How to Learn Nursing Theories

No matter what type of nursing you decide to go into, you will need to learn the basic theories of nursing practice. If you're already in a nursing program, you will be introduced to nursing theory early on in your academic career in an introductory class. You can also educate yourself by reading books and journal articles, watching videos and exploring websites about influential nurses and their theories.

Instructions

• 1

  Explore the University of San Diego's nursing theory page. Read about the theories of notable nurses such as Florence Nightingale, Madeleine Leininger and Martha E. Rogers. Scroll further down on the web page to find links to DVDs and reference books on nursing theory. The page also contains links to discussion forums on different nursing theories and models.

• 2

  Visit the Nursing Knowledge International website and order the DVD "Distinguished Nurse Theorists." The DVD contains interviews of renowned nurses who have played a significant role in improving health care. Most of the interviews are 50 to 60 minutes in length. Although the DVD was produced in 2006, many of the interviews were conducted in the late 1970s and 1980s.

• 3

  Read about nursing theorists at the Mayo Clinic's nursing research website. Once you find a nursing theorist that you want to learn more about, click on the link to be taken to a website with a list of books and journal articles about the particular nursing theorist.

• 4

  Purchase the book Nursing Theories: The Base for Professional Nursing Practice by Julia B. George. The book highlights the pros and cons of popular nursing theories and emphasizes the importance of using the theories in clinical practice.