Module 1 Theory, Practice, and Research Initial Discussion Post
Discuss the interrelationship among theory, practice, and research.
Nursing theory and research are closely linked since they contribute to the advancement of professional nursing practice. Gray et al. (2017) describe theory as a scientific approach to organizing ideas that incorporates related concepts, existence claims, and relationship statements to offer a systematic picture of reality. Personal experiences, scientific evidence, and complex cognitive processes are all used to create a theory (Gray et al., 2017, p. 8). Theory, practice, and research are connected to health care and promotion. They are interconnected within the healthcare setting while having differing definitions and objectives. Each idea has a role in healthcare, and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) use them to provide quality patient-centered care.
Today’s nursing vision involves performing high-quality studies using a variety of approaches, incorporating study findings into the most accepted research evidence, using this research evidence to guide practice, and assessing the outcomes (Gray et al., 2017, p. 23). Advanced nursing practice utilizes a systematic approach of considerable specialized knowledge and abilities to care for, treat, and educate patients experiencing changes in their usual health processes or who need help managing their health. The APRN’s approach to the patient, family, and community is guided by theory. According to Gray et al. (2017), nurses have traditionally gained information through “traditions, authority, borrowing, trial and error, personal experience, role modeling and mentorship, intuition, reasoning, and research” (Gray et al., 2017, p. 9). Advanced practice nurses should continue to examine the success of nursing theory-guided practice and lead their nursing practice through the lens of nursing theories (Younas & Quennell, 2019).
The formation of a research-based body of literature is one of the most important aims of the nursing profession. The term research means acquiring information. Nursing research is a scientific process that evaluates and enhances current information while creating new knowledge to impact the spread of evidence-based nursing (Gray et al., 2017, p. 1). Nurses utilize a range of research techniques. Quantitative research counts and measures variables; qualitative research employs life experiences; mixed methods research uses chosen nursing problems; and outcome research looks at the outcomes of patient care (Gray et al., 2017, p. 25).
Nursing research is essential because it allows patients to feel more informed about their care and treatment options. Nurses can then use their expertise to help others and effect change. Nurses’ ability to understand and apply theory and nurse researchers’ efforts to produce and conserve nursing theory and knowledge is crucial. The link between theory, practice, and research is fluid yet intertwined since expertise is gained via research, and theory is established through research. The other two would not function without it. Research must be conducted to validate and explain concepts. Theoretical perspectives can construct a set of assumptions that characterize connections between variables. When empirically confirmed, nurses can use the study findings to verify, revise, deny, or support a theoretical assumption. Theory provides knowledge to practice through examination, diagnosis, and intervention, allowing the profession to grow. People must be able to test and improve ideas and models to develop practice models. Theory makes practice more effective, which enhances patient care.
References
Gray, J., Grove, S. & Sutherland, S. (2018). Burns and Grove’s the practice of nursing research: appraisal, synthesis, and generation of evidence (8th ed.). Elsevier.
Younas, A., & Quennell, S. (2019). Usefulness of nursing theory-guided practice: an integrative review. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/scs.12670
