NR 501 Week 1 Discussion

NR 501 Week 1 Discussion

Student Name

Chamberlain University

NR-501: Theoretical Basis for Advanced Nursing Practice

Prof. Name:

Date

NR 501 Week 1 Discussion

Nursing theories have played a fundamental role in shaping the nursing profession since its inception. These theories not only help define the purpose of nursing but also establish the roles of nurses and the methods by which nursing care is delivered (Im & Chang, 2012). Several scholars have contributed to the development of nursing theories, which have been adapted over time to refine and enhance nursing practice. The primary objective of nursing theories is to provide a structured foundation for nursing practice, expand knowledge, and set professional boundaries to ensure high-quality patient care. Additionally, nursing theories facilitate collaboration among healthcare professionals striving to deliver patient-centered care. In a hospital setting, nurses coordinate with physicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech therapists to achieve optimal patient outcomes. According to Smith and Parker (2015), nursing theories not only guide nursing practice but also promote critical thinking. Practice-level theories focus on specific aspects of nursing and provide targeted guidance for direct patient care. Every nursing intervention can be classified as a practice theory, as it is based on a framework that predicts patient outcomes. Thus, nursing theories serve as essential tools that help healthcare providers develop critical thinking skills, ultimately improving patient safety and care quality.

Florence Nightingale pioneered the evolution of nursing theory by advocating for empirical nursing knowledge distinct from medical knowledge (McEwen, 2014). Her contributions have significantly influenced modern nursing practices (Smith & Parker, 2015). Nearly a century after Nightingale, the development of nursing theory and philosophy progressed through five stages: silent knowledge, received knowledge, subjective knowledge, procedural knowledge, and constructed knowledge (McEwen, 2014). The most recent and relevant stage is integrated knowledge, which prioritizes the development of nursing knowledge and its application in clinical practice. This stage encompasses all previous stages while emphasizing research and evidence-based practice as the foundation of contemporary nursing. Clinical protocols, including wound care procedures, medication administration, antibiotic therapy for infections, and patient education, stem from extensive research aimed at determining best practices. Additionally, interdisciplinary collaboration with healthcare professionals, such as therapists, is a key element of the integrated knowledge stage, ensuring comprehensive patient care. This stage also highlights the importance of continued education for nurses, encouraging them to pursue advanced degrees and expand their opportunities in delivering high-quality nursing care.

NR 501 Week 1 Discussion

References

Im, E., & Ju Chang, S. (2012). Current trends in nursing theories. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 44(2), 156-164. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1547-5069.2012.01440.x

McEwen, M. (2014). Theoretical basis for nursing (4th ed.). Wolters Kluwer Health.

Smith, M. C., & Parker, M. E. (2015). Nursing theories and nursing practice (4th ed.). [VitalSource Bookshelf Online]. Retrieved from https://online.vitalsource.com/#/books/9780803655614/