What do you think is the importance of nursing theories?

Illustrate the uses of

theory by citing example/s from your own work setting. If you are currently not
working, think of past experiences when you were still a student or interview
someone who can share experiences about the use of nursing theories.
THE USES OF NURSING THEORY IN VARIOUS CORE PRACTICES IN NURSING
Before I will give my concrete answer on important uses of nursing theory allow me to state
my answer first in SAQ 1-1 so you will have the idea how I understand Nursing theory and
to further enrich you of my understanding about its importance. Theory or Nursing theory,
as a general term, is a notion or an idea that explains our clinical experience, interprets
observation-the assessment (either we act as passive observer or active participant
observer); it describes relationships between categories of our central focus( whether purely
client base or both nurse-patient dynamic system is applied or either which, we integrate
environment in association with the basic plan of care); sets of realistic, measurable, time
bound and attainable goals; and projects outcomes as basis for our nursing care plans. The
Theory must undergo empirical and inferential testing-validation through statistical analysis
and interpretation so conclusion may be drawn and final outcome will be implemented.
Therefore, theory is a product of human knowledge and ingenuity; this was not discovered in
nature but became a part of human inventions. Which is why in research, one cannot go
away from the facets of cyclical process of acquiring knowledge in the nursing practice
(NURSING EDUCATION NURSING PRACTICE NURSING RESEARCH {DEVELOPMENT OF
THEORY} back to NURSING EDUCATION). Nursing practice without sets of assumptions
from theoretical framework will be useless, therefore it is a must that we may be able to
draw the clear picture of our conceptual framework. According to Sitzman and Eichelberger
(2011) Theories provide structure and order for guiding and improving professional practice,
teaching and learning activities, and research.
Further, theories are like roadmaps that provide conceptual framework for selecting and
organizing information such as:
1. What to ask. (it is like saying, How do you define the problem or pose a problem)
2. What to observe (it is like saying, the flow concepts, like identifying those variables of
the study/research)
3. What to focus on, (it is like saying, how a research must go on, or the methodology
and statistical application should be utilized)
4. What to think about (the representative conclusion, drawn from the problem
identified)
You will wonder why I use the word study because this is the focus of the problem or our
discourse, or the nursing problem in general.
The importance of nursing theories are categorized and arranged in cluster of
discipline such as through practice value, in nursing practice, education and
curriculum development and research per se.
1. Practice value of theory

Enhances understanding and explanation for events (e.g. The pathophysiologic

mechanism of schizophrenia secondary to Methamphetamin addiction among health
risk taker and prying teenagers)

Influence our behavior. (E.g. Faulty Community health practices of Traditional

Childbirth attendant in delivering neonates versus the Modern Child Delivery PracticeThe Unang Yakap or the Essential Newborn care protocol of the DOH.)

Makes to think differently about a problem or a situation (eg. Community Organizing

Participatory Action Research of Brangay Tenorio Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat,
Municipality, Maguindanao- focus on deworming Program, in association with the
Ligtas Tigdas of the Garantisadong Pambata Program)

Helps to try new approaches or altering behavior. (e.g. Effective Interpersonal

communication by developing self awareness but not superimpose by ones personal
belief)

We can gain a new perspective of events. (curriculum development for advance

nursing practice in the Philippines)

Basis for challenge of its speculative tenets or propositions. (e.g. Developing board
resolutions particularly addressing problems in the Licensure Re-takers Issue)

Challenges subsequent discovery of new ideas or knowledge that might explain and
predict events not yet understood. (e.g. The essential Newborn care protocol and
adaptation of the 2010 Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Technique revised by the
American Heart Association in reviving Myocardial infracted patient, instead of the
traditional A-B-C pattern, replaced by the C-B-A protocol)

2. In practice

Assist nurses to describe, explain, and predict everyday experiences.(e.g. Routine

Nursing rounds in the Pedia ward, especially when assigned in an overly crowded
patient quarters in the gastrointestinal ward, where patients are place in cohort,
uniquely assessing clients with commonalities as to their signs and symptoms ,
therefore assessment is made at ease. This example is based from my very personal
experience in the government hospitals in Maguindanao. )

Serve to guide assessment, intervention, and evaluation of nursing care.(eg. Able to

prepare an efficient nursing care plan. Although very ideal in nature, but most
hospitals in the Philippines directly chart the nursing action only after the end of the
shift.)

Provide a rationale for collecting reliable and valid data about the health status of
clients, which are essential for effective decision making and implementation.

Help to establish criteria to measure the quality of nursing care.(eg. quarterly

Departmental Nursing audit of quality of care,annual procurement of medical
supplies in the logistic center,

Help build a common nursing terminology to use in communicating with other health
professionals.(eg. Ideas are developed and words defined in writing a Problem
oriented medical records, Nursing flow charts and problem base , focus data response
record, SOAPIE, endorsements, and Nursing progress notes.)

Enhance autonomy (independence and self-governance) of nursing by defining its

own independent functions.

3. In education

Provide a general focus for curriculum design.(eg. This is the product or effort of the
TCNE panel or the Technical Committees in Nursing Education panel in the context of
their study-research of the new nursing curriculum approved by the Commission on
Higher Education- the CMO 14. Series of 2007, rationalizing nursing education to be
more globally competetive)

Guide curricular decision making. (e.g. The development of the DaCum- or Develop a
Curriculum by the Association of Deans of the Philippine College of Nursing; and
Formulation of the 11 Basic Nursing Core Competencies and Responsibilities in the
academics of the BSN Program in the Philippines organized by the Board of Nursing)

4. In research

Offer a framework for generating knowledge and new ideas. (eg. The Filipino for
founding theories that made by Dr.Araceli Balabagno, Dr. Carmencita Abaquin, Dr.
Letty Quan, Dr. Primitiva Paquiz and among others as the structural basis of cognitive
study in the Advancements in nursing practice in the Philippines)

Assist in discovering knowledge gaps in specific field of study.

Offer a systematic approach to identify questions for study, select variables, interpret
findings, and validate nursing interventions.

In a general sense, theory development supports independence of the nursing profession

by creating forums where nurses have opportunities to develop and support unique
professional visions. Theories specific to nursing help differentiate nursing from other carerelated professions Because nursing encompasses a variety of professional activities, there
is room for a corresponding variety of nursing theories, all meant to accurately describe

nursing in one way or another. Likewise, there is no single theory, or group of theories, that
is more correct than another.
Nursing practice is inexorably tied to human interactions and experiences;
precise and unwavering conclusions are often not possible (Sitzman and
Eichelberger, 2011). It is well said that the no single theory applies exclusively to the client,
rather it has to be holistic in nature. According to Catalano(2006), Nursing models tend to
be holistic; they are concerned with curing disease and restoring a clients health, but they
also focus on prevention of disease and maintenance of health. A healthy person is just as
important to many nursing models as the person with a disease.
These statements above are therefore supported by Hugh Mckenna (1997) stressing that,
perhaps a central selection criterion is fitness for purpose; in other words, does the theory
serve the purpose for which it is intended? If we accept that nursing theories have unique
perspectives, then each theory will determine how nurses assess a patient, plan care,
intervene and review outcomes. Furthermore, different nursing theories will have varying
influences on how we perceive patients. For instance, one theory may encourage
dependence by stressing that the nurse should do everything for the patient, while another
may encourage independence by stressing that the nurse should teach the patient about
self-care. Therefore, an unsuitable choice of a theory could easily have detrimental
effects on patient care.
I as a former DR/LR nurse at Buluan District Hospital had the most challenging yet rewarding
task ever encounterd. This perhaps is the most unique one, where in I was put to test
utilizing my talents and abilities pushing to the limit especially at middle of unique cultural
difference and the practices, incarcerated to traditional margin of practice and at the middle
to political conflicts of power. Let me give you the clear picture of the external milieu of my
locale. First, Majority of our clients are Muslim (some 94%, According to Buluan Municipality
records) and a fraction of Ethnic tribes (like Blaan, and Tboli) and Some Christian groups
(like Ilongo and Ilokano 4%) inhabiting the municipality. The group thrives harmoniously
under the strong Leadership of the Mangudadatus. At the middle of political upheaval
between the Ampatuans in 2009, I remain steadfast yet surrounded with fears,
disappointment and incommensurable compensation. Despite of the situation, I continue to
live, work and provide services. The greatest health problem I encountered was, the
incidence of neonatal tetanus, and the increasing incidence of neonatal mortality (majority
are not medically reported in the health institution however, the status of the overall
pediatric deaths remains very high) due to measles and amoebiasis, even helminthes
leading to anemia during resettlement.
As maternity nurse at those times, the challenge to me is how to handle childbearing
woment ages 14 to 16 years old coming to our hospitals daily, not for check-up but during
labor and delivery. Prematurity and sometimes, small gestational age were often
encountered.

Now as to application of nursing theory from above situation, I am a great follower of the
following nursing models:
1. Penders Health promotion model

2. Orems Self care deficit Theory

3. Roys Adaptation theory and
4. Liningers Transcultural Nursing
Penders Health Promotion model
I believe that the client must engage in behaviors from which they can anticipate
deriving personally valued benefits, such as making heightening the campaign of health
promotion through community health education and intuitive participation. This
behavior results in greater perceived self-efficacy, which can in turn, result in increased
positive affect by actively utilizing their talents, mobilizing members in the community in
teaching, demonstrating and allowing them to do hands-on on health promotive
practices to their family relatives, members, neighbors and friends the importance of
healthy lifestyle .
Another object to consider is that, Families, peers, and health care providers especially
nurses, the midwives, and BHWs serve as the grassroots health care frontlines in the
poor community are unique intermediates that can serve as Emblem or insignia of
Health. The health workers teaching therefore must reflect to their actions of daily living
influencing the community. The nurse presence is valued because of our ability to
transmit-convey information, influence habits and good practices, and encourage group
member of the locale to acquire knowledge and develop talents (with skills) therough
Community Development. We can teach them how to be resourceful and self-reliant
capable of providing remedy during emergency health situations despite of physicians
absence utilizing available resources within reach. Further, there is another way of
influencing them to become independent, that is through mobilization of the community
on how to become actors, leaders, mobilizers and promoter of health making them
sensitive to the ever development of progressive health
To summarize, all are important sources of interpersonal influence that can increase or
decrease commitment to and engagement in health-promoting behavior. I believe that
the clients with our therapeutic services can modify cognitions, affect, and the
interpersonal and physical environment to create incentives for health actions as it
interplays one scope with the other.
Orems Self Care Deficit Theory
I suppose that the primary goal of nursing in the Orem model is to help the client conduct
self-care activities in such a way we could help them reach the paramount level of human
functioning. Because there is a range of levels of self-care ability, the three distinct levels, or
systems, of nursing care are delineated, based on the individuals ability to undertake selfcare activities. As client becomes less able to care for themselves, their nursing care needs
increase and so the helping and caring hand of the nurse must intercept, intervene, and take
into action. Example, A woman post partum from a far flung village is encourage to take a
bath to promote physical hygiene and prevent infection, which is opposite to the traditional
practices of the locals of the Maguindanaon. According to their practices, the post partum
mother is encouraged to delay taking a bath up to one week to prevent bodily stress.
Although odd, very primitive and truly unhygienic, thus making the mothers risk for

infection, the nurse must do something to retard the growing number of tetanus case, or if
not, sepsis. Considering the degree of education of these mothers have, the nurse must
intervene as an advocate to the safe care needs of the mother, safeguarding them from
dominions of ignorance, nothing more powerful than giving health education-using
demonstration and return demonstration procedure, to enhance retention and eventually a
handful skill are developed.
Roys Adaptation theory
To promote adaptation for individuals and groups in the four adaptive modes- physiologic
needs, self- concept, role function and inter-dependence, thus contributing to health, quality
of life, and dying with dignity by assessing behaviors and factors that influence adaptive
abilities and by intervening to enhance environmental interactions. From the given situation
above, wounded-amputated, victims of political upheavals are encourage to use crutches to
help him able to walk again, mobilizing and transporting ones body is part of Activities of
daily living.
Liningers Transcultural Nursing
The most important value should a nurse be caution is his self awareness. Health care
provider need to be flexible in the design of programs, policies, and services to meet the
needs and concerns of the culturally diverse population, groups that are likely to be
encountered. Most cases of lay illness have multiple causalities and may require several
different approaches to diagnosis, treatment, and cure including folk and Western medical
interventions. The use of traditional or alternate models of health care delivery is widely
varied and may come into conflict with Western models of health care practice. Culture
guides behavior into acceptable ways for the people in a specific group as such culture
originates and develops within the social structure through inter personal interactions. For a
nurse to successfully provide care for a client of a different cultural or ethnic to background,
effective intercultural communication must take place.
References
1. Mc Kenna H. (1997). Routledge Essentials for Nurses: Nursing Theories and
Models. 1st Edition. London. Routledge.
2. Parker M. (2000). Nursing Theories and Nursing Practice. 1st Edition.
Philadelphia. F.A. Davis Company.
3. Sitzman K. & Eichelberger L.W. (2011). Understanding the work of nurse
theorists: a creative beginning. 2nd Edition. Massachusetts. Jones and Bartlett
Publishers.
4. Catalano, J.T. (2006). Nursing Now: Todays Issues, Tomorrows Trend. 4th
Edition. Philadelphia. F.A. Davis Company.

Theories are mental patterns or constructs created to help understand and find meaning
from our experience, organize and articulate our knowing, and ask questions leading to new
insights.
As such, theories are not discovered in nature but are human inventions. They are
descriptions of our reflections, of what we observe, or of what we project and infer.

I am a person who has established in managing clients efficiently and capable of

thinking critically in various art of care. My sanguine view concerning distance learning
education is to assist myself gear up and enthusiastically put my profession to move to the
highest thrust. This bestows me the scheme that I can budge in the region of the world and
gain knowledge of in the course of my future at my fingertips. I also deem that the World
Wide Web is a cache of multitude information, contravention from a traditional approach of
learning using classroom-teacher student instructions. This program will help me ascertain
self-paced itinerary while working at the same time. I will no longer cause any more
impediments in my future plans of activity while working in a demanding trade. I can
maximize more beneficial hours studying and working at the same time and do more lecture
classes without countless adjustments in timetable, giving more flexible time to learn offcampus.
Furthermore, the Distance Learning Education in UP OPEN UNIVERSITY makes me at
ease working at my individual speed; I can cram in the comfort of my own home or
anywhere in the country during travel; the Information shall be delivered in text form- which
I will never ignore any important point; I can Interact with other successful professional
nurses online as well and enjoying access to online research libraries and services. Over all,
it will give more time focus for myself to think critically and do research assignment thus I
am gaining more knowledge independently without undue interference of delayed time
coming to school in rush starveling longer distances on a regular weekend basis.
My passion for taking up this course is to do something ground-breaking in which the
output shall be recognized universal and noble for the common good. I say my vision for the
future would be something different that can bring change and hope for the improvement of
the quality of life through research and program development. Only through this craft, My
expertise will be utilized to help the poor Filipinos aside from being honed in the academe
but also a tirelessly share time for community extension service for those who will need the

help, in particular the poor, depressed, oppressed and marginalized sector of the society
situated in the province of Maguindanao, ARMM.
My name is Dennis Nabor Muoz, RN, RM; a proud product of Notre Dame of Marbel
University. At present, I am the Junior National Marketing Officer of St. Louis Review Center
based in General Santos City, Tacurong City, Urdaneta City and Cabanatuan City Branches. I
am with SLRC for one and a half years and in progress. In my spare time from five pm to
nine in the evening, I teach at Nikki Louise College, General Santos City as Part-Time
instructor, teaching subjects like Obstetrics and Primary Health Care. I used to be the DR
Nurse in Buluan District Hospital 2 years ago, thus it heralds me to specialize in Maternal
and Child Health Nursing.
Over the next few years studying at UPOU, I would like to conduct a study on how
cultural indifferences and mal-adaptation to modern western medical science cause ethnic
groups and minorities remain resistant to change and continues not to evolve changes.
Instead of amelioration, they remain incarcerated to traditional yet risky and threatening
practices. It poses general health threat to the overall organization of the family and to the
mother and child in particular. In spite of the effort and massive campaign initiative of the
health department, the program remains unsatisfactory due to several contradicting factors.
And this is my quest, my anticipated challenge and the supposed underpinnings I should to
go through. Thank you