Introduction
Nurse practitioners (NPs) use their competencies and philosophies to meet their patients’ health needs. In order to function optimally, these professionals should borrow numerous ideas from existing theories and models. Such a practice can empower them to become skilled providers of exemplary medical services and care. The paper below argues that nursing theory is important because it guides practitioners to support patients, propose new ideas, and improve their care delivery models.
Nursing Theory: Importance
The nursing theory remains a critical issue that many scholars have managed to analyze from different perspectives. Within the past six decades, researchers have presented theoretical arguments to inform superior care delivery practices (Mosqueda-Díaz, Vílchez-Barboza, Valenzuela-Suazo, & Sanhueza-Alvarado, 2014). Despite these developments, the role of theory in nursing practice still remains contentious. However, a proper examination of various concepts can explain why theory is important in the field of nursing.
Scholars can consider the example of nursing education to support the above thesis. Achievements in this field have resulted in diverse concepts that continue to empower nurses to support their patients’ changing needs. Nursing theory is essential since it offers a detailed plan for guiding practitioners to achieve their potential (Smith & Parker, 2015). Whenever obstacles emerge, practitioners can analyze existing ideas to compose evidence-based action plans and deliver positive results. Nurses can consider various theories and apply them accordingly, depending on the unique medical demands of their respective patients.
For many years, leaders have used the nursing theory as a framework for managing healthcare departments, investigating critical issues, and making superior decisions. Practitioners who embrace various models create superior procedures and involve different stakeholders in order to record positive outcomes (Mosqueda-Díaz et al., 2014). This approach makes it easier for them to continue providing high-quality care to their patients.
Numerous ideas for nursing practice can be acquired from different fields, including business management, human resources (HR), and medicine. This means theories from these areas can inform a wide range of ideas and procedures in care delivery. For example, Kurt Lewin’s model for change has empowered many NPs and clinicians to introduce and implement better ideas in their respective departments.
Similarly, nursing theories present meaningful insights for improving communication, critical thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving (Smith & Parker, 2015). The theory also supports evidence-based practices that can transform healthcare delivery. Ideas such as cultural competence, multidisciplinary teams, and clinical guidelines are also founded on nursing theory. These concepts are now supporting the demands of many people in different parts of the world.
Another importance of theory to the nursing profession is that it guides future practice and research. Practitioners who focus on existing models can identify new values, goals, concepts, and values that can transform healthcare practice. Those who embrace the power of theory tend to engage in continuous learning, thereby introducing evidence-based ideas to address most of the health problems many people face. According to Mosqueda-Díaz et al. (2014), future scholars should continue to introduce new frameworks in order to improve the quality of medical services.
Conclusion
The above discussion has argued that nursing theory is important to the nursing profession. The paper has indicated that nurses can consider existing models to design superior care delivery models, solve emerging problems, and meet the changing health needs of their patients. The theory also guides future research, thereby introducing new ideas for transforming the profession.
References
Mosqueda-Díaz, A., Vílchez-Barboza, V., Valenzuela-Suazo, S., & Sanhueza-Alvarado, O. (2014). Critical theory and its contribution to the nursing discipline. Investigación y Educación en Enfermería, 32(2), 356-363.
Smith, M. C., & Parker, M. E. (2015). Nursing theories and nursing practice (4th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis Company.