Abstract

The nursing theories have been offering strategies and approaches in modern healthcare leading to optimal patient care. Future nurses are being equipped with key components that would best fit the needs of the patients. The nurses are able to understand their role in the healthcare setting. The theories also guide the researchers on knowledge development. There are, therefore, many theorists that developed many theories explaining the nursing concepts.  Different theories gives different reasoning concerning a certain nursing activity. The epistemology concept is important in understanding human knowledge.  It involves knowing facts about humans. Epistemology helps in knowing the facts and justifies our beliefs and perception. With an understanding of epistemology, nurses will be able to understand truth, belief and justification. All these concepts aim at improving the service delivery to the patients.  This paper will discuss the nursing theories as a concept that was well understood and epistemology that needs further study.

Nursing theories

The most significant concept learnt in nursing theories. The concept is important because it helps in defining nursing, what they do and explains reasons for doing it. The nursing theories help recognize the foundations of nursing and understand the purpose and role of the healthcare setting. The nursing theories gives knowledge to nurses on responding to nursing care. The foundations of nursing practice are based on nursing theories. This leads to the generation of further knowledge and indicates the direction to be followed by nursing in the future. Nurses’ contributions are involved in the healthcare sector and tis develops nurses’ sense of identity. The nursing theories increases the knowledge of the nursing values (San Martín-Rodríguez et al., 2020). They also aim in defining, predicting and demonstrate the nursing phenomenon. The nursing theories maintains and preserves the limits and boundaries of the nursing profession. The nursing theory facilitates research through the development of findings that were studied by various researchers.

There are different components that make up the nursing theories. One of the components is the phenomenon which describes the event in which the theory was developed. It also involves the process and group of the situation for the development of the theory.  They focus on the nursing phenomena. The nursing theories are also made up of concepts describing the phenomena (Mudd et al., 2020). They are phrases that establish the boundaries and structures of the ideas in a certain phenomenon. The nursing theory has the component of definition that gives the general meaning of the concept.  The definitions of the theories are theoretically based on the perspective of the theorist and operational stating how the concepts are being measured. There is also the component of relational statements, which defines the relationships of two or more concepts and links the concepts together.  Finally, there is the component of assumption which refers to the accepted truths based on values and beliefs.

I also understood the various ways of classification of theories. One of its classifications is through levels of abstraction. Theories are classified as practice-level, middle range and grand levels. The practice level theories gives an understanding of a specific population. They help in determining the outcome of the nursing practice (Butcher, 2021).  They are related to the concepts of middle range and grand theories. There is also the middle-range theory of nursing, and they address a specific phenomenon, and they are based on the work of grand theorists. They are conceived through research and nursing practice. The grand nursing theories are complex and require further research.  They do not guide on specific interventions, but provides a general understanding. They also develop works basing on their experiences and explaining the reason for having many variations.

The nursing theories are used in the research process by providing perspective and guidance to the study.  They are also used in creating and testing the phenomenon. The theories are used in promoting the guided practice. Nursing theories are used in generating the research questions. They help in reflecting, questioning and thinking about what nurses do. Theories leads to reflection and questioning of the nursing career. Nursing theories build the nursing curriculum by organizing the concepts. Some of the nursing theories that I came across include the environmental theory that Florence Nightingale developed. She argued that a nurse is supposed to have better utilization of the patient's environment for better recovery. This includes fresh air, cleanliness, clean water, efficient drainage and light. Interpersonal relations theory was developed by Hildegard Peplau, who discussed the process of therapeutic interventions.

The nursing needs theory was developed by Virginia Henderson and focused on increasing the patients' independence, hastening the patients' recovery. She discussed how the nurses are supposed to assist the patients in the recovery process. There is also the theory of bureaucratic caring developed by Anne Ray and involves improving the safety of the patient, controlling infection, reducing the errors in medication and enhancing the overall quality of care (Stephen & Zoucha, 2021). Kari Martinsen developed the theory of philosophy caring that stated that a burse is supposed to be caring for the patients by showing love. A nurse is also supposed to have solidarity and have good moral practice in the profession. The self-care theory was developed by Dorothea Orem and addressed the ability of individuals in caring for themselves. This involves maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Epistemology

The concept that was less clear is epistemology. What becomes more confusing is about understanding the various branches of epistemology.  I needed more understanding of them in order to be able to differentiate them. By understanding the branches of epistemology, I would understand why certain groups behave in a certain manner (Hoeck & Delmar, 2017). I also need to learn more about epistemology to be able to understand the relationship between knowledge and truth. Having an understanding of the epistemology concept, I would be able to understand the process of reasoning from introspection, perception, memory, testimony and intuition. I also need to understand the nature of knowing reality and how we know our minds and the minds of others. I also need more explanation on virtue epistemology and its role in nursing. The three modes of epistemology were also unclear, and I found it more challenging to differentiate them. Another area to look at is the epistemology social dimensions and the approaches to understand human knowledge.