THEORETICAL BASIS FOR NURSING MELANIE
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026 NURSING
THEORIES AND CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORKS
◉ knowledge. Answer: within a discipline, it is what we collectively
see as a reasonably accurate understanding of the world as
envisioned by that DISCIPLINE
◉ knowledge. Answer: --tentative and can be expanded/refined over
time.
◉ Epistemology. Answer: Study of knowledge
◉ Questions we ask for epistemology (study of knowledge). Answer:
what do we know?
what is the extent of our knowledge?
how do we decide whether we know?
what are the criteria for knowledge?
◉ ways we know--. Answer: we need to know how we know-
different kinds of knowledge (hunch- intuitive knowledge, science-
empiric knowledge, etc)
,◉ Empirics. Answer: Scientific knowledge coming from observation,
testing, and replication. (ex- helps is take accurate BP)
◉ Personal knowledge. Answer: Knowledge gained through thought
alone (association/reflection, etc)
◉ Esthetic knowledge. Answer: Harmony, beauty, expression.
Incorporates art, creativity, and values (look at one piece of art,
some think ugly, some think beautiful)
◉ Intuitive knowledge. Answer: Feeling and hunches not guessing,
but relies on unconscious pattern recognition and
experience.(gained over time and experience)
◉ Moral and Ethical knowledge. Answer: What is right versus
wrong. Values, social and cultural norms.
(diff societies have different values and ethics, some other countries
may even have different ethical issues than US)
◉ Somatic knowledge. Answer: Knowing the body in relation to
physical movement. Balance to perform task.
, ex- knowing that is we move from one position to another we may
fall
◉ Theory. Answer: Set of interrelated concepts, statements,
propositions, and definitions, which have been derived from
philosophical beliefs of scientific data and from which questions and
hypotheses can be deduced, tested, and verified
◉ Theory. Answer: attempt to account for or characterize some
phenomenon.
◉ Imogene King's Theory of Goal Attainment and Transactional
Process. Answer: Grand theory.
Assumptions-
- Individuals are social beings, sentiment, rational and reacting
(need alert and oriented individuals who are capable of reacting
effectively with nurse-- coma or decrease neuro pt could not have
this theory apply).
- Individuals are controlling, purposeful, actions and time-oriented
in their behavior.
◉ King's Theory of Goal Attainment. Answer: Relationship
statements:
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026 NURSING
THEORIES AND CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORKS
◉ knowledge. Answer: within a discipline, it is what we collectively
see as a reasonably accurate understanding of the world as
envisioned by that DISCIPLINE
◉ knowledge. Answer: --tentative and can be expanded/refined over
time.
◉ Epistemology. Answer: Study of knowledge
◉ Questions we ask for epistemology (study of knowledge). Answer:
what do we know?
what is the extent of our knowledge?
how do we decide whether we know?
what are the criteria for knowledge?
◉ ways we know--. Answer: we need to know how we know-
different kinds of knowledge (hunch- intuitive knowledge, science-
empiric knowledge, etc)
,◉ Empirics. Answer: Scientific knowledge coming from observation,
testing, and replication. (ex- helps is take accurate BP)
◉ Personal knowledge. Answer: Knowledge gained through thought
alone (association/reflection, etc)
◉ Esthetic knowledge. Answer: Harmony, beauty, expression.
Incorporates art, creativity, and values (look at one piece of art,
some think ugly, some think beautiful)
◉ Intuitive knowledge. Answer: Feeling and hunches not guessing,
but relies on unconscious pattern recognition and
experience.(gained over time and experience)
◉ Moral and Ethical knowledge. Answer: What is right versus
wrong. Values, social and cultural norms.
(diff societies have different values and ethics, some other countries
may even have different ethical issues than US)
◉ Somatic knowledge. Answer: Knowing the body in relation to
physical movement. Balance to perform task.
, ex- knowing that is we move from one position to another we may
fall
◉ Theory. Answer: Set of interrelated concepts, statements,
propositions, and definitions, which have been derived from
philosophical beliefs of scientific data and from which questions and
hypotheses can be deduced, tested, and verified
◉ Theory. Answer: attempt to account for or characterize some
phenomenon.
◉ Imogene King's Theory of Goal Attainment and Transactional
Process. Answer: Grand theory.
Assumptions-
- Individuals are social beings, sentiment, rational and reacting
(need alert and oriented individuals who are capable of reacting
effectively with nurse-- coma or decrease neuro pt could not have
this theory apply).
- Individuals are controlling, purposeful, actions and time-oriented
in their behavior.
◉ King's Theory of Goal Attainment. Answer: Relationship
statements:
