Academic Level Bachelor
Paper details Select two different nursing theories and describe how they relate to patient care. How could you use them for inciting behavioral changes? Discuss the pros and cons of applying
each theory and how they could be integrated into your future practice. Are there any particular ethical issues related to the integration of these theories that should be considered?
The Living Tree of Nursing Theories Tourville, Charlotte;Ingalls, Karen Nursing Forum; Jul-Sep 2003; 38, 3; ProQuest Central pg. 21
The Living Tree of Nursing Theories
Charlotte Tourville, RN, BSN, and Karen Ingalls, RN, MA
TOPIC. Three behavioral theories have been used to develop major nursing theories: interactive, systems, and developmental. PURPOSE. To provide a symbolic image as a framework for nurses
to visualize the multitude of nursing theories starting with the first nurse theorist, Florence Nightingale. SOURCES. Published research articles, authors' experience, educational classes and
workshops. CONCLUSIONS. The Living Tree helps organize various nursing theories so a nurse can apply the theories to practice. Search terms: Nursing theory, theory-based nursing practice
Nursing Forum Volume 38, No. 3, July-September, 2003
Charlotte Tourville, RN, BSN, is a Staff Nurse, United Hospital, and Karen Ingalls, RN, MA, is retired and living in St. Paul, MN.
The Living Tree of Nursing Theories is a growing, in-teractive, and interdependent tree that has deep roots and historical value. As the nursing profession has de-veloped, many different theories
of nursing have been presented. The purpose of this article to present some of the leading theories or models. A virtual tree provides a visual representation of major nursing theories. The roots of
the tree are the four meta-paradigms defined as person, environment, health, and nursing. Because Florence Nightingale has been credited as the first nurse theorist, she represents the trunk of
the tree. The three branches of the tree represent a classifica-tion of a theory or model—interactive, systems, and de-velopmental. From each branch, the nurse theorists are symbolized as the
ever-growing and so important smaller boughs of the Living Tree. In nursing literature, the term model is often referred to as a theory. For the purpose of this article, the two terms will be used
interchangeably and are defined as a concept that provides a framework for nursing practice. The controversy regarding what is defined as theory and as conceptual model has created a wide
range of definitions by nurse theorists and nurse scholars. Several theories will be summarized here, but it will be up to nursing practice and research to further de-lineate nursing theory versus
conceptual model. Nurse theorists have used various definitions to de-velop and support their theoretical frameworks. Their worldview is based on their personal, socioeconomic, political,
spiritual, and educational experiences. They have applied these factors in developing their own theo-ries and definitions of terms and concepts to explain each theory.
Metaparadigms: Roots of the Tree
The four metaparadigms represented in the roots of the Living Tree are person, environment, health, and
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