Nursing is a challenging and rewarding career that often becomes the focus of individuals looking to change careers. The field provides opportunities to positively impact people’s lives by caring for them when they are most vulnerable. Nurses play a crucial role in patient advocacy, promoting health, and providing comfort and support to individuals and their families. The ability to help others, the diverse career options, and the chance to continuously learn and grow in the field make nursing a gratifying profession for many. The critical shortage in nursing in the US also makes it the perfect time to enter the field, as the opportunities are endless. From being a Registered Nurse (RN) treating patients in a busy emergency room to being a Nurse Practitioner (NP) with their practice, nursing is a career full of endless possibilities and opportunities.
Interested in nursing, you need a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). There is also the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN); the distinction is the coursework an individual needs to enter these programs. When students begin a traditional BSN program, they must complete certain general education credits alongside the specific nursing courses. These general courses could include history, economics, and psychology, while other prerequisite courses include anatomy, human growth and development, chemistry, microbiology, and physiology.
Someone who has already completed a bachelor’s degree in another program can bypass certain requirements because they already have them and ‘accelerate’ into specific nursing courses. The ABSN still requires these courses as prerequisites, but most students with a degree will already have them, so the course is streamlined solely for nursing courses. Other areas where there may be slight differences in the depth and breadth of the ABSN and BSN include nursing theory, critical thinking, and the development of clinical skills.
What is nursing theory?
Nursing theory helps shape the foundation of students’ knowledge and provides underlying principles to guide them in caring for their patients. These principles guide nurses of all specializations for action in both narrow and broad practices.
Florence Nightingale was a pioneer in cultivating nursing theory, and in her work, she influenced the development of the definition and scope. Nightingale’s Environmental Theory states that the vocation of nursing needs to take a holistic approach towards patients, such as environmental factors like using fresh air, cleanliness, and quiet, in addition to other non-medicinal environmental aspects in conjunction with medicine administration. This theory is the foundation of the holistic approach taught today, where nurses are inspired to collaborate with the patient and learn about the environmental factors that exist to help or hinder full recovery.
Types of Nursing Theory
Several different types of nursing theories focus on different areas of care and concepts of how to administer that care. These theories include environmental, interpersonal relations, nursing need, care-cure-core, nursing process, human caring, self-care, transcultural nursing, and 21 nursing problems theory.
ABSN and BSN students typically learn theories by studying literature, lectures, and workshops, engaging in discussions with peers, and participating in practical exercises. However, they will learn the most from hands-on experience during their mandatory clinical rotations.
BSN students may have prerequisite courses that study environmental health assessments, population health, and how ecological factors affect individuals and communities. These theories are taught at the core of every nursing program and are fundamental regardless of whether an individual tries to decide on an ABSN vs. BSN. Accredited schools such as Marymount University provide a comprehensive curriculum, including nursing theory, that fits in with student’s schedules and levels of education. The ABSN at Marymount University allows students to earn their BSN in as little as 16 months, providing clinical placement support in Virginia, too.
Environmental theory
Florence Nightingale’s Environmental Theory focuses on the optimal environment for the patient to recover and prevent further illness. Some areas of focus in this theory include air ventilation, diet, hygiene, and noise, among others. Nurses who follow this theory understand that the patient’s personal space can assist in their recovery.
Theory of interpersonal relations
This theory comprises four elements that create a strong patient-nurse relationship: person, environment, health, and nursing. This theory recognizes that a nurse’s communication with their patient directly affects that individual’s well-being and health.
Nursing need theory
This theory focuses on returning a patient to an independent state as quickly as possible. The nurse’s role is believed to be caring for the patient during recovery and guiding the patient back to independence.
Care, cure, core theory
This theory focuses on the idea that each patient should be the focus of nursing care, but they are all different and have different needs. The theory’s care aspect involves nurses’ role in caring for patients. The cure refers to treatments the patients receive, and the core relates to the care and cure the patient receives from a nurse or treatment plan.
Nursing process theory
This theory explores the relationship between nurse and patient and its importance to the patient’s recovery. There are five stages of patient care detailed in this theory, including assessment of the patient, diagnosis of the ailment, creation of a treatment plan designed for the patient, implementation of the plan, and evaluation of the patient’s progress.
Theory of Human Caring
This theory follows the belief that nurses’ treatment plans can promote a healthier lifestyle and prevent illnesses. It also suggests that looking at a patient individually and catering the plan to their needs is much more effective than merely treating symptoms. The theory hypothesizes that customized care can benefit patients’ personal growth.
Self-care theory
This theory encourages patients who can take care of themselves to reduce their nursing care, while patients who are unable to do so may need more nursing care. It stresses the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle to facilitate independence.
Transcultural nursing theory
This theory focuses on the importance of the patient’s cultural background and how they may view nursing and the medical profession. Nurses learn that a patient’s personal and cultural values are part of their identity and are just as important to their well-being and recovery as other factors. This helps nurses cultivate a recovery plan that aligns with the patient’s beliefs.
21 Nursing Problems Theory
This theory is one that nurses will focus on when preparing to work with patients. The concept is that nursing is a vocation that requires the nurse to develop and hone many skills, such as a positive mental attitude, specialized skill sets, and strong medical knowledge.
Critical thinking
Critical thinking is a skill that allows nurses to analyze and evaluate the information they are given objectively and teaches them to question assumptions and make informed decisions based on sound reasoning. Critical thinkers are skilled at identifying and solving complex problems by examining certain factors. They don’t take anything at face value but rather delve deeper into the issue to understand the situation and reach a well-reasoned conclusion based on facts.
Critical thinking plays a crucial role in the curriculum of both ABSNs and BSNs, enabling students to assess, analyze, and interpret medical information. This fosters superior decision-making skills in patient care and helps with problem-solving and judgment skills. When nurses are encouraged to think critically about all aspects of their curriculum, they can manage their time more efficiently and provide holistic care that considers the whole patient.
For ABSN students, critical thinking skills may be developed directly with nursing practices and clinical placements. At the same time, BSN students will also develop these skills in other areas dedicated to prerequisite programs. Both programs emphasize the ability to think critically and provide sound reasoning in patient care. Areas specific to critical thinking in nursing include assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, evaluation, collaboration, and ethical decision-making.
Assessment
Critical thinking assessment involves nurses evaluating patient data and identifying health patterns or concerns.
Diagnosis
Critical thinking involves making accurate diagnoses based on comprehensive patient assessments.
Planning
Nurses must use critical thinking skills when creating effective care plans that address individual patient needs.
Implementation
When using critical thinking skills in planning, nurses must apply evidence-based interventions and treatments while considering the patient’s cultural and personal preferences.
Evaluation
Critical thinking involves always evaluating the care plan to see if any changes must be made. Assessing the effectiveness of interventions and modifying the plan will guarantee optimal patient outcomes.
Collaboration
Collaborating with other members of the healthcare team and the patients themselves ensures open communication and effective patient care.
Ethical decision-making
Nurses must analyze complex ethical dilemmas and make informed decisions within ethical boundaries that prioritize the well-being of their patients.
Development of clinical skills
The development of clinical skills is the same for both ABSN and BSN students in that the progressive process remains the same. This process includes observation, practice, simulation, feedback, reflection, and continued education. ABSN students will start the clinical process sooner than their BSN counterparts due to the lengths of the programs, but both will develop the necessary skills and knowledge needed to provide the best in clinical care.
Observation
Observation is the development of clinical skills by observing experienced nurses in clinical settings.
Practice
Nursing students will gain hands-on experience performing various procedures under the direct supervision of a more experienced nurse.
Simulation
Practicing simulated scenarios in a controlled environment is crucial for nursing students to gain experience dealing with certain events before they deal with live patients.
Feedback
Instructors will provide students with constructive feedback and help them improve their performance.
Reflection
Self-assessment and critical reflection are important parts of clinical skills development and help nurses identify areas for improvement.
Continued education
Nurses are lifelong learners who understand that ongoing training and development of their skills are necessary in a field where innovations are constant. This includes workshops, webinars, training courses, and senior staff who can provide valuable knowledge.
Exploring ABSN and BSN degrees
The main difference between ABSN and BSN degrees is their completion time. The ABSN is designed for individuals who have already obtained a bachelor’s degree in another field, so they have the general prerequisites needed for that degree. The BSN is designed for individuals who have not completed a degree and want to join the nursing profession. Both degrees have different timelines for this reason, but both offer the fundamental principles and knowledge of nursing at their core.
Nursing theories, critical thinking, and strong clinical skills are essential for becoming a well-rounded and efficient nurse who provides the best holistic patient care. Nursing is critically important as it is the backbone of the healthcare system and plays a pivotal role in promoting, maintaining, and restoring health to patients, families, and their communities. Nurses provide patient care, support, and education to their patients and advocate for their patients’ well-being.
