non-nursing theory can be used to enhance the selected practice area. Don’t forget to include scholarly reference(s) to support your information. Week 6 discussion Impact of Nursing Theory Upon Healthcare Organization Discuss how a specific middle-range nursing theory has been or could be applied by nurse leaders or nurse managers to effectively deal with an administrative issue (i.e., staffing, use of supplies, staff performance issues). Include an example from the literature or your own experience to illustrate your points. Week 7 discussion Nursing Theory Applied to Research In NR 500, you developed a PICOT question. Select a nursing theory that you find useful in nursing practice. Discuss each of the following selected elements of the PICOT format by applying your selected nursing theory to the element. Be sure to include a scholarly reference. Population/ Patient Problem: Consider how your selected nursing theory may guide you in selecting the population and/or patient problem Intervention: Does your selected nursing theory identify a possible intervention? If not, how is your selected intervention consist with your selected nursing theory? Outcome: How would the outcome of your PICOT study contribute to your selected nursing theory? Would it add new information? Would it confirm some part of the theory? Week 8 discussion Course Reflection and Future Application Throughout the discussions occurring within NR501, a common element has been application of theory. In this our last discussion regarding theory, it is time to focus on you and your capstone experience (yes, it is never too early consider this major project!). While it is too early to identify your project, let’s consider on your future practice area as this is the setting your project will occur in. Based upon your self-reflection and use of nursing theory within the discussions and assignments, select ONE nursing theory that you prefer and answer the following questions: 1. Why do you prefer the nursing theory you selected? 2. How can this theory be used in your current practice area (education, executive, advanced clinical practice, informatics, or healthcare policy)? 3. How can this theory be used in your future practice area (education, executive advanced clinical practice, informatics or healthcare policy)?