A nursing educator summarizes the role of nursing theory across the domains of nursing practice, education, and research by pointing out that in all three areas, theory
a. assists nurses to view patients and information in a uniform way.
b. is useful for prediction but not for driving nursing activities.
c. rigidly structures data collection and protocol implementation.
d. serves to organize information in a meaningful, useful manner.
D
Across all three domains of nursing (education, practice, and research), theory remains a tool that serves to make meaningful connections among various bits of information collected. Theories and frameworks provide direction and guidance for structuring professional nursing practice, education, and research. This meaning then guides nursing action. Theory can guide data collection and implementation of nursing activities, but all situations need to be seen in their holistic and individualized entireties.
Theory should drive nursing actions, just as nursing action should inform theory.
Theories are not meant to be rigid and unyielding; in fact, theories help explain variations in patient situations, guide holistic nursing education, and can help formulate questions for research.
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