Name
Chamberlain University
NR-501: Theoretical Basis for Advanced Nursing Practice
Prof. Name
Date
Nursing theories have long served as the cornerstone of the nursing profession, shaping its identity, purpose, and scope of practice. They not only clarify the role of nurses but also influence how care is provided in different settings (Im & Ju Chang, 2012). Through the contributions of various theorists over time, nursing theories have evolved to refine professional practice, set clear boundaries, and promote quality patient-centered care.
The primary objective of nursing theories is to create a framework for practice, enhance professional knowledge, and guide patient care strategies. These theories also encourage collaboration among healthcare professionals, allowing nurses to work effectively with physicians, therapists, and other allied health providers to ensure optimal outcomes. As Smith and Parker (2015) explain, nursing theories foster critical thinking while offering direction for professional decision-making and care planning.
Nursing theories are not abstract ideas but practical tools that shape clinical interventions. They help nurses understand the rationale behind their actions, linking knowledge to practice. For instance, practice-level theories target specific aspects of patient care and can be applied in direct interventions. Each nursing action—such as wound care, administering medication, or patient teaching—can be described through practice-level frameworks that define desired outcomes (Smith & Parker, 2015).
In this way, nursing theories strengthen the profession by ensuring consistency in care, enhancing safety, and guiding nurses in applying evidence-based interventions. They also serve as intellectual tools that encourage critical reflection, helping nurses identify better strategies to address complex patient needs.
Florence Nightingale is widely recognized as the pioneer of nursing theory. Her efforts to separate nursing knowledge from medicine highlighted the need for a distinct body of empirical nursing science (McEwen, 2014). Nightingale’s legacy established the foundation for modern nursing theories, which continue to evolve today.
Decades later, theorists identified five stages in the development of nursing theory and philosophy:
Silent Knowledge
Received Knowledge
Subjective Knowledge
Procedural Knowledge
Constructed Knowledge
Integrated Knowledge
These stages reflect the profession’s growth from implicit practices to evidence-based frameworks that define modern nursing (McEwen, 2014).
The most recent and impactful stage, integrated knowledge, highlights the importance of combining prior stages into a comprehensive framework. It emphasizes the role of evidence-based practice and research as the foundation of today’s nursing standards (McEwen, 2014).
In this stage, clinical protocols—such as wound dressing techniques, safe medication administration, or tailored antibiotic therapy—are established through rigorous research. Nurses collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including physical, occupational, and speech therapists, to ensure patients receive holistic care.
Additionally, the integrated knowledge stage encourages advanced nursing education. By pursuing higher levels of study, nurses strengthen professional competency and contribute to research-driven improvements in healthcare. This stage reflects a commitment to lifelong learning, patient advocacy, and continuous quality improvement in nursing practice.
Stage | Description | Application in Nursing |
---|---|---|
Silent Knowledge | Early reliance on traditional practices without scientific validation | Nursing care guided by customs or intuition rather than evidence |
Received Knowledge | Dependence on external disciplines such as medicine for nursing knowledge | Nurses applied medical instructions without distinct nursing perspective |
Subjective Knowledge | Recognition of personal experiences and perspectives in practice | Nurses valued their observations and patient interactions in care |
Procedural Knowledge | Standardization of care through rules and procedures | Implementation of nursing procedures such as hygiene protocols and safety measures |
Constructed Knowledge | Development of theories based on nursing’s unique identity and experiences | Formation of nursing-specific models to guide interventions |
Integrated Knowledge | Combination of prior stages, prioritizing research and evidence-based practice | Use of clinical guidelines, interdisciplinary collaboration, and higher education in nursing |
Nursing theories are essential for defining the nursing profession, guiding clinical practice, and fostering collaboration across healthcare teams. From Nightingale’s early contributions to the integrated knowledge stage, these theories have evolved to prioritize evidence-based practice and holistic care. Today, they not only guide nurses in their daily interventions but also strengthen the profession’s ability to adapt to modern healthcare challenges.
Im, E., & Ju Chang, S. (2012). Current trends in nursing theories. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 44(2), 156–164. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1547-5069.2012.01440.x
McEwen, M. (2014). Theoretical basis for nursing (4th ed.). Wolters Kluwer Health.
Smith, M. C., & Parker, M. E. (2015). Nursing theories and nursing practice (4th ed.). F.A. Davis.