Nursing Theories and Models

Nursing theory is a key element of all modern nursing courses, yet nurses are rarely encouraged to evaluate the models they are taught. In Nursing Theories and Models , Hugh McKenna challenges the notion that certain nursing models are infallible, and examines strategies for bridging the gap between theory and practice. Readers are guided through the confusing terminology associated with nursing theory and are encouraged to test established models and assess the positive difference their use can have on patient care. In addition to exploring the origins and abundance of current ‘popular’ models, the author examines whether new models should emanate from research, practice, or from other theories. He suggests that nurses themselves generate and select theories from their own practice, whether consciously or unconsciously, and that this skill can be developed through reflection and analysis. Nursing Theories and Models is an essential text for students on both undergraduate and postgraduate nursing courses, and provides valuable insight for the practising professional into the strengths and weaknesses of the models they teach.