Importance Of Nursing Theory To the Nursing Profession
Nursing is a unique discipline because it is shaped by its own concepts, such as nursing theory. In my view, nursing theory is an important concept to the nursing profession because it guides practice. Nursing theory is the foundation upon which the nursing profession and practice are built (Smith, 2019). It provides a set of nursing-specific principles that molds and directs nursing practice. Nursing theory directs nursing practice by providing evidence-based and up-to-date scientific information from which nurses can extract relevant facts in order to critically think, resulting in the implementation of evidence-based practice for better patient outcomes (Smith, 2019). For instance, King’s theory of goal attainment claims that nurses work together with patients to achieve a mutually agreed upon healthcare goal (Smith, 2019). This theory places a patient at the center of focus, with nursing promoting and supporting people in maintaining and caring for themselves. Therefore, nurse theory provides a direction of care that nurses should take in the nursing profession.
Importance Of Nursing Theory To Nurse Practitioners
Nursing theory is important to nursing practitioners because it influences how they provide care to patients. Nurse practitioners use nursing theory to articulate evidence to justify the methodologies behind their practice (Smith, 2019). Through nursing theory, nurse practitioners are able to recognize the patient’s needs, improve effective patient-nurse communication, analyze patients’ conditions, and devise successful patient-assistance approaches. Nurse practitioners can also use nursing theories to develop new knowledge about a variety of health issues (Smith, 2019). Moreover, nursing theory is used to teach other healthcare workers about the critical function of nurses and assist nurse practitioners with patient care and knowing their identities (Smith, 2019). Therefore, it is evident that nurse practitioners are among the providers who benefit significantly from a nursing theory.
A Reflection on My Experience as I Continue The Journey To Achieving MSN
Nursing, as an important part of health care, involves the prevention of illness as well as the care of physically, psychologically, and physically impaired individuals. It is all about caring for individuals, families, and communities (Smith, 2019). During the MSN program, I learned that the unique role of nurses in caring for the sick is to assess patients’ responses towards treatment and help them in the performance of those activities contributing to health or recovery. However, the most important concept that I have learned so far during this program is nursing theory and how it affects the nursing profession. Nursing theory is an integral nursing concept because it provides nurses with a sense of identity, which enables them to provide quality care during practice (Smith, 2019). During practice, nursing theory helps nurses to make informed decisions when taking care of patients.
Moreover, I learned that nursing theory has influenced my understanding of nursing as a student and as a practicing nurse practitioner. As a student, nursing theory enables me to understand nursing as a profession with a solid foundation grounded in evidence-based practice (Smith, 2019). The nursing theory usually directs education, research, and practice. Based on this, I will be able to use nursing theory to guide my research and inform my decision during this course. As a future nurse practitioner, nursing theory will serve as scientific reasoning for nursing interventions and give me the knowledge base appropriate for acting and responding appropriately in nursing care situations (Smith, 2019). The theory will help me in applying skills, care knowledge, and the art of caring for patients. The concept of nursing theory will have a significant influence on my future role as a nurse practitioner.
Reference
Smith, M. C. (2019). Nursing theories and nursing practice (5th Ed.). FA Davis.