Developed in the 1970s by Fishbein and Ajzen, the theory of reasoned action (TRA) stipulates that personal intentions dictate human behavior. Furthermore, personal intentions are determined by subjective norms (social pressures) and attitudes (feelings toward a subject). Essentially, a human being is expected to take action toward specific behavior depending on their attitudes regarding the behavior or perceived social pressures such as getting approval or disapproval from others. Therefore, the artifact offers an elaborate representation of the theory of reasoned action while identifying its connection to advanced nursing practice.
Connection between Theory of Reasoned Action and Pamela Reed
The social psychologists who developed TRA and Pamela Reeds had a similar objective: analyzing human behavior. Pamela Reeds has significantly contributed to developing nursing theories, such as the theory of self-transcendence. According to Reed and Haugan (2021), self-transcendence may include the analysis of individual habits promoting the expansion (transcendence) of self-boundaries inwardly, outwardly, upwardly, and temporally. In contrast, TRA provides a broader framework for Pamela Reed’s contribution by identifying the connection between individual habits and a person’s attitudes, beliefs, or intentions. Hence, both theories could be applied in clinical practice when evaluating patient behavior and primary motivators towards health promotion practices.
Personal Connection
The good knowledge of this theory has heightened and improved my general assessment and knowledge of attitudes, intentions, or beliefs of individuals we care for about healthcare. As a practicing nurse, I must implement holistic patient care plans, empowering patients to overcome their biases and apply appropriate preventive care practices. I can use the TRA model to understand patient attitudes toward treatment plans or specific health promotion behaviors (Espinosa-Salas & Gonzalez-Arias, 2023). For instance, analyzing patients' attitudes regarding regular check-ups (health behavior) and their perceptions of what others believe will help me understand whether they plan to engage in health behavior or refrain. Apart from implementing health promotion behavior, I find TRA appropriate in improving my attitude and intentions toward patient-centered practices. Thus, the theory encourages me to implement critical thinking approaches and shift my intention toward care when applying holistic patient-centered interventions.
Application in Advanced Nursing Practice
Nurses in advanced nursing roles, such as clinical nurse specialists, use the theory to shift the patients' attitudes and implement preventive care programs at the community level. First, TRA can be used to shift a community's attitude by educating them on the risks of unhealthy behavior and encouraging the development of positive views on healthy behavior. Subsequently, the shift in attitude could also be attained by addressing social norms regarding preventive care practice (Delshad et al., 2024). For example, a community engagement program may educate the population about the risks of obesity and shift their intentions or attitudes toward a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, the results should be increased patient self-efficacy and improved individual and community wellness.
In conclusion, the artifact elaborately represents the theory of reasoned action while identifying its connection to advanced nursing practice. Consequently, it identifies the connection of TRA to Pamela Reed through the lens of human behavior analysis. Human behavior is affected by multiple internal and external factors, making it fundamental to implement TRA and other comprehensive frameworks during nursing assessment. Thus, advanced registered nurses should increase competency in applying theoretical concepts such as TRA to guarantee better health promotion practices.