Question

Why is nursing theory important to the nursing profession? Explain why it is useful. Be sure to provide an example that demonstrates your opinion and a scholarly reference

Answer 1

Nursing theory is a set of definition, concepts and assumptions to assist nurses to predict, describe, explain diseases. Theories help nurses to understand the concepts of care, techniques, strategies, diagnosing diseases and predicting the treatment plans. The nurses can identify the patient's needs, improve the communication between the nurses and patients, assess the conditions of the patients and effectively provide care. Nursing theory is the backbone of nursing profession. It provides discipline to the nursing field thus making it a profession. It provides guidelines for professional parameters. For example the nursing curriculum is based on nursing theories and nursing research. All the nursing practices are using at least one theory to provide care for the patients. It promotes a common perspective and language in the nursing profession. To obtain this professional status one should incorporate and emphasise nursing theories into practice, research, education and administration. Thus nursing theories make nursing an independent profession.
For example in the health promotion theory by Pender states that health is not the absence of diseases. The personal factors that affect health are not only biological but also due to psychological and socio-cultural factors. Knowing this the nurse can predict and assess the patient's needs accordingly and provide quality care.