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List of important Nursing Theorists and Theories

List of important Nursing Theorists and Theories

If you are assigned a nursing essay or research paper to apply nursing theories, you can choose one below, research it further and develop the paper. Make sure to introduce the theorist, the historical context of the theory, the definition of concepts of metaparadigm or theoretical assertions, major assumptions, relationship with other theories, empirical evidence, and application of the specific theory in nursing practice, leadership/management/administration, research, or education. Whence critiquing a theory, do so based on clarity, simplicity, generality, empirical precision, and deliverable consequences.
  1. Environment theory (Florence Nightingale)
  2. Interpersonal theory (Hildegard Peplau)
  3. Afaf Ibrahim Meleis � Transitions theory
  4. Anne Boykin and Savina o. Schoenhofer � The theory of nursing as caring: a model for transforming practice
  5. Betty Neuman - System model
  6. Butterfield Upstream Model for Population Health (BUMP Health) by Patricia G. Butterfield
  7. Dorothea Orem - Self-care deficit nursing theory (SCNDT)
  8. Dorothy Johnson - Behavioral systems model
  9. Ernestine Wiedenbach - The helping act of clinical nursing
  10. Fay Abdella - Twenty-One Nursing Problems
  11. Faye Glenn Abdellah - 21 Nursing problems Theory
  12. Ida Jean Orlando - Nursing Process theory
  13. Critical caring pedagogy by Peggy L. Chinn
  14. Imogene King - Goal Attainment theory
  15. Peace and Power by Peggy L Chinn
  16. Moving Beyond Dwelling in Suffering by Susan DeSanto-Madeya
  17. Theory of Integral Nursing by Barbara Dossey
  18. Lisa Campbell - Leveraging Resources model
  19. Quality-Caring Model- by Joanne R. Duffy
  20. Conceptual Model of Nursing (Nursology) and Population Health by Carol Hall Ellenbecker
  21. Jean Watson - Philosophy and transpersonal caring model
  22. Kari Martinsen - Philosophy of caring
  23. Kathryn E. Barnard - Child health assessment model
  24. Katie Eriksson - Theory of Carative Caring
  25. Madeleine Leininger -Transcultural nursing theory
  26. Marilyn Anne Ray - The theory of bureaucratic caring
  27. Martha Rogers -Unitary Human beings
  28. Mayra Estrine Levine - Conservation model for nursing
  29. Winifred Logan - Roper-Logan-Tierney Model of Nursing Based on Activities of Living
  30. From Novice to Expert (Patricia Benner)
  31. The Primacy of Caring by Patricia Berner
  32. Sister Calista Roy - Adaptation theory
  33. Virginia Henderson - Need Theory
  34. Lida Nikfarid - Human as Embodied Spirit theory
  35. The Core, Care, and Cure (Lydia E. Hall)
  36. Carolyn L. Wiener and Marylin J. Dodd - Theory of illness trajectory
  37. Cheryl Tatano Beck - Postpartum depression theory
  38. Cornelia M. Ruland and Shirley M. Moore - Peaceful end-of-life theory
  39. Ernestine Wiedenbach - The helping art of clinical nursing
  40. Georgene Gaskill Eakes, Mary Lermann Burke, and Margaret A. Hainsworth - The theory of chronic sorrow
  41. Susan Luck - Theory of Integrative Nurse Coaching
  42. Gladys L. Husted and James H. Husted - Symphonological bioethical theory
  43. Helen C. Erickson, Evelyn M. Tomlin, and Mary Ann P. Swain - Modeling and role-modeling theory
  44. Theory of Cultural Humility by Cynthia Foronda
  45. Theory of Emancipatory Compassion for Nursing by Jessica M. Gill
  46. Situation-Specific Theory by Eun-OK Im
  47. Donna J. Perry - Transcendent Pluralism
  48. Beck Cheryl Tatano - Theory of Traumatic Childbirth: The Ever-Widening Ripple Effect (Middle Range)
  49. Rural Nursing Theory by Helen J. Lee
  50. Elizabeth R. Lenz - Theory of unpleasant symptoms
  51. Theory of Self-Care of Chronic Illness by Anna Stromberg
  52. Conceptual Model of Nursing and Health Policy by Gail Russel
  53. Joyce Travelbee - Human-to-human relationship model
  54. Katherine Kolcaba - Theory of comfort
  55. Barret Elizabeth - Theory of Power as Knowing Participation in Change
  56. Kristen M. Swanson - Theory of caring
  57. Margaret A. Newman - Health as Expanding Consciousness
  58. Merle H. Mishel - Uncertainty of illness theory
  59. Nola J. Pender - Health Promotion Model
  60. Pamela G. Reed - Self-transcendence theory
  61. Phil Barker - Barker's tidal model of mental health recovery
  62. Ramona T. Mercer - Maternal role attainment theory
  63. Rosemarie Rizzo Parse - Human becoming theory
  64. Loretta Zderad - Humanistic Nursing
  65. The Primacy of caring - Judith Wrubel
It is wise to state that nurse theorists such as Jean Watson, Rosemary Parse, and Martha Rogers are considered new worldview theorists. In addition, Myra Levine, Dorothea Orem, and Sister Callista Roy are referred to as contemporary nursing theorists. Finally, Florence Nightingale, Virginia Henderson, Hildegard Peplau, and Joyce Travelbee are considered early nursing theorists. This information can come in handy in your revision. Related Reading: How to write a great nursing diagnosis.

Nursing Theory Topics to Consider

You can go through the list of nursing theory topic ideas below to develop a unique one on which you can write an entire essay or research paper. Then, if you are stuck, we can help you write a custom essay or research paper with original ideas, an organized presentation, and scholarly-based examples.
  1. The importance of integrating nursing theory into practice
  2. The Role of grand nursing theories in the nursing discipline
  3. Application of the comfort theory of Nursing in nursing education
  4. Contribution of Patricia Benner as a nursing theorist
  5. Nursing Theory and Plan of Care
  6. Application of Aristotle's ethical theory in nursing practice
  7. Using Kanter's and Neumann's theories to address nursing retention
  8. The Roy adaptation model and nursing practice
  9. Application of Soren Kierkegaard's Ethical Theory to Nursing
  10. Kant's deontology theory in nursing
  11. Solving nursing problems through nursing theory
  12. The impact of the American Idol Nursing Theory contest at the University of West Georgia
  13. How nursing leaders can use system theory
  14. Application of change theory in the inpatient nursing
  15. Role modeling theories and integral nursing
  16. Application of middle-range theories in nursing
  17. Use of psychological theories in Nursing
  18. Understanding borrowed theories in nursing
  19. Mother Roger's nursing theory
  20. How nursing theory affects nursing research
  21. Application of nursing theory in end-of-life Care
  22. The five essential components of Florence Nightingale's theory of nursing
  23. Relationship between nursing Theory and quality improvement
  24. Nursing theory and music therapy
  25. Using grand theories to solve ethical dilemmas
  26. Madeleine Hubble's nursing theory of cultural care diversity and Universality
  27. Applying nursing theories to forensic nursing
  28. The ultimate goal of nursing theory
  29. The contemporary nursing theorists and the relevance of their theories in current nursing practice
  30. Levels of theoretical thinking in nursing theory
  31. Differences and similarities Between Hildegard Peplau's and Jean Watson's Nursing Theory
  32. Are nursing theories the foundation of the nursing profession?
  33. Comparative Analysis of Watson's and Orem's Nursing Theory
  34. Benefits of incorporating nursing theories in hospital policies
  35. Do patients contribute to nursing theories?
  36. The historical development of nursing theories
  37. Application of the health belief model in healthcare planning
Nursing theories can help you understand the patient's ability and write a  medical plan and your nursing philosophy paper.

Final Remarks

Knowing the nursing theory to use in your paper is one thing; you can easily do that from the examples of nursing theories we shared above. However, integrating the concepts and applying the nursing theory to a research topic can be difficult for many.


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