Application of Theory

in
Nursing Practice
(Chapter 18)

Reporter: Yu Rong(Carolyn)
 Contents
1、Relationship Between Theory
and Practice
Theory-Based Nursing Practice
3、The Theory—Practice Gap
4、Situation-Specific/Practice Theories
in Nursing
5Application of Theory in Nursing
Practice
 Introduction

Theory is considered to be both a

process and a product.
In a practice discipline such as nursing,
theory and practice are inseparable.
 Indeed, development and application of
theory affiliated with research-based
practice is considered fundamental
to the development of the profession and
autonomous nursing practice
 1.Relationship Between
Theory and Practice
According to Parker and Smith (2010), in
nursing, there should be a reciprocal
relationship between theory and practice.
Practice is the basis for nursing theory
development, and nursing theory must be
validated in practice.
 2.Theory-Based Nursing
Practice
Theory-based nursing practice is the
“application of various models, theories,
and principles from nursing science and the
biological, behavioral, medical and
sociocultural disciplines to clinical nursing
practice” (Kenney, 2013, p. 333).
 Theory informs the practitioner to do what
is right. In nursing, practice without theory
becomes rote performance of activities
based on tradition, common sense, and
following orders.
how to apply theory in
nursing practice
 3.The Theory—Practice Gap

A.Not used
as it should
THEORY be PRACTICE

written by
educators practitioner
and B.LANGUAGE
scholars
C.DIFFERENCE
 Closing the Theory–Practice
Gap
Several factors :
a.educational issues
b. disparity between nursing theorists and
scholars and practicing nurses
c. changes in health care delivery and the
need to address current issues and practices
from a theoretical perspective
 4.Situation-Specific/Practice
Theories in Nursing
a.Definition and Characteristics of
Situation-Specific/Practice Theories
.
The term
is sometimes used to describe
.
Practice theories are nursing
theories used in the actual
delivery of nursing care to clients.
Types of Practice Theories
Needed in the Discipline of
Nursing
 b.Examples of Practice Theories
From Nursing Literature
In searching for illustrations, most
theories that could be termed “practice
theories” are those that were developed
through or
those developed through
or a to a
specific aggregate or in a very defined set
of circumstances.
 Example:
Hannon-Engel (2008) applied
concepts and linkages from Roy’s
Adaptation Model to develop a
theoretical framework to help
practitioners manage patients with
bulimia nervosa.
 c.Situation-Specific Theory
and Evidence-Based Practice
 5.Application of Theory in
Nursing Practice
A lack of understanding of theory leads to a
failure to recognize the use of theory
on a day-to-day, even minute-to-minute,
basis in the practice of nursing.
 washing hands?
germ theory
epidemiologic
concepts of
disease
transmission
and disease
prevention
 A Case Study
Emily is a clinical nurse specialist who
coordinates a liver transplant program at a large
medical center.Sarah , a 45-year-old high school
teacher, had recently received a new liver.Sarah is
married and has two teenage children.Sarah was
well educated and knew a great deal about her
illness. If you were Emily,
what theories will you use in
the plan of care for Sarah?
 Theories in this plan

Emily combined principles and concepts from

different theories to plan interventions. She
incorporated role theory, family theory,
developmental theory, and others to help Sarah
and her family understand how the illness might
affect Sarah’s roles as wife, mother,
daughter, sister, and teacher. She encouraged
family support and advocated for counseling for
all family members, then referred Sarah to a
support group.
 Examples of Theory From
Nursing Literature

a.Application of “Borrowed” and

“Implied” Theories in Nursing
Practice
ex: (application of non-nursing theories
in nursing practice )
Morton (2008), reported on the
development and implemention of a
health education program for school
children. She used the Health
Belief Model (HBM) as a guide to
develop a series of weekly broadcasts
over the participating schools’ public
announcement systems.
 Application of Grand and
Middle Range Theories in
Nursing Practice
ex1:Bailey (2012) used Orem’s self-care
deficit theory to develop a plan of care
for adolescent girls. Using Orem’s
theory as a framework, she proposed
several community/public health nursing
interventions to reduce vulnerability of
adolescent girls.
ex2:Reedy and Blum (2010) used Meleis’
Transitions Theory to develop a plan of care
for bariatric surgery patients. They
explained how nurses could use transitions
theory to help patients enhance positive
outcomes while overcoming potential
negative outcomes following bariatric
surgery.
 Summary
As nursing progresses into the 21st
century, nurses must place theory-
guided practice at the core of nursing,
and they must integrate relevant
outcome-driven practice with the art
and science of caring and healing.