Jamie McKinney, MS, APRN, FNP-C Fall 2014 Chapter 15 Conceptual Models and the Fate of Grand Theory

Review Metaparadigm Grand Theories/Conceptual Models Middle-Range Theories Practice Theories

Conceptual Models Used interchangeably with Grand Theory Can highlight areas of knowledge development and help apply value to nursing action Can guide nursing practice, research, and testing Main focus of chapter is to determine whether these conceptual models are different from theories and if they can unify and guide the discipline Need for an intellectual environment that allows challenges to be recognized and managed

The Theorists Ada Jacox Wanted to distinguish grand theory from middle-range theory through examining the construction of the theory Fawcett Worked to define criteria to evaluate theories and models and the distinction each has Show how conceptual models are abstract versions of the theories and middle-range theories are to be deduced from conceptual models before testing

The Theorists Joan Riehl and Sister Calista Roy Conceptual models are different Worked to expose values Two Pictures: 1. Abstraction Picture: conceptual models are abstractions from theories, and theory will provide more specifications of the concepts in the model 2. Orientation Picture: conceptual models will guide or orient nursing research and make no theoretical pronouncements, gives importance to goals and values

The Theorists Leana Uys Argues the abstraction picture is not efficient in discriminating between non-theories and theories Argues that the conceptual model in nursing should be understood as a relatively concrete philosophy

The Theorists Peplau, Orlando, Widenbach, and Henderson Work came about through experiences in teaching Their conceptual models attempted to describe the goals and values of nursing Their conceptual models attempted to give an analysis of the nursing role Developed models for nursing

Models Models “of” nursing Provide descriptions to the system and its parts Discusses how the parts are related Models “for” nursing Provide an action guide to determine when dimension need examination or when change is needed Encompass goals and values Can guide practice and research

A Nursing Philosophy Job is to critically examine presuppositions Makes sure nursing research coherent with our commitments Values, ethics central to a nursing philosophy Nursing practice is one touchstone Empirical research is another touchstone

A Nursing Philosophy Must aim to make sense of nursing practice on one hand and nursing science on the other “Chapter has argued that conceptual models are misconceived if they are understood to be abstract versions of empirical theory” According to Uys if conceptual models are to be part of nursing philosophy then we need to take away the “trappings” of empirical theories, and their relationship is the same as the empirical sciences

Conclusion If conceptual models are nursing philosophy then an environment will be needed where argument and analysis are basis for progress Also means that nursing philosophy, nursing practice, and nursing science are in a reciprocal relationship

References Risjord, M. (2010). Nursing knowledge, science, practice, and philosophy. Ames, Iowa: Wiley Blackwell.