Discussion on the Integration of Nursing Theory and Technical Skills

This discussion board post delves into the critical integration of nursing theory with technical skills in healthcare. It emphasizes the importance of incorporating theoretical perspectives, such as Watson's theory of caring, to enhance patient care and improve nursing practice. The post highlights the significance of curriculum expansion, the use of dilemmas to foster critical thinking, and the role of leadership in promoting the adoption of nursing theories. The author and other contributors discuss the challenges faced by novice nurses, the application of caring frameworks, and the need for careful selection of nursing theories to suit specific care environments. The post emphasizes the need for nurses to understand the theoretical foundations of their practices to achieve better outcomes in their roles.

Incorporating Theory with Skills
The field and scope of nursing becomes complex every day due to increase in the number
of roles and responsibilities that nurses handle every day. The disease patterns have also been
known to be dynamic and complex. This creates the essence of nurses to learn theory as well as
technical skills and be in a position to incorporate the two so as to realize the best outcomes in
both the technical roles, leadership roles and ensuring that nurses practice within the existing
legal and ethical frameworks.
There are several ways that can be utilized to help educate in experienced nurse on the
importance of incorporating theory with technical skills. One of the most effective ways is the
expansion of the curriculum. Expanding the curriculum to incorporate theoretical perspectives
will not only teach the importance of incorporating theory but also foster a positive attitude that
makes the nurses to appreciate the essence of theory (Taplay, et al 2015).
Nurses can also be made to appreciate the importance of theory by being presented with
dilemmas and being asked to navigate a way to solve the puzzles argues Hayden, (2017). The
dilemmas are essential in that they trigger the nurse to think of available alternatives in solving a
solution and at the same time appreciate the need for practice based on theoretical perspectives.
The essence of incorporating theories alongside technical skills is because theories give insight
and explanation of the practices and skills that a nurse encounters in their practice.
Response 1
The Watson’s theory of caring is no doubt one of the significant theories that a nurse is
bound to apply in their practice. Caring is one simple thing that a nurse can do in a great way

without having to refer to any policies or guidelines and make the best out of an experience with
a patient. I indeed feel encouraged by the post since at one time, I also had challenges like those
of a novice nurse whereby I concentrated more on getting things done and failing to critically
analyze a situation to arrive at the best outcomes. Consequently, I agree with the idea that
hospitals and health care organizations should adopt a specific nursing theory in their mission
and values to help employees provide better care. In addition, good leadership organization and
care models should be adopted to make the best out of the nurses (Tektaş, & Çam, 2017).
.
Response 2
The Watson’s theory of caring provides ten essential love-heart centered carative factors
that nurses can identify with. In addition, Fawcett’s Meta theoretical work also helps nurses
adapt to different care environments and conditions in the various fields that nurse’s work. I
agree with you that novice nurses are concerned with getting work done and heavily rely on
policies and practice within legal frame works. I support the proposition of introduction of
theoretical perspectives to shape the work of the nurses in provision of better health services.
However, introduction of such theories ought to be carefully selected as there is no nursing
theory that fits all systems of care. The leadership should be therefore careful on the choice of
nursing theory that helps to produce the best results in the given environment (Tektaş, & Çam,
2017).

REFERENCES
Hayden, J. A. (2017). Introduction to health behavior theory. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Taplay, K., Jack, S. M., Baxter, P., Eva, K., & Martin, L. (2015). The process of adopting and
incorporating simulation into undergraduate nursing curricula: A grounded theory
study. Journal of Professional Nursing, 31(1), 26-36.
Tektaş, P., & Çam, O. (2017). The Effects of Nursing Care Based on Watson's Theory of Human
Caring on the Mental Health of Pregnant Women After a Pregnancy Loss. Archives of
psychiatric nursing, 31(5), 440-446.