Theoretical Basis for Nursing by Melanie McEwen, Evelyn Wills

Product Details

Synopsis

Designed for one of the core courses taught in all graduate nursing programs, this text is the most contemporary, comprehensive, and readable nursing theory textbook on the market. It presents historical perspectives on the development of nursing theory, assessments of concept and theory development and theory evaluation, middle-range theories, and shared theories from other disciplines in the sociologic, behavioral, and biomedical sciences. Learning features found throughout the text include case studies and end-of-chapter summaries that help to reinforce essential concepts.

Annotation

This text is the most contemporary and comprehensive Nursing Theory textbook on the market today. Written in an easily understood style, it reflects current content course needs by addressing the underlying information needed to understand and apply theory to practice. One of the most popular aspects of this text is how it presents shared theories from other disciplines--such as the sociological, behavioral, and biomedical sciences--and relates them to nursing practice, research, education, and administration.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Vicki Ann Moss, DNSc, MS, BSN, RN (University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh)
Description:According to the editors, "the focus of this book is on the application of theory rather than on the study, analysis, and critique of grand theories or a presentation of a specific aspect of theory (e.g., construction or evaluation) ", (p. xiv) .
Purpose:The book is designed to be a basic theory text with the purpose of providing readers with a greater understanding and appreciation of theory.
Audience:The audience for this text would be graduate students and nursing faculty as well as the practicing nurse, nursing scholars, and nurse researchers.
Features:This book consists of 21 chapters divided into four units; 1) Introduction to Theory, 2) Nursing Theories, 3) Borrowed Theories Used by Nurses, and 4) Application of Theory in Nursing Practice. An enhanced discussion of middle range theory is new to this edition with the addition of the Omaha System, the Synergy Model, the Theory of Unpleasant Symptoms, and Kolcaba's Comfort Theory. Other added theories include, Roper, Logan and Tierney's nursing theory, chaos theory, the Health Belief Model, and the Theory of Reasoned Action. Each chapter includes a case study to help the reader apply chapter content to practice. Learning activities and discussion questions are provided at chapters' end. Internet resources are also provided where appropriate.
Assessment:This is an excellent text for a graduate theory course. I have used the 1st edition since it was available and have been very pleased with its versatility and ease of read. The 2nd edition with its addedcontent makes it even more valuable as a beginning graduate text. The editors and contributing authors bring theory to practice. It is an outstanding addition to the available texts on theory.