Over the past eight weeks, I have experienced a transformative journey exploring the intricate relationship between theoretical frameworks and practical applications in healthcare settings. By reviewing middle-range theories, I have consolidated my understanding of such theories as middle-range theories that act as a link between the broad theoretical framework and practice nursing interventions. Theories such as Peplau's Interpersonal Relations Theory, Kolcaba's Comfort Theory, and Leininger's Transcultural Nursing Theory have demonstrated significant relevance in addressing specific patient populations and healthcare scenarios I will encounter. These frameworks have given me set ways of approaching problems that are most often faced in nursing but are flexible enough to suit different contexts. Judging by experiences in this course, applying these theories in evidence-based practice has helped me grow in critical thinking and also broadened my knowledge of the theoretical background of nursing, hence improving my professional practice and patient outcomes.
The application of middle-range theories in nursing practice represents a crucial development in my professional nursing identity and clinical decision-making processes. If appropriately assimilated, I can turn theories into authentic tools that I use in making my assessments, decisions, and evaluations regarding my patient management. For instance, Swanson's Theory of Caring has a more detailed framework of knowing, being with, doing for, empowering and believing, which I can easily align with clear and specific nursing activities in several organizations within the healthcare sector. Same to this, Benner's Novice to Expert Model provides clear guidelines for my professional practice that can be useful in clinical competency programs and mentorship. These middle-range theories further act as a framework upon which I establish protocols in nursing, enhance nursing care quality and pursue research. These help in maintaining focus without getting too broad yet finding ways of explaining the reason behind my clinical approach and how I modify plans to fit patients.
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The mentorship component throughout the course has proven essential in facilitating my transition from theoretical knowledge to clinical application. Professional tutors have also shown me how there can be integration of theory in practice while treating patients; they have shown me real-life scenarios on how students can implement some aspects of theory while caring for patients. Positive and required sources of feedback from my mentors have encouraged me to delve deeper into the thinking behind my clinical practice choices, which puts me into a better perspective on the theories that are being taught in the class. These relationships have allowed me to clarify my assumptions and problem-solve regarding approaches to perceiving, approaching and managing patient care scenarios. The collective discussion with my mentors has revealed how expert performers automatically translate theory into practice knowledge, therefore making the theoretical, in a way, the practical that is taken for granted in the nursing profession. The application of theory has been made very clear to me; aspects of the theory and the significance of thinking conceptually in the formation of my clinical decision-making wherever achieved here.