What Are Some Resources for the Development of Nursing Theory?

Theory is a body of knowledge relating to a particular practice. Because the practice of nursing is central to nursing theory, nursing theory assembles this body of knowledge from several other fields -- or resources -- of knowledge.

Resource Explosion

• Ninety percent of nursing theory has emerged within the last two decades. That is because new information technology has facilitated a knowledge explosion that has developed new ideas, terms and concepts. This, in turn, has led to a superabundance of resources for nurses and nursing educators, so many that it can be confusing, even overwhelming.

Research as a Resource

• Nursing is a profession, with professional standards. Standards are based on theoretical development. Nursing derives its theoretical development from both empirical sciences and social sciences.

  The development of standards in nursing is based on revision of theory, which is in turn based on revisions of theory in hard sciences and social science. Research drives the evolution of these sciences, so emerging research in medical science and social science is also an emerging resource.

Cultural Resources

• Emerging social sensitivities also drive theoretical development in nursing. Social theories on gender, ethnicity and class that have grown out of social struggles have had a significant effect on nursing theory. Research on these topics is ongoing and vigorous. This body of work is also a resource for the development of nursing theory.

Nursing Education

• For a long time, nursing was considered non-professional and non-intellectual. With the professionalization of nursing, this impression has been substantially overcome, and the best resource for anyone who is interested in nursing theory is a nursing education, in which key elements of the most accepted theories are taught.