Nursing Theory and Evidence-based Practice Essay

Submitted By Michelle-Howerton Tu
Words: 939
Pages: 4
Open Document
Professional Development Assignment
Michelle Turner
Aspen University
Theoretical Foundations
N507
Heidi Haldeman
December 6, 2014
Professional Development Assignment
When learning that the next course on my syllabus was Theoretical Basis for Nursing my reaction was just as described in the preface of the assigned textbook “ugh!”. For starters I had no idea how I could apply this to my day to day. Also as I skimmed the content I saw the word research way to many times. But, as I have spent time skimming the pages and reviewing the contents of the text I look forward to the coming days of understanding how theory can be applied to my daily life as a nurse.
Just as any subject there are interesting parts of the course and not so interesting portions. To be assure that this paper ends on a positive note, I will discuss the topics in the text that are not on my list of things to look forward reading about. The first of these is the concept of science and philosophical schools of thought. Spending my evenings saturating my mind with philosophies of science, differentiating between rationalism and empiricism, and human science, modernism, postmodernism, and related worldviews would not be my choice of time well spent. With that said, I do see that understanding the terms and background will be the only way to truly understand the basics of theory and it’s application in nursing.
Another topic I am having a difficult time wrapping my head around and realize I will have to take more time to skouer the chapters discussing nursing theory. Nursing theory focuses on grand nursing theories and grand theories are then divided into three groups. These groups include human needs, interactive process, and unitary process. The concept of middle range theories is to fill the gaps between grand nursing theories and nursing practice. Middle range theories cover topics such as pain, symptom management, cultural issues, and health promotion. More specific, have fewer concepts, and encompass a more limited aspect of the real world. Concepts are concrete and can be operationally defined (McEw , 2014). Middle range theories are a concept that I will need to look for examples in my day to day nursing practice.
Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a topic in the text that I do look forward to diving into. Our text discusses how evidence based practice relates to nursing theory and application of theory in nursing practice and nursing research. Evidence-based practice is important to the safety of our patients, the development of our profession, and educating. Evidence-based practice is an explicitly formal approach to enhancing efficiency. Evidence-based practice facilitates meeting the needs of patients and delivering care that is effective, efficient, equitable, patient-centered, safe, and timely (Institute of Medicine, 2001).
I may be drawn to this topic because in chapter 12 McEwen and Wills discuss the Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice to Promote Quality Care. This was a model developed in 1994 at the University of Iowa to provide guidance for nurses and others in making decisions about practice that affects patient outcomes. I am somewhat biased because I have been a part of the University of Iowa for the past 12 years, but beyond biased this is a concept and a practice that is expected of nursing at Iowa. I have had the pleasure of being a part of and initiating several projects that have bettered the care and safely of our patients.
Quality health care is defined as “the degree to which health services for individuals and populations increase the likelihood of desired health outcomes and are consistent with current professional knowledge”. The Institute of Medicine’s 2001 article, To Err Is Human released the statement that medical errors were responsible for between 44,000 and 98,000 deaths annually in the United States (McEwen and Willis, 2014). An immediate demand for accountability and quality in the
Show More

Related Documents: Nursing Theory and Evidence-based Practice Essay

Vision for the Future of Nursing Essays

Vision for the future of nursing Currently, health care in the US has been made accessible and affordable to everyone, as evidenced by the increase in the number of patients in the health care system. The nursing profession is already facing numerous challenges to deliver good quality and safe patient care. Therefore, there is a need for growth in remodeling the nursing profession to meet the high demand of an aging population with more complex needs. The nurses have to quickly adapt to a new…

Words 1181 - Pages 5

Nursing Theory: Foundation for Nursing as a Profession Essay

Nursing Theory: Foundation for Nursing as a Profession Wilma J. Vintson Chamberlain College of Nursing NR 501: Theoretical Basis for Advanced Nursing Fall 2011 Nursing Theory: Foundation for Nursing as a Profession Introduction This paper will discuss nursing theory and review how it relates to nursing as a profession. It will also focus on aspects of Virginia Henderson’s theory on the complementary-supplementary model of nursing. Nursing leadership, as it relates to Henderson’s theory…

Words 2489 - Pages 10

Evidence-Centered Care Theory

purpose of this paper is to interrelate the concepts of patient centered care, evidence-based practice, and critical thinking. These concepts are interdependent keystones to quality patient outcomes. Patient centered care is the principle of modern medical care, and specifically nursing care. Evidence-based practice is the primary innovation mechanism in nursing care today. In order to utilize evidence-based practice to the fullest extent and enhance patient outcomes, nurses increasingly need to…

Words 696 - Pages 3

Theories Of Nursing Practice

Nursing is a professional discipline that utilizes knowledge, skill, and compassion to ensure competent patient-centered care across the lifespan. The Paradigm of Theory, Research, Practice & Policy influences the nursing professional practice. Accountability of nurses in their clinical decisions and organization of care, increased independence and mutual association with physicians characterizes the professional nursing practice. A paradigm is a set of concepts including theories, research, and…

Words 1048 - Pages 5

Practicum Evau Summary MSN Essay

Practicum Evaluation Summary The practicum learning agreement created between the masters of Science in nursing (MSN) student and the instructor was approved for the goal to perform in the role of a nurse educator at the Domiciliary Rehabilitation Program at the Orlando Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). The population of the Domiciliary Residential Rehabilitation Program is veterans with multiple and severe medical conditions, mental illness, addiction, or psychosocial deficits. Military-related…

Words 1925 - Pages 8

Nursing Concept PAPER

Concept of Nursing Theory Evaluation Tasha N. Herndon Duquesne University GPNG 523 Historical and Contemporary Foundations for Advanced Nursing Practice Cynthia Rost May 27, 2015 What is theory evaluation? Theory evaluation is the method of thoroughly inspecting a theory (McEwen & Wills, 2014). It recognizes a theory’s degree of effectiveness to guide practice, research, education, and administration (McCrae, 2012). Evaluating a theory offers a systematic, objective way of examining a theory, assists…

Words 866 - Pages 4

NONPF Competencies In Nursing Research

outcomes for their nursing students that closely align with the NONPF Competencies. Included in the NONPF Competencies is competency in leadership (Thomas et al., 2012). One of the indicators of this skill is effective oral and written communication (Thomas et al., 2012). IWU offers courses in their Family Nurse Practitioner Program such as Evidence-Based Communication and Professional…

Words 485 - Pages 2

Summary: AACN Essential Of Baccaaureate Nursing

Essential of Baccalaureate nursing is to provide liberal education across multiple field of study with high-level intellectual and practical skills. Prepares nurses to work within health care team with appropriate clinical judgment and understand the reasoning behind policies and standards to address the change in technology and economics. It states the importance of nurses to integrate theories and concepts in their nursing practice. Trains students to demonstrate nursing practice with quality, safety…

Words 278 - Pages 2

Addressing Nursing Knowledge

paper is to define the concept of nursing knowledge and to explain how nurse researchers address the values that inform nursing practice. It is hard to answer this question: “ what is nursing knowledge?” The difficulty in providing a clear definition for this question relies on the complexity of nursing dynamic. However, several researchers attempted to define it. For example, a synthesis of the multiple definitions that were provided by Roy for the knowledge of nursing from various philosophical and…

Words 537 - Pages 3

Critical Reflection On Evidence Based Practice

essay will first discuss the benefits of patients and the nursing profession when nurses regularly and effectively reflect on their practice. Secondly this essay identifies and discusses the sources that nurses might use to obtain evidence on which to base practice. Lastly this essay discusses the role of critical reflection in assisting nurses to base their care on evidence base practice. Nurses who are able to reflect-in-action, will…

Words 735 - Pages 3