RELATIONSHIP

AMONG THEORY, RESEARCH AND PRACTICE

THEORY
is

a product of knowledge is a group of concepts that describe a pattern of reality which can be tested, changed, or used to guide a research

RESEARCH
is

a process of inquiry is a method used to gather data needed for the theory

PRACTICE
To

do or perform (something) repeatedly in order to acquire or polish a skill

NURSING THEORY
is

a set of concepts, definitions, relationships, and assumptions or propositions derived from nursing models or from other disciplines and project a purposive, systematic view of phenomena by designing specific interrelationships among concepts for the purposes of describing, explaining, predicting, and/or prescribing

NURSING RESEARCH
is

a scientific process that validates and refines existing knowledge and generates new knowledge that directly and indirectly influences nursing practice

NURSING PRACTICE
is

the actual provision of nursing care

 First,

theory is often based on observations that are taken from practice. Then it will be tested in clinical practice by clinical research. The research process can validate the theory, cause it to be modified, or invalidate it. The more research that is conducted about a theory, the more useful the theory is to practice.Practice is based on the theories of the discipline that are validated through research. Theory guides the research process, forms the research questions, aids in design, analysis and interpretation.

 Second,

decisions made in practice are often determined by drawing on nursing theories. In some cases, the relationship between nursing theory and nursing practice is that of a theory being used as a tool in practice.

 For

example, if a patient with a certain condition or illness is taken under a nurse's care, the nurse may look to nursing theory to figure out which pharmaceuticals to describe, which reactions to expect, and even how to speak to the patient. A nurse can have faith that a nursing theory is accurate because it is probably based on years of observation.

 The

relationship between nursing theory and nursing practice can also work the other way. As nurses work with different kinds of patients who may be experiencing new conditions or displaying unfamiliar behaviors, new nursing theory can be produced, and existing nursing theory can change. Many experts believe that a theory can only be successful if it accurately describes real life situations with consistency.

 Nursing

theory is also often used to explain nursing practice. In this sense, the relationship between nursing theory and nursing practice is most visible in the context of nursing education. Students learning nursing procedures consult theory to better understand why certain practices are performed.

 Systematization

of nursing practice is another key component of the relationship between theory and practice. When research determines the optimal care protocols for a particular condition, it is important that nurses provide that same care to care when dealing with all patients suffering from the condition. A theory can act as a guide for nurses so that they can know which treatments already have been provided and which steps should come next.

 Theory

also can be helpful in predicting the behaviors and reactions of patients. In nursing practice, a professional can predict how patients from different age groups and with different conditions might behave according to established nursing theories. This function of theory also can allow nurses to determine which kinds of preventative measures they should take prior to treating a patient so as to avoid accidents and miscalculations.

Nursing theory is used to predict patient responses to treatment and overall improvement outcomes using observation and analysis throughout the course of treatment. Theory approaches come in four general categories: descriptive, explanatory, predictive and prescriptive. Descriptive frameworks rely on concrete variables to analyze and predict treatment progress and outcome. Explanatory frameworks focus on how a patient's physical, emotional and environmental characteristics relate to an assigned course of treatment. Predictive theories are based on expected treatment outcomes based on a patient's existing condition. Prescriptive theories emphasize the therapeutic impact of the nurse-patient relationship and how it affect the treatment outcomes.