The Role of Theory in Informing Nurse Practitioner Practice: How Theories Shape Clinical Decision Making
As Nurse Practitioners, our job is to provide advanced nursing care to patients in various settings. Our role goes beyond just diagnosing and treating patients; it involves understanding the patient’s health condition comprehensively, managing symptoms, interpreting laboratory and imaging results, and developing comprehensive care plans.
Theories form the foundation for Nurse Practitioner practice, shaping our clinical decision making, and guiding us in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of patient conditions. In this article, we will discuss the role of theory in informing Nurse Practitioner practice and the importance of applying it to clinical decision making.
What is Theory in Nursing?
Nursing theory is a set of concepts, definitions, relationships, and assumptions or propositions derived from nursing models or other disciplines and theories that project a systematic view of a phenomenon by designing specific inter-relationships among concepts for the purposes of explaining, describing, predicting, and prescribing nursing care.
In simple terms, nursing theory provides a framework for understanding what nursing is, what nurses do, and how nurses approach patient care. It also serves as a guide for clinical decision making and helps to establish the goals and outcomes of nursing interventions.
The Importance of Theory in Nurse Practitioner Practice
Theories play a crucial role in informing Nurse Practitioner practice. They provide a systematic approach to decision making, helping to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and enhance patient care outcomes. They help Nurse Practitioners understand the complex relationships between patient symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment interventions, shaping their approach to patient care.
For instance, the nursing theory of the Conservation Model, developed by Myra Levine, guides Nurse Practitioners in understanding the patient’s overall condition, considering their physiological, psychological, sociological, and spiritual needs. The theory states that a patient’s internal and external environment affects their health status and that careful assessment of both should inform care delivery.
How Theories Shape Clinical Decision Making
Clinical decision making is a complex and dynamic process that is influenced by a range of factors, including the patient’s health status, available evidence-based guidelines, and the Nurse Practitioner’s knowledge and experience. Theories provide a framework for clinical decision making, helping to organize patient data, interpret assessment findings, and develop appropriate care plans.
For instance, the Roy Adaptation model, developed by Sr. Callista Roy, guides Nurse Practitioners in understanding the patient’s adaptation process to illness, guiding them in developing appropriate nursing interventions to promote positive adaptation. The model emphasizes the importance of individualized care, focusing on the unique needs of each patient, and developing interventions that align with their goals and preferences.
Conclusion
Theories form the foundation for Nurse Practitioner practice, guiding clinical decision making, and enhancing patient care outcomes. By understanding the role of theory in shaping our practice, we can develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, providing advanced nursing care to patients in various settings. It’s essential to apply nursing theory to clinical decision making to provide patient-centered care that enhances their quality of life.
