From Nursing Models to Nursing Theory

Abstract

A number of models of nursing having been described and some suggestions having been made about how they may be put into practice with the nursing process, it would now seem appropriate to consider how nurses can choose between them. So far, in keeping with an intention to explore different models of care in a relatively open way, an attempt has been made to present the elements of each nursing model in as non-critical a manner as possible. Such an approach has deficiencies, however, since it may encourage some nurses to feel that it does not really matter which model of nursing is chosen to inform nursing practice in a particular care setting. It might further encourage the view that choosing between nursing models is something best done intuitively, as an act of personal preference. Even worse, it might encourage some nurses to feel that their everyday problems might be eliminated were they to make some sort of ‘right choice’ in selecting a particular model for use in a care setting or health district.