Top 10 Nursing Theories: A Comprehensive Guide

Nursing is a dynamic and constantly evolving field, and the development of nursing theories has played a crucial role in shaping the practice and education of nursing. In addition, nursing theories provide a framework for understanding and addressing the complex issues that arise in patient care. This article discusses the top 10 nursing theories and their contributions to nursing.(Top 10 Nursing Theories)

Hildegard Peplau – Interpersonal Theory

Hildegard Peplau was one of the first nursing theorists to focus on the interpersonal relationship between the nurse and the patient. Her interpersonal theory emphasizes the importance of the nurse-patient relationship in providing adequate care.(Top 10 Nursing Theories)

This nursing theory consists of four phases: orientation, identification, exploitation, and resolution. In the orientation phase, the nurse and patient become familiar with each other and establish a therapeutic relationship. The identification phase involves identifying the patient’s problems and needs.(Top 10 Nursing Theories)

In the exploitation phase, the nurse and patient address identified problems. Finally, in the resolution phase, the patient can resolve their health problems, and the relationship between the nurses and patients ends.(Top 10 Nursing Theories)

Peplau’s theory has had a significant impact on nursing practice and education. It has encouraged nurses to focus on the importance of interpersonal relationships in providing effective care and the need for nurses to develop strong communication and interpersonal skills.(Top 10 Nursing Theories)

Additionally, this nursing theory has helped shape the development of nursing education programs, which often emphasize developing interpersonal and communication skills.

Virginia Henderson – Need Theory

Virginia Henderson’s Need Theory is based on the idea that all individuals have basic needs that must be met to maintain their health and well-being. Henderson identified 14 basic needs: food, water, elimination, sleep, communication, and mobility. According to Henderson, the nurse’s role is to assess the patient’s needs, identify any unmet needs, and develop a care plan that addresses those needs.(Top 10 Nursing Theories)

This nursing theory has had a significant impact on nursing practice and education. It has helped to define the nurse’s role in providing patient care and has emphasized the importance of meeting the patient’s basic needs to promote health and well-being. Henderson’s theory has also influenced the development of nursing education programs, which often focus on assessing and managing patient needs.(Top 10 Nursing Theories)

Dorothea Orem – Self-care Theory

Dorothea Orem’s Self-care theory is one of the top 10 theories based on the idea that individuals are responsible for caring for their own health and well-being and that nursing should support this process. The theory consists of three key components: self-care, self-care deficit, and nursing systems.

According to Orem, self-care is how individuals maintain and promote their health and well-being. When individuals are unable to perform self-care, they may experience a self-care deficit. The nurse’s role is to support the individual in their self-care efforts and address any deficiencies that may arise.

Orem’s theory has had a significant impact on nursing practice and education. It has emphasized the importance of empowering patients to take an active role in their care and encouraged nurses to focus on providing patient support and education.(Top 10 Nursing Theories)

Additionally, Orem’s theory has influenced the development of nursing education programs, which now often emphasize the promotion of patient self-care and self-efficacy.

Florence Nightingale – Environment Theory

Florence Nightingale, also known as the “Lady with the Lamp,” was a pioneer in nursing. She was credited with establishing the first professional nursing school. However, she is best known for her work during the Crimean War, where she tended to soldiers and worked to improve the unsanitary conditions of the hospitals.

Her environment theory emphasizes the importance of the environment in promoting health and preventing illness. Nightingale believed that a clean and well-ordered environment was crucial for patients’ health and argued that it was the nurse’s responsibility to create a therapeutic setting.

This environment should be clean and well-ventilated, with fresh air and sunlight, and free from offensive odors and noises. Nightingale also believed that the environment should be comfortable and appealing, with adequate lighting, warmth, and quietness.(Top 10 Nursing Theories)

Nightingale’s environment theory has significantly impacted nursing practice and education. The design of modern healthcare facilities has integrated the principles of the environment theory. Ideally, they focus on creating a clean, safe, and therapeutic environment for patients. The theory has also influenced the development of infection control practices and technology to monitor and maintain a safe and clean environment.

In conclusion, Nightingale’s environment theory remains relevant in nursing today. The importance of the environment in promoting health and preventing illness is widely recognized. In this case, it remains a crucial aspect of nursing practice and education.(Top 10 Nursing Theories)

Jean Watson’s Philosophy and Caring Model

Jean Watson’s Philosophy and Caring Model is one of the top 10 theories. It emphasizes the importance of caring in nursing practice and highlights the humanistic approach to nursing care. The ten curative factors that form the cornerstone of this theory include;

• Creating humanistic-altruistic value systems,
• Instilling faith-hope.
• Cultivating sensitivity to self and others.
• Developing a helping-trusting relationship.
• Promoting expressed feelings.(Top 10 Nursing Theories)
• Utilizing constructive thinking and creative problem-solving.
• Assisting with the gratification of human needs.
• Promoting interpersonal teaching-learning.
• Providing a supportive, protective, and corrective mental, physical, socio-cultural, and spiritual environment.
• Allowing for existential-phenomenological forces.

Watson’s theory has influenced nursing practice and education by promoting the development of caring relationships between nurses and patients and emphasizing the importance of holistic care.

It has also encouraged nurses to focus on patient’s psychological, emotional, and spiritual well-being and physical needs. In nursing education, the Philosophy and Caring Model teaches the importance of empathy, compassion, and holistic care in nursing practice.(Top 10 Nursing Theories)

Madeleine Leininger’s Transcultural Nursing

Madeleine Leininger’s Transcultural Nursing theory highlights the importance of cultural competence in nursing care and recognizes the impact of culture on health and healthcare practices. Leininger’s approach stresses the importance of cultural diversity and the need for cultural care preservation and negotiation in nursing practice. This theory’s fundamental concepts include the following;

• Cultural diversity.
• Cultural care preservation and negotiation.
• Cultural care accommodation and reconstitution.
• Cultural care diversity and universality.(Top 10 Nursing Theories)

Leininger’s theory has influenced nursing practice and education by highlighting the importance of cultural competence in nursing care and encouraging nurses to understand and respect their patient’s cultural beliefs, values, and procedures.

It has also encouraged the development of culturally appropriate nursing interventions and cultural assessment tools in nursing practice. In nursing education, the Transcultural Nursing theory is used as a framework for teaching cultural competence and the importance of understanding the impact of culture on health and healthcare practices.

Martha Rogers’ Unitary Human Beings

Martha Rogers’ Unitary Human Beings theory highlights the holistic view of the person and emphasizes the importance of understanding the patient as a unique and integrated whole. This theory recognizes the interconnectedness of a person’s physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual aspects and stresses the importance of energy fields in health and illness.

This theory’s fundamental concepts include a holistic view of the person, energy fields, patterns, and change. Rogers’ theory has greatly influenced nursing practice and education. In this case, it promotes a holistic approach to patient care and emphasizes the importance of understanding the patient as a unique and integrated whole.

It has also encouraged the development of nursing interventions focusing on the interconnectedness of the patient’s needs. In nursing education, the Unitary Human Beings theory teaches the importance of holistic care and the interconnectedness of the patient’s physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual aspects.(Top 10 Nursing Theories)

Ida Jean Orlando – Nursing Process Theory

The nursing process theory is based on five steps, assessment, diagnosis, outcome identification, planning, and implementation. According to Orlando, the nursing process is an ongoing cycle that helps nurses to think critically and make informed decisions about patient care. This theory forms the basis of Orlando’s approach as it provides a systematic and comprehensive framework for nursing practice.

Orlando’s theory has had a significant impact on nursing practice and education. It has been adopted in many healthcare settings and incorporated into many nursing programs’ curricula. Specifically, the process theory emphasizes critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which has led to an increased focus on these skills. In addition, the five steps of the nursing process provide a structured approach to patient care that has improved the quality of care.(Top 10 Nursing Theories)

Dorothy Johnson – System Model

The system model is based on the idea that patients are complex systems composed of interrelated parts. In this case, Johnson believes that a holistic approach to patient care is necessary to understand and address the patient’s needs.

This theory’s fundamental concepts include the need for holistic care, the importance of understanding the patient as a system, and the recognition of the interdependence of the various components of the patient’s system.

Johnson’s theory has had a significant impact on nursing practice and education. It has been adopted in many healthcare settings and incorporated into many nursing programs’ curricula. The system model has helped to emphasize the importance of a holistic approach to patient care. It has led to an increased focus on patient-centered care.

In this case, the emphasis on understanding the patient as a system has helped to improve the quality of care provided by nurses. Specifically, it allows them to see the patient as a whole and to address the interrelated needs of the patient’s system.

Fay Abdella – Twenty-One Nursing Problems

The 21 nursing problems identified by Abdella are a comprehensive list of the most common problems faced by patients in healthcare settings. The list includes problems such as pain, anxiety, and lack of mobility, among others. According to Abdella, the 21 nursing problems form the basis of patient care and are crucial in guiding nursing practice.

Abdella’s theory has had a significant impact on nursing practice and education. The 21 nursing problems provide a framework for patient care, which has helped improve the quality of care nurses provide. In addition, the theory has emphasized the importance of addressing the common issues patients face in healthcare settings, leading to an increased focus on patient-centered care.(Top 10 Nursing Theories)

Conclusion

Summary of Key Findings of the Top 10 Nursing Theories

The theories of Florence Nightingale, Jean Watson, Madeleine Leininger, Martha Rogers, Ida Jean Orlando, Dorothy Johnson, and Fay Abdella are all critical in their own right. They also have a significant impact on nursing practice and education.

For example, nightingale’s theory emphasized the importance of environmental factors in patient care, while Watson’s theory emphasized caring. Likewise, Leininger’s theory stresses the importance of cultural competence in patient care. On the other hand, Rogers’s theory emphasizes the importance of a holistic view of the person.(Top 10 Nursing Theories)

Orlando’s theory stresses the importance of the nursing process in patient care. Nonetheless, Johnson’s theory emphasizes the importance of understanding the patient as a system. Finally, Abdella’s theory stresses the importance of addressing the most common problems faced by patients in healthcare settings.(Top 10 Nursing Theories)

The nursing process theory of Ida Jean Orlando emphasizes the importance of taking a systematic approach to patient care. Specifically, it focuses on the five steps of assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation. This theory has influenced how nursing is taught and practiced and has helped standardize patient care delivery.

This theory emphasizes the importance of viewing patients as holistic systems rather than treating their physical symptoms. In this case, this theory has influenced how nurses approach patient care. Also, it has helped to emphasize the importance of considering the patient’s social, emotional, and physical needs.

Fay Abdella’s theory of the 21 nursing problems highlights the most common challenges patients face. It also provides a framework for addressing these problems comprehensively and holistically. As a result, it has influenced how nursing education is structured and has helped to highlight the critical challenges patients face.(Top 10 Nursing Theories)

FAQs

What is the theory of Lydia Hall?

Lydia Hall is a nursing theorist who developed Hall’s Health Promotion Model. This model focuses on promoting health and wellness in individuals and communities through interventions that address lifestyle, environmental, and personal factors.(Top 10 Nursing Theories)

What are the seven ethical theories in nursing?

The seven ethical theories in nursing include the following;

• Consequentialism
• Deontology
• Virtue ethics
• Care ethics
• Moral relativism
• Feminist ethics, 
• Principlism.

What is Martha Roger’s nursing theory?

Martha Rogers is a nursing theorist who developed the Unitary Human Beings theory. This theory views the person as a holistic, dynamic, and constantly changing energy field. This theory focuses on the person’s health, environment, and interactions between the two.(Top 10 Nursing Theories)

Who is the mother of all nursing?

Florence Nightingale is often referred to as the mother of modern nursing. She was a pioneer in nursing and made significant contributions to the development of nursing education and practice.(Top 10 Nursing Theories)

What is Nightingale’s theory called?

The Nightingale theory is also known as the Environmental Theory. It emphasizes the importance of the environment in promoting health and healing. Additionally, it argues that creating a healthy environment is the first step in nursing care.

What is Betty Neuman’s nursing theory?

Betty Neuman’s nursing theory is known as the Neuman Systems Model. This theory views the person as an open system constantly interacting with the environment. In addition, this theory focuses on maintaining and restoring health by addressing the various stressors that can impact a person’s health.(Top 10 Nursing Theories)