Much of the theoretical work in nursing focused on articulating relationships among four major concepts: person, environment, health, and nursing. A metaparadigm is the most general statement of discipline and functions as a framework in which the more restricted structures of conceptual models develop. A paradigm refers to a pattern of shared understanding and assumptions about reality and the world, worldview, or widely accepted value system. Processes are organized steps, changes, or functions intended to bring about the desired result. The domain is the perspective or territory of a profession or discipline. Propositions are statements that describe the relationship between the concepts. It is often used interchangeably with the conceptual model and with grand theories. A conceptual framework is a group of related ideas, statements, or concepts. They present an overview of the theory’s thinking and may demonstrate how theory can be introduced into practice. Models are representations of the interaction among and between the concepts showing patterns. They are primarily the vehicles of thought that involve images. Concepts are often called the building blocks of theories. Theories are also used to describe, predict, or control phenomena. It refers to a logical group of general propositions used as principles of explanation. A belief, policy, or procedure proposed or followed as the basis of action. These are beliefs and values that define a way of thinking and are generally known and understood by a group or discipline. The development of nursing theory demands an understanding of selected terminologies, definitions, and assumptions. It has its own body of knowledge on which delivery of care is based. Nursing is a unique discipline and is separate from medicine. To distinguish this foundation of knowledge, nurses need to identify, develop, and understand concepts and theories in line with nursing. As a science, nursing is based on the theory of what nursing is, what nurses do, and why. Nursing, as a profession, is committed to recognizing its own unparalleled body of knowledge vital to nursing practice-nursing science. It is a framework of concepts and purposes intended to guide nursing practice at a more concrete and specific level. Nursing theories provide a way to define nursing as a unique discipline that is separate from other disciplines (e.g., medicine). Nursing theories are organized bodies of knowledge to define what nursing is, what nurses do, and why they do it. Other Ways of Classifying Nursing Theories.

Phenomena examples