Assignment Task:
Middle-Range Theories and Nursing Practice Issues
There are several different types of theories in nursing. Grand theories look at nursing from a broad perspective of human needs. In contrast, middle-range theories are narrower in focus, and look at specific aspects of the nursing profession. Due to their narrower scope, middle-range theories are more applicable for use in actual nursing practice.
High level middle-range theories can be quite complex (for example, Benner's "Novice to Expert Theory" and Leininger's "Theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality"). Less complex middle-range theories include Mishel's "Uncertainty in Illness Theory," Kolcaba's "Comfort Theory," and Lenz and Pugh's "Theory of Unpleasant Symptoms." Some middle-range theories are even more specifically focused. For example, Beck's "Postpartum Depression Theory" or Eakes et al.'s "Theory of Chronic Sorrow."
For this Discussion, you will identify a practice or organization issue of importance to you. Then, you select two middle-range theories and apply them to address the practice or organization issue.
Note: The practice issue you select will also inform your work in Week 3 (and can potentially be utilized throughout the remainder of this course).
Resources
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
To Prepare:
- Reflect on your nursing practice to identify issues of particular interest or concern to you and/or your organization.
- Select one practice or organization issue on which to focus for this Discussion.
- Review the Learning Resources for this week, focusing on specific middle-range theories that may apply to the practice or organization issue that you selected.
- Select two middle-range theories that you believe are relevant and valuable in addressing the practice or organization issue you selected.
Post the following:
- Identify the practice or organization issue you selected. Explain why you chose it.
- Describe the two middle-range theories that you selected. Explain why you chose them.
- Explain how you would apply each middle-range theory to the practice or organization issue. Be specific and provide examples.
Note: Your posts should be substantial (500 words minimum), supported with scholarly evidence from your research and/or the Learning Resources, and properly cited using APA Style. Personal anecdotes are acceptable as part of a meaningful post but cannot stand alone as the entire post.