Chapter 4 Flashcards
Theory
An abstract statement formulated to predict, explain, or describe the relationships among concepts, constructs, or events. Theory is developed and tested by observation and research, using factual data.
Metatheory
An area of study that looks at the relationships of various components that make up the knowledge of a discipline.
Nursing Theory
Conceptualizes an aspect nursing to describe, explain, predict, or prescribe nursing care.
Phenomenon
A sign that is often associated with a specific illness or condition and is therefore diagnostically important.
Concept
A construct or abstract idea that originates and remains within the mind.
Assumptions
Beliefs taken for granted without examination.
Domain
The perspective or territory of a profession or discipline.
Paradigm
A pattern that may serve as a model or example.
Conceptual Framework
A group of concepts that are broadly defined and systematically organized to provide a focus, a rationale, and a tool for the integration and interpretation of information.
Nursing Metaparadigm
Allows nurses to understand and explain what nursing is, what nursing does, and why nurses do what they do.
Person
The recipient of nursing care.
Health
Has different means for each patient.
Environment/Situation
All of the many factors, as physical and psychologic, that influence or affect the life and survival of a person.
Nursing
Includes “Care of individuals of all ages, families, groups, and communities, sick or well, and in all settings. Nursing includes the promotion of health, prevention of illness, and the care of ill, disabled, and dying people.” (International Council of Nurses, 2021).
Middle-Range Theories
Theories that contain a limited number of concepts and are focused on a limited aspect of reality.
Practice Theories
More specific theories than middle-range theories, they are composed of a limited number of concepts. They are narrow in scope, explain a small aspect of phenomena and processes of interest to nurses, and are usually limited to specific populations ir field of practice.
Descriptive Theories
Are the first level of theory development. They describe phenomena and identify circumstances in which the phenomena occurs.
Perspective theories
Address nursing interventions for a phenomenon, guide practice change, and predict the consequences.
Shared Theory
Explains a phenomenon specific to the discipline that developed the theory.
Input
The data or information that comes from a patient’s assessment.
Output
The end product of a system; in the case of the nursing process, it is whether the patient’s health status improves, declines, or remains stable as a result of nursing care.
Feedback
Information produced by a receiver and perceived by a sender that informs the sender of the receivers reaction to the message.
Content
The product and information obtained from the system.
