Introduction
The article “Theory and Practice: A Discussion by William K. Cody” is a summary of ideas pertaining the nursing theory and practice. It also tries to explain the relationship between theory and practice in nursing. The nursing theories lay the foundation of practice to ensure that the eminence of life and improvement of care. However, the author is not contented with the revolution of the nursing theory practice, and there a need to change the healthcare systems to improve health and livelihood.
After reading the article carefully, I agree with the author’s argument that theory guides practice in the health care sector. My support is based on the fact that the nursing theory lays or provides the necessary foundation for the nursing practice for all individuals in the particular professional field (Fawcett, 2003). The article expands the reader’s knowledge and gives a guideline or a prediction of what to expect in future in the nursing field. It also helps the reader to understand the critical issues that they need to know about nursing. It provides a foundation for nursing research that results in good nursing practice as well. Nursing theories are not only the rudimentary ideas that define the nursing practice but also the clarifications of why nurses work the way they do.
Our nursing careers use various nursing theories that guide us on how to perform duties, treat patients, and how interventions and assessment will be carried out and established. Nursing theories predict, explain and discuss the phenomenon associated with nursing. From my perspective, I feel that nursing theories enhance the professional status, improve communication between nurses as well as improve patient care. The theories also guide research and the primary education or course of nursing, which is a crucial undertaking. Some students do not understand various theories learned through theoretical concepts until they attain practical experience in the nursing schools. It is possible to comprehend that the principles provide a logic for gathering consistent and useable data concerning the health status of a patient during such practical skills. They also provide useful guidelines for decision-making, implementation, and criteria for evaluating quality, assessment, interventions as well as nursing care.
Additionally, I feel that Dr. Parker was right when he argued that practice is guided or influenced by theory. The theories help in problem solving and require quite some time to comprehend and act fully, according to their requirements and methods. They lay a foundation for practice that results in improved health if the professionals understand them well. Therefore, the major responsibility of the nurses is to ensure that they have the right experiences and guidelines from the theories to make sure that they perform well.
I think that the lack of adoption of nursing theories by professionals is the biggest challenge affecting the best practices in nursing. The other challenge is the inability to understand the discipline of nursing and new knowledge. Women have faced a significant challenge as they try to shine in the field of nursing over the past years but dominate the field today due to empowerment. Earlier on, women were considered weaker than men were, and their contributions to the public sector were not valued. However, the emergence of feminist leaders has motivated women to push beyond limits to emerging successfully and compete favorably with men in the job sectors. As such, many trained nurses are women. It has transformed the field thus, making it a women’s responsibility, which is evidenced by their dominance in the field. Women are charged with the responsibility of nurturing and taking care of children naturally, which implies that their nursing role is recognized in the society.
I also agree with the claim that a well-implemented nursing theory practice improves health and the eminence of life in general. Demonstrating projects based on philosophical knowledge is the best way of gaining acceptance of the theory-based practice (Fawcett, 2003). It is true that the nursing theories we embrace are universal, attainable through renewed attention in the nursing education and appreciating our experiences as well as respecting human conditions. It can also be achieved through studying histories and philosophy of nursing, research, theories and studying practice methodologies comprehensively. However, the only way of transforming the practice to improve the quality of life is by making practice autonomous and guiding it predominantly by the use of nursing theories. I feel that a lot needs to be done in the implementation of nursing-guided practices and theories in the health sectors to ensure that humankind betterment is achieved. The transformation role should be a professional business for it to be accomplished since all stakeholders must accept change.
Conclusion
Lastly, I feel that common sense and problem solving in nursing are much related to critical thinking. Critical thinking allows nurses to make rational decisions based on the nursing theories to attain effective problem solving. Nursing theories enhance critical thinking among the professionals through exposing them to real-time experiences that require problem solving and application of common sense.
References
Fawcett, J. (2003). Theory and practice: A discussion by William K. Cody. Nursing Science Quarterly, 16(3), 225-225.
