NU 502 Theory Evaluation

Theories are constructed and developed by nursing theorists to describe and explain phenomena in nursing. Nursing science and development of the nursing profession rely on this process to expand the understanding of what nursing is and what nursing does. The purpose of this assignment is to explore how a theorist explicates their philosophy and thoughts and then develops their theory based on testing and use in practice. An evaluation of the theory will make clear its usefulness to nursing practice, leadership, and/or education.

Directions

In this assignment, you will explore how a nurse theorist of your choice created their theory. You will become a theorist, immersing yourself in the writings from the earliest mentioned to the most current literature. Writing in the voice of the theorist (taking on the persona of the theorist), you will create the theory through the following four stages.

In the first stage, theorizing occurs. This is where you, as the theorist, identify the concepts of what nursing is and is not. Perhaps you questioned what concepts guided those in nursing practice and then started questioning your role. You started asking yourself, “Where am I in nursing, and where is the profession going? Is there some overarching understanding that guides the professional in their practice?” This is where you recognize that a theory is needed.

In the second stage, syntax is developed. This is where you will define the terms, explain the relationships between the terms, and examine their expansion. Syntax development is an evolution. Consider, for example, Jean Watson. She starts by defining the word caring. Within the last several years, she has refined her terminology, changing the term caring to Caritas and identifying the relationships between terms. This demonstrates growth and maturation from decades of research she and other scholars did to produce the theory of caring.

The third stage is theory testing. Here, the theorists and other researchers consider whether this theory helps answer questions that arise in nursing. This is where a widening group of researchers uses your theory. For example, graduate nursing students request to use the tool you developed while testing your theory in an area of nursing.

The fourth and last stage is evaluation. This is where the theory is used in practice with the goal of improving healthcare. It is evidenced in the development of policies, procedures, and best practice standards that have evolved from theory implementation.

You may use the bolded assignment description under Assignment Details as level one headings in your paper.

Assignment Details

• Theory Evaluation: Choose one of the following theory evaluation processes. Ellis, Hardy, Barnum, Walker and Avant, Fawcett, Chinn and Kramer, Meleis, Whall, or Dudley-Brown. Identify the key components and a few other unique features of the evaluation process.
• Theory and Professional Identity. Provide your reflection on how the evaluation of theory might impact your professional identity and intentionality as an NP, executive leader, and nurse educator.
• Theorist of Choice (not evaluation). Next, continue by choosing a theorist for your paper with a paragraph that describes why you chose this theorist. First-person voice (I, me, etc.) is acceptable in this paper.
• Write as the theorist in the first-person voice (I, me, our, etc.). For example, I, Dr. Jean Watson, found that caring was a core concept of how I viewed nursing. To me, caring is the essence of nursing.
• Theory Development. Use the four stages (theorizing, syntax, theory testing, and evaluation) to explain how your chosen theory was developed and used in nursing.
• Theorizing. In the first (theorizing) stage, provide the historical context that influenced the theorist’s thinking.
• In the second (syntax) stage, describe the development of the concepts and statements.
• Theory Testing. In the third (theory testing) stage, provide two examples of research examining the theory.
• Evaluation. In the fourth (evaluation) stage, provide three examples of how the theory has been used in practice and a brief evaluation of the theory.
• Summary. Provide a summary of your content. Incorporate how theory can help us to identify opportunities for intentional presence in advanced nursing practice.

Your writing assignment should:

• Include a minimum of 5 pages of content, not including the title and reference pages.
• End your paper with a concluding paragraph conveying a sense of closure.
• Have a minimum of five sources of support.
• Follow the conventions of Standard English (correct grammar, punctuation, etc.).
• Be well-ordered, logical, and unified, as well as original and insightful.
• Display superior content, organization, style, and mechanics.
• Use APA 7th edition format.