Reflect on your days in the classroom and the clinical setting during your nursing school experience. As a student, did you prefer to sit in a desk for six hours and listen to your professors’ lecture with a monotone voice? Did you enjoy taking notes? Would you rather experience a demonstration of a skill or actually experience the skill hands on in the simulation lab? If you answered that you prefer one of the above methods over the other, you have a preferred learning style. There are many tools that can assess a learners preferred style on the internet to include: VARK, education planner, and getadministrate.com to name a few. The words learning style are often loosely used to describe almost any attribute or characteristic about learning but technically the term refers to all the components that might affect a person’s preferences to learn (Vark-learn, 2018).

Learning preferences are important, especially in nursing. The large amounts of material that is delivered with the expectation of retainment can be overwhelming for the student. It is imperative that the student understands what kind of learner he/she is. Implementation of innovative teaching strategies has now become a driving force in nursing education to better meet the needs of a multigenerational classroom (Young, 2018). As an educator, understanding how your students learn is a vital part of teaching effectively. Identifying the preferred learning style can optimize learning opportunities, identify strengths and areas of improvement, as well as facilitate success for student outcomes. Educators need to engage students creatively to promote better integration of theory into practice.

Simpson, Vicki & Richards, Elizabeth. (2015). Flipping the classroom to teach population health: increasing the relevance. Nurse Education in Practice. (15)3, 162-167.

VARK-learn (2018). Research and statistics. Retrieved from http://vark-learn.com/introduction-to-vark/research-statistics/.

Young, Diane & Seibenherner, Sherry. (2018). Preferred teaching strategies for students in an associate of science nursing program. Teaching and Learning in Nursing. Retrieved from https://www.jtln.org/article/S1557-3087(17)30081-1/pdf. 30081-1/pdf.)

The debate about whether nursing theory is thought to enhance nursing practice and ultimately patient care could go on forever. When both nursing theory and research based practice are analyzed, the first word that may come to mind is partnership. While debating this topic, some may ask themselves - which came first, the chicken or the egg? Theory has paved the way for research studies to test their applicability. The initial argument that Domenica and Kelsey present provide a solid foundation why the nursing profession needs theory before research to enhance nursing practice and care. The most valued activities of nurses are those relating to compassion and empathy, but these are the elements least supported by scientific data or research.

Nursing theory is what shapes nursing practice, it drives us to do the research. As Shawn stated, theory is very relevant in research as theoretical frameworks not only guide some portion of the researcher’s work, but theory also contributes to the rigor of the research endeavor.

Some of the following theorists are what provides us with the real application to practice nursing through their work:

Florence Nightingale (Environment Theory-patients need air, light, warmth, effluvia & noise)

Hildegard Peplau (Interpersonal Theory-understanding of one’s own behavior to cope)

Virginia Henderson (Need Theory-assist the patient, sick or well to promote independence)

Fay Abdellah (21 Nursing Problems-using critical thinking to care for patients)

Ida Jean Orlando (Nursing Process Theory-nurse’s actions are deliberative not automatic)

Dorothy Johnson (System Model-behavioral system to maintain a steady state)

Martha Rogers (Unitary Human Beings-continuous change and diversity of humans)

Dorothea Orem (Self-Care Theory-promotes independency for patients well being)

Imogene King (Goal Attainment Theory-nurse and patient communicate=goals)

Betty Neuman (System Model-patient is a complete system, focuses on wellness)

Sister Calista Roy (Adaptation Theory-patient is an open adaptive system)

Jean Watson (Philosophy and Caring Model-caring environment promotes health)

Madeleine Leininger (Transcultural Nursing-provide care congruent with values/beliefs)

Patricia Benner (Novice to Expert-levels of experience within the paradigm of nursing)

As Sheila stated in her argument, nursing practice and patient care are a direct result on how theories define and clarify nursing and its purpose. Most of us exhibit nursing theory daily by handwashing (Nightingale), assisting the patient until he/she can care for themselves (Henderson), patient centered care (Abdellah), and ambulating back to baseline (King) just to name a few. Another example of how theory enhances nursing practice and patient care is The Magnet Recognition Program. The Magnet Recognition Program (ANCC) is an international accreditation of excellence in nursing, and a key requirement for the organization is to describe and implement a professional practice model. Not only is this designation using theory for excellence in practice, but Magnet organizations pride themselves on outstanding patient care and satisfaction.

To summarize why the “yes” group advocates that nursing theory is needed to enhance nursing practice and patient care is basic. The legitimacy of any profession is built on its ability to generate and apply theory. Nightingale proved this true in 1859 as the first Nursing Theorist. Theory guides the research process, forms research questions, aids in design, analysis, and interpretation.

George, B. (2016) Nursing Theories-The base for professional nursing practice, 3rd ed. Norwalk, Appleton and Lange.

Jaarsma, T. & Dassen, T. (2013) The relationship of nursing theory and research: the state of the art. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 18(5);783-7.

McEwen, M. & Wills, E. (2014). Theoretical basis for nursing. Wolters Kluwer Health: Philadelphia, PA.