A nurse researcher has an idea that neonates perceive all interactions with humans as either stressors or comfort
She is conducting qualitative research to describe the types of stressors or comfort that neonates typically experience in the first 24 hours of life. Is this a theory, or a model, or what?
a. A scientific theory
b. A substantive theory
c. An idea but not a theory or model yet
d. A conceptual model
ANS: C
A theory is more narrow and specific than a conceptual model and is directly testable. A theory consists of an integrated set of defined concepts, existence statements, and relational statements that present a view of a phenomenon and can be used to describe, explain, predict, or control that phenomenon. A conceptual model, also known as a grand theory, is a set of highly abstract, related constructs. Scientific theories are those for which repeated studies have validated the relationships among the concepts. Middle-range theories, or substantive theories, present a partial view of nursing reality. These theories are less abstract and address more specific phenomena than grand theories do. They directly apply to practice and focus on explanation and implementation.
You might also like to view...
A nurse receives report from the laboratory on a client who was admitted for fever. The laboratory technician states that the client has "a shift to the left" on the white blood cell count. What action by the nurse is most important?
a. Document findings and continue monitoring. b. Notify the provider and request antibiotics. c. Place the client in protective isolation. d. Tell the client this signifies inflammation.
The nurse manager of a medical surgical unit is analyzing her personnel budget. The manager of a critical care unit is discussing her personnel budget with the nurse manager
The medical surgical nurse manager does not understand why her personnel budget is higher than the critical care unit. This could be due to: 1. A higher turnover rate of nursing staff. 2. The costs of remodeling of the medical surgical nursing unit. 3. The volume of clients on these units. 4. Different management styles.
After describing the pathophysiology of pain, an instructor determines that the students have understood the teaching when they identify which of the following as being responsible for transmitting the sensations to the central nervous system?
A) Transduction B) Modulation C) Nociceptors D) Cytokines
The nurse shows an understanding of an essential purpose of therapeutic communication when (select all that apply):
a. Asking the patient, "How did it make you feel when your son died?" b. Encouraging the patient to assume responsibility for the problems he or she has c. Attentively listening as the patient describes the reasons he or she is seeking help d. Providing the patient with feedback regarding how he or she is implementing stress relief techniques e. Sharing with the patient the details of several extremely stressful personal events and how they were managed