Evaluation of Theories and Conceptual Models from Nursing and Related Field for Use in Advanced Nursing

Module Three Discussion
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Module Three Discussion: Evaluation of Theories and Conceptual Models from Nursing and Related Field for Use in Advanced Nursing
The advanced nursing practice is guided and informed by theoretical frameworks and philosophies. The nursing profession has a substantial focus on theoretical and conceptual models. Such focus often differentiates nursing from other disciplines. Nursing theories embody organized knowledge-based concepts that define the scope of nursing practice, what nurses are typically tasked with, and why such responsibilities are in place. However, these nursing theories and concepts are not new in nursing. Nursing theories and theoretical concepts constitute one of the significant discourses in the nursing profession. New nursing models and concepts are equally emerging and are already merging with older ones. The emergent topics, such as evidence-based practice, are rapidly being integrated into the nursing model and frameworks. What importance do nursing theories have to practice across different levels, including advanced nursing practice? Can't nurses merely practice nursing without any nursing theories and frameworks? This paper demonstrates that nursing theories, models, and concepts are essential to optimizing care in advanced nursing practice.
It is essential to understand different types of nursing theories. First, there are concepts referred to as grand nursing theories considered broad, abstract, and complex concepts (Butts & Rich, 2015). These grand nursing theories provide an overall understanding of specific notions such as people and health. They arise from theories from a nurse theorist's own experience. Second is middle-range nursing theories that focus on specific focal points in nursing. They often emerged from the research, nursing practice, or other disciplines related directly or indirectly to nursing. Finally, there are practice-level nursing theories and models that are considered even more granular in detail. For example, they focused on patient groups at a specified time and are considered more centric to patient care. While grand theories play a role in developing a larger framework, middle-range and practice-level theories define how specific health scenarios are managed (Butts & Rich, 2015). For instance, the Neuman Systems model is a practice-level theory that deals with managing a specific health condition.
Nursing theories and models underpin the implementation of healthcare delivery approaches and interventions. Implemen...