Grand Nursing Theories
Nursing theory
Nursing theory is defined as ‘a creative and rigorous structuring of ideas that project a tentative, purposeful, and systematic view of phenomena’. Grand nursing theories have the broadest scope and present general concepts and propositions. Theories at this level may both reflect and provide insights useful for practice but are not designed for empirical testing.
What is the Golden Rule in nursing?
“Be yourself.” “It may not sound specific to nursing, but it’s important,” she explains. Her next tip: “Do the best job that you can—all the time—and not just when people are watching.” Finally, “Treat your patients like you would want to be treated.” Mindy approaches every patient with this golden rule.
Is Jean Watson a grand nursing theorist?
Two well known grand theorist are Florence Nightingale and Jean Watson, which both contribute a vast amount of nursing theory that has been applied to nursing practice, research, education, and administration.
What are the different types of Nursing theories?
- Nursing Philosophy. The theories under this category are characterized as the most abstract. ...
- Nursing Conceptual models. The theories under this category are considered pioneers in the field of nursing. ...
- Grand Nursing Theories. ...
- Middle-range Theories. ...
What are the metaparadigm theories of Nursing?
Metaparadigm is a way to explain the concepts or conceptual models that concern the discipline and framework function of the nursing profession. There are four concepts to the metaparadigm theories of nursing, which are “person, environment, health/illness, and nursing" (Creasia & Friberg, 2011, p. 97-98).
What does grand theory mean in nursing?
A set of abstract ideas that together make a broad statement about human beings, the environment, health, or nursing. A grand theory is broad in scope.
What is an example of grand theory in nursing?
Grand Nursing Theories An example of a grand nursing theory is Ida Jean Orlando-Pelletier's Deliberative Nursing Process Theory. This theory examines the definition of the function of nursing and the interaction between the nurse and the patient. It explains how to use the nursing process to improve patient outcomes.
What is the grand theory?
Grand theory is a term coined by the American sociologist C. Wright Mills in The Sociological Imagination to refer to the form of highly abstract theorizing in which the formal organization and arrangement of concepts takes priority over understanding the social reality.
What are some examples of grand theory?
Examples of grand theories of nursing include the theory of health as expanding consciousness and the self-care deficit theory. Qualitative researchers use an array of grand theories from symbolic interactionism to general systems theory.
Why are grand nursing theories important?
They provide a foundational knowledge of care concepts that enable those in the profession to explain what they do for patients and the reasons for their actions. This is particularly important because it helps nurses articulate evidence that justifies the methodologies behind their practice.
How do grand nursing theories impact patient care?
Nursing theory helps distinguish nursing as a separate discipline from medicine and related sciences, and assists nurses in understanding their patients and their needs. The theory provides different templates to help nurses provide care that respects patients and improves outcomes.
What are grand theory types?
Grand theories of development include psychoanalytic theory, learning theory, and cognitive theory. These theories seek to explain much of human behavior, but are often considered outdated and incomplete in the face of modern research.
Is the nursing need theory a grand theory?
According to Nicely and DeLario (2010) Virginia Henderson's theory, Need Based, which is derived from the Principles and Practice of Nursing is a grand theory that focuses on nursing care and activities of daily living.
What are the three grand theories?
Grand theories: These are theories such as psychoanalytic theory, behaviorism, and cognitive theory which are a powerful framework for interpreting and understanding change and development of all individuals.
Why are grand theories important?
Grand theories provide a conceptual framework that emphasises broad perspectives on practice but these are abstract and difficult to test [4]. Middle-range theories are the bridge between grand theories and practice theories.
What is nursing theory?
Nursing theory is "a creative and rigorous structuring of ideas that project a tentative, purposeful, and systematic view of phenomena".
Why is nursing theory important?
Nursing theories also allow nurses to positively influence the health and well being of their patients beyond taking care of them at the bedside. Nursing theory-guided practice helps improve the quality of care delivered and helps continue to move the nursing profession forward into the 21st century.
What are the nursing metaparadigms?
Nursing Metaparadigms. There have been countless nursing theories introduced since Florence Nightingale's Environmental Theory, including Imogene King‘s Theory of Goal and Dorothy Johnson’s Behavioral System Model. What they all have in common is they center around the nursing metaparadigm.
Why are theories important in nursing?
Nursing theories are used every day in practice even if nurses aren’t aware of their use. Theories help guide evidence-based research which then leads to best practices and policies. These policies and procedures keep patients safe, while providing the best care possible.
What does Orem's theory of blood transfusion mean?
While the nurse may not agree with the patient’s decision to not receive a blood transfusion, Orem’s theory suggests the importance of allowing the patient to make the decision and respecting it as their own choice. Oftentimes, the integration of nursing theory is not as obvious as the aforementioned example.
What were the factors that were essential to decrease the spread of contagious diseases and decrease mortality and morbidity?
Pure water. Efficient drainage. Cleanliness or sanitation. Light or direct sunlight. These factors were essential to decrease the spread of contagious diseases and decrease mortality and morbidity. While Florence Nightingale may have introduced the first nursing theory in 1860, it is still extremely relevant today.
What is a person in nursing?
Person (also referred to as Client or Human Beings) is the recipient of nursing care and may include individuals, patients, groups, families, and communities. 2. Environment. Environment or situation is defined as the internal and external surroundings that affect the patient.
What is grand theory in nursing?
Based on these perspectives, grand theory includes diverse ways of viewing nursing phenomena. Callista Roy and Dorothea Orem sought to define the entire concept of nursing in their grand theories.
What is grand theory?
Grand theories are complex and broad in scope and may incorporate numerous other theories. They are comprised of relatively abstract global concepts that attempt to explain broad areas in a discipline developed through thoughtful and insightful appraisal of existing ideas (McEwen, 2007).
What is the difference between grand theory and middle range theory?
Additionally, grand theories can guide nursing research scholars in integrating the findings into vast areas such as practice, research, and administration while middle-range theories research are used for a particular purpose, to enhance nursing care.
What is transition theory?
Her Transitions theory is a mid-range theory that assists nurses in facilitating transitions for patients, families, and the community. These three parties look upon the nurse to support patients undergoing major life transitions of illness, pregnancy, and recovery.
What is Roy's adaptation model?
Roy’s adaptation model explains that adaptation happens when individuals react in a positive way to changes in the environment ; further, Roy stated that adaptation is the expected goal from nursing care by using interventions that promote coping in health and illness.
Is grand theory testable?
According to Smith & Parker (2015), grand theories define a broad perspective for nursing practice and approach nursing practice from a philosophical point, hence, are not testable, and also they can be applied in a range of topics.

What Is Nursing Theory?
- Theory is defined as “a belief, policy, or procedure proposed or followed as the basis of action.” Nursing theory is "a creative and rigorous structuring of ideas that project a tentative, purposeful, and systematic view of phenomena". Nursing theories provide the foundational knowledge that enables nurses to care for their patients and guides thei...
What Are Nursing Theories Used for?
- Nursing theories provide the foundation for nursing practice and are essential to the care of patients. Academic hospitals and Magnet hospitals will consistently ensure that nursing theories are incorporated into their policies and procedures to ensure best-practice is being used. Most nurses and institutions will employ a variety of nursing theories within their everyday practice versus just one theory. Most do it unknowingly. Nursing theories h…
Who Are Nursing Theories Used by?
- While all nurses, regardless of position and specialty, utilize nursing theories in their practice, not all nurses are aware of their implications. Generally speaking, most nursing theories are used by nurse educators and nurse researchers. Nurse educatorswill utilize nursing theories in designing course curriculums based on educational principles, research, and theories to provide nursing students with the knowledge and skills needed to provide ca…
Nursing Metaparadigms
- There have been countless nursing theories introduced since Florence Nightingale's Environmental Theory, including Imogene King‘s Theory of Goal and Dorothy Johnson’s Behavioral System Model. What they all have in common is they center around the nursing metaparadigm. A metaparadigmis a set of theories or ideas that provide structure for how a discipline should function. Nursing metaparadigms were first classified by Fawcett i…
The Four Main Concepts of Nursing Theory
- Fawcett’s four specific concepts help define nursing and set it apart from other disciplines and professions. These four concepts have been used to define the context and content of the nursing profession. The person is the most important concept in nursing theory, but each theorist's interpretation of the other concepts is how to differentiate between them.
Levels of Nursing Theory
- Nursing theories are categorized into three levels including, 1. Grand Nursing Theories 2. Mid-range Nursing Theories 3. Nursing Practice Theories
Nursing Theory in Practice
- Nursing theories are used every day in practice even if nurses aren’t aware of their use. Theories help guide evidence-based research which then leads to best practices and policies. These policies and procedures keep patients safe, while providing the best care possible. Nursing theories also allow nurses to positively influence the health and well being of their patients beyond taking care of them at the bedside. Nursing theory-guided practic…