1.

Anne Boykin and Savina Schoenhofer: The Theory of Nursing as Caring

Core Idea: Caring is the foundation and essence of nursing. This theory views all individuals
as inherently caring, and the practice of nursing is about nurturing that caring in others.
Key Concepts:
Caring is not just an action but a way of being.
Nursing as a profession is about building relationships that honor the dignity and wholeness
of each person.
Application: Nurses should create an environment where patients feel genuinely cared for
and supported, which enhances healing and well-being.

2. Afaf Ibrahim Meleis: Transitions Theory

Core Idea: People experience various transitions throughout life (e.g., illness, recovery, role
changes), which can be challenging. Nurses play a critical role in helping individuals adapt
and find stability during these transitions.
Key Concepts:
Types of transitions: Developmental (e.g., aging), situational (e.g., career changes), health-
related (e.g., chronic illness), and organizational (e.g., changes in healthcare systems).
Successful transitions depend on resources, preparation, and the support provided.
Application: Nurses assess the patient’s needs, provide education, and offer emotional and
practical support to help them navigate changes and maintain a sense of well-being.

3. Nola J. Pender: Health Promotion Model

Core Idea: Focuses on encouraging people to engage in behaviors that promote health and
prevent illness. Nurses guide patients in adopting healthier lifestyles.
Key Concepts:
Personal beliefs, such as perceived benefits or barriers to action, influence health-
promoting behaviors.
External factors like family, peers, or cultural norms also play a role.
Application: Nurses educate patients about healthy behaviors, motivate them to overcome
obstacles, and create environments that support health-promoting activities (e.g., exercise,
balanced diet).

4. Madeleine M. Leininger: Theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality

Core Idea: Caring should be culturally specific and sensitive. Nurses must consider a
patient’s cultural values, beliefs, and practices when providing care.
Key Concepts:
Culture shapes an individual’s health practices and beliefs.
Culturally congruent care is achieved by blending professional knowledge with the patient’s
cultural preferences.
Application: Nurses perform cultural assessments and integrate cultural rituals, languages,
and traditions into the care plan to ensure it is meaningful and acceptable to the patient.
5. Margaret A. Newman: Health as Expanding Consciousness
Core Idea: Health is not merely the absence of disease but a process of becoming more
aware of oneself and finding meaning in life experiences, even during illness.
Key Concepts:
Illness can be an opportunity for personal growth and self-discovery.
Patterns of interaction between individuals and their environment are central to health.
Application: Nurses focus on holistic care, helping patients understand and accept their
health conditions while promoting awareness, meaning, and growth in their lives.

6. Rosemarie Rizzo Parse: Humanbecoming Theory

Core Idea: Health is a continuously evolving process shaped by individual choices and
relationships. People have the power to define their health and well-being.
Key Concepts:
The theory is based on three principles: meaning (patients define their own experiences),
rhythmicity (life is an ongoing process of change), and transcendence (individuals go
beyond their current situation).
Application: Nurses support patients in exploring and achieving what matters most to them,
respecting their unique perspectives and choices.

7. Helen C. Erickson, Evelyn M. Tomlin, Mary Ann P. Swain: Modeling and Role-Modeling
Theory
Core Idea: Nurses should see the world from the patient’s perspective ("modeling") and act
as a guide or mentor to help the patient achieve their goals ("role-modeling").
Key Concepts:
Each person is unique and requires individualized care.
Nurses build trust and use empathy to understand the patient’s needs and strengths.
Application: Nurses assess the physical, emotional, and social aspects of a patient’s life,
then provide tailored care that empowers them to achieve their desired state of health.

8. Gladys L. Husted and James H. Husted: Symphonological Bioethical Theory

Core Idea: Nursing practice should be guided by ethics and mutual respect between the
nurse and the patient. The focus is on creating harmony (symphony) in nurse-patient
relationships.
Key Concepts:
Ethical principles, such as autonomy and beneficence, are central.
The nurse and patient engage in a mutual agreement to work towards shared goals.
Application: Nurses actively involve patients in decision-making, ensuring their values and
preferences are respected while providing ethical and compassionate care. 1. Ramona T.
Mercer:

Maternal Role Attainment—Becoming a Mother

Core Idea: Focuses on the process women go through to develop their role as mothers.
This theory helps nurses support mothers as they adapt to their new responsibilities and
relationships with their babies.
Key Concepts:
Four stages: Anticipatory, formal, informal, and personal stages of motherhood.
Influences include social support, maternal self-esteem, and the health of the mother and
baby.
Application: Nurses provide education, emotional support, and encouragement to promote
maternal confidence and bonding with the infant.

2. Merle Mishel: Uncertainty in Illness Theory

Core Idea: Explores how patients cope with uncertainty related to illness, especially when
the outcomes or symptoms are unpredictable.
Key Concepts:
Uncertainty arises when individuals cannot predict or understand their illness.
Coping strategies include seeking information or learning to live with the uncertainty.
Application: Nurses help patients by clarifying information, reducing ambiguity, and fostering
hope to improve their ability to manage uncertainty.

3. Pamela G. Reed: Self-Transcendence Theory

Core Idea: Self-transcendence is the ability to go beyond one’s current limits to find
meaning, connect with others, and experience spiritual growth.
Key Concepts:
Self-transcendence leads to enhanced well-being.
It is particularly important for patients facing chronic illness, aging, or life transitions.
Application: Nurses encourage patients to explore personal goals, relationships, and
spiritual practices to foster resilience and inner peace.

4. Carolyn L. Wiener and Marylin J. Dodd: Theory of Illness Trajectory

Core Idea: Describes the dynamic and unpredictable nature of chronic illnesses and how
patients and families manage them over time.
Key Concepts:
Focuses on phases of illness (e.g., diagnosis, treatment, stable phase).
Stresses the importance of planning and coping to maintain quality of life.
Application: Nurses collaborate with patients and caregivers to anticipate changes, set
realistic goals, and provide continuous support throughout the illness trajectory.

5. Georgene Gaskill Eakes, Mary Lermann Burke, and Margaret A. Hainsworth: Theory of
Chronic Sorrow
Core Idea: Chronic sorrow is a recurring feeling of grief or sadness that individuals
experience due to ongoing or unresolved losses, such as disability, chronic illness, or
bereavement.
Key Concepts:
Sorrow may lessen over time but can be triggered by reminders of the loss.
Nurses can help by acknowledging and validating these feelings.
Application: Nurses offer emotional support, counseling, and coping strategies to help
patients and families live with chronic sorrow.

6. Phil Barker: The Tidal Model of Mental Health Recovery

Core Idea: Focuses on the recovery process in mental health, emphasizing the importance
of listening to the patient’s story and empowering them to take control of their care.
Key Concepts:
Recovery is like navigating a journey on water, requiring flexibility and resilience.
The patient’s personal narrative is central to understanding their experience.
Application: Nurses act as partners in recovery, helping patients rediscover their strengths
and create plans for mental health and well-being.

7. Katharine Kolcaba: Theory of Comfort

Core Idea: Comfort is a fundamental need that contributes to health and well-being. Nursing
interventions should aim to enhance comfort in physical, emotional, and environmental
dimensions.
Key Concepts:
Comfort can be categorized into three types: relief (immediate need met), ease (state of
calm), and transcendence (rising above challenges).
Contexts include physical, psychospiritual, sociocultural, and environmental.
Application: Nurses assess discomfort and design interventions (e.g., pain management,
emotional support) to improve the patient’s overall comfort.

8. Cheryl Tatano Beck: Postpartum Depression Theory

Core Idea: Focuses on understanding and addressing postpartum depression (PPD), a
condition affecting new mothers.
Key Concepts:
PPD is influenced by hormonal changes, stress, and lack of support.
Symptoms include sadness, irritability, and difficulty bonding with the baby.
Application: Nurses screen mothers for signs of PPD, provide education, and refer them to
counseling or support groups to promote recovery.

9. Kristen M. Swanson: Theory of Caring

Core Idea: Caring is central to nursing and involves five processes that enhance healing
and well-being.
Key Concepts:
Five processes: Knowing (understanding the patient), being with (emotional presence),
doing for (helping as needed), enabling (supporting transitions), and maintaining belief
(instilling hope).
Application: Nurses build trusting relationships and provide holistic care to help patients
achieve their best outcomes.

10. Cornelia M. Ruland and Shirley M. Moore: Peaceful End-of-Life Theory

Core Idea: Focuses on ensuring a peaceful and dignified end-of-life experience for patients
and their families.
Key Concepts:
Key outcomes include comfort, dignity, being pain-free, and emotional peace.
The patient’s preferences and values guide care.
Application: Nurses provide palliative care, pain management, and emotional support to
patients and families during end-of-life care.

1. Grand Theory
Broad and Abstract: Grand theories provide a wide, general framework for understanding
nursing as a whole.
Big Picture: They focus on broad concepts like health, environment, and caring but don’t
provide specific guidelines for practice.
Example: Madeleine Leininger’s Theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality explores
how culture impacts care but doesn’t tell nurses exactly how to handle specific situations.

2. Middle-Range Theory
Narrower and Specific: Middle-range theories focus on specific areas or situations in
nursing practice.
Practical: They provide guidance for addressing real-world nursing problems.
Example: Katharine Kolcaba’s Theory of Comfort helps nurses create care plans to improve
a patient’s comfort in different contexts.
Key Difference:
Grand theories explain the "why" of nursing in a broad sense, while middle-range theories
focus on the "how" to apply nursing in specific situations.