THEORETICA

L
FOUNDATIO
N OF
NURSING
[Link] GRACE S. KAIMO, RN, MAN
INSTRUCTOR

Universidad de Manila, College of Health Sciences

Module Title Theoretical Foundation of Nursing

Module No. 1

Total study hours () Hrs. Lecture

Module writer: Ma. Alicia Grace S. Kaimo

Introduction Introduction and Terminologies

Module Aims This aims to impart to the learners’ easy comprehension of nursing theories
and terminologies.
Module Learning Outcomes For the learners to understand terminologies in nursing theories.

Content Terminologies use in nursing theories.

Teaching/Learning Activities Online, Synchronous, Asynchronous

Assessment methods
Program Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Level/Placement 1st year, 1st semester

Course Title Theoretical Foundation of Nursing

Course code NCM 100

No. of Units 3 units

Pre-requisite Health Assessment, Fundamentals of Nursing Practice

Course Description

Rationale This course deals with the development of nursing as a professional discipline with the emphasis on the
different theories developed, and the contribution of the nursing theorist for systematic nursing
management or practice.

Focus
The evolution and utilization of nursing theories that affects the nursing metaparadigm .

Outcome At the end of the course, the learners are expected to appreciate and utilize relevant nursing theories
beneficial to the improvement of healthcare delivery systems among clients in varied health settings.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of this course, the learners will be able to:
Appreciate and understand the need to follow standard operating
procedures.
Have easy comprehension of the topic being discuss as terminologies
had been defined.
Definition of Terms
Philosophy - belief and values that define a way of thinking and are
generally known and understood by a group.
Concept - are often called the building blocks of theories. They are
primarily the vehicles of thought that involves images.
Models - are representative of the interactions among and between
the concepts showing pattern.
Conceptual Framework - is a group of related ideas, statements, or
concepts.
Proposition - are statements that describe the relationship between
the concepts.
Domain - is the perspective or territory of a profession or
discipline.
Process - are series of organized steps that brings desired result.
Paradigm - pattern of shared assumptions about reality.
Metaparadigm - is the most general statement of discipline and
function as a framework in which structures of conceptual
models developed.
Theory is the foundation from
which an action, practice and
THEORY
knowledge is constructed. It serves
as the structure and support for
the rationale of the process.
NURSING
Nursing Theories are organized
THEORY bodies of knowledge to define
what nursing is, what nurses do
and why they do it. Provides a way
to define nursing as a unique
discipline. It is a framework of
concepts and purposes that guides
the practice of nursing.
 The Nursing Metaparadigm
There are four major concepts that are frequently interrelated and
fundamental to nursing theory: person, environment, health, and
nursing. These four are collectively referred to as metaparadigm
for nursing.

Person
- Person (also referred to as Client or Human Beings) is the recipient
of nursing care and may include individuals, patients, groups,
families, and communities.
Environment
- Environment (or situation) is defined as the internal and external
surrounds that affect the client. It includes all positive or negative
conditions that affect the patient, the physical environment, such as
families, friends, and significant others, and the setting for where
they go for their healthcare.

Health
- Health is defined as the degree of wellness or well-being that the
client experiences. It may have different meanings for each patient,
the clinical setting, and the health care provider.
Nursing
- The attributes, characteristics, and actions of the nurse providing
care on behalf of or in conjunction with, the client. There are
numerous definitions of nursing, though nursing scholars may have
difficulty agreeing on its exact definition, the ultimate goal of
nursing theories is to improve patient care.
- You’ll find that these four concepts are used frequently and defined
differently throughout different nursing theories. Each nurse
theorist’s definition varies in accordance with their
orientation, nursing experience, and different factors that affect the
theorist’s view of nursing. The person is the main focus but how each
theorist defines the nursing metaparadigm gives a unique take
specific to a particular theory. 
 Components of Nursing Theories
For a theory to be a theory it has to contain a set of concepts,
definitions, relational statements, and assumptions that explain a
phenomenon. It should also explain how these components relate
to each other.

Phenomenon
- A term given to describe an idea or responses about an event, a
situation, a process, a group of events, or a group of situations.
Phenomena may be temporary or permanent. Nursing theories focus
on the phenomena of nursing.
Concepts
- Interrelated concepts define a theory. Concepts are used to help
describe or label a phenomenon. They are words or phrases that
identify, define, and establish structure and boundaries for ideas
generated about a particular phenomenon. Concepts may be abstract
or concrete.
o Abstract Concepts - Defined as mentally constructed independent
of a specific time or place.
o Concrete Concepts - Are directly experienced and related to a
particular time or place.
Definitions
- Definitions are used to convey the general meaning of the concepts
of the theory. Definitions can be theoretical or operational.
o Theoretical Definitions - Define a particular concept based on the
theorist’s perspective.
o Operational Definitions - States how concepts are measured.

Relational Statements
- Relational statements define the relationships between two or more
concepts. They are the chains that link concepts to one another.
 Why are Nursing Theories Important?
Nursing theories are the basis of nursing practice today. In many
cases, nursing theory guides knowledge development and directs
education, research, and practice. Let’s take a look at the
importance of nursing theory and its significance to nursing
practice:

Nursing theories help recognize what should set the foundation of

practice by explicitly describing nursing.
By providing a definition of nursing, nursing theory also helps
nurses to understand their purpose and role in the healthcare
setting.
Theories serve as a rationale for interventions and give nurses the
knowledge base necessary for responding appropriately in situations.
Nursing theories provide the foundations of nursing practice, helps
generate further knowledge, and indicate in which direction nursing
should develop in the future (Brown, 1964).
By providing nurses a sense of identity, nursing theory can help
patients, managers, and other healthcare professionals to
acknowledge and understand the unique contribution that nurses
make to the healthcare service (Draper, 1990).
Nursing theories aim to define, predict, and demonstrate the
phenomenon of nursing (Chinn and Jacobs, 1978)
In many cases, nursing theories guide knowledge development and
directs education, research, and practice although each influence the
others. (Fitzpatrick and Whall, 2005).
“Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong
attempt to acquire it.”
Thank you!!