Writers Den

Assignment
2: Nursing Theory Analysis Paper

Overview/Description:

The purpose of
this assignment is to describe, evaluate and discuss application of a nursing
grand or mid-range theory. This assignment also provides the learner an
opportunity to connect theory and research to nursing phenomena. Learners will
develop an 8-10 page paper (excluding the title page and references) using APA
style to address the elements listed below.

Theory/Author
Name and Background

1. Select
a Grand or Mid-Range Theory that is appropriate to your practice setting.

2. Describe
the theorist’s background in detail and discuss how their experiences have
impacted the theory development.

3. Examine
crucial references for the original and/or current work of the theorist and
other authors writing about the selected theory.

4. Identify
the phenomenonof concernor problems addressed by the theory.

Theory
Description

1. Explain
whether the theory uses deductive, inductive or retroductive reasoning. Provide
evidence to support your conclusion.

2. Describe
the major concepts of the theory. How are they defined? (theoretically
and/or operationally) Is the author consistentin the use of the concepts and
other terms in the theory?

3. Interpret
how the concepts are defined. Implicitly or explicitly?

4. Examine
the relationships (propositions) among the major concepts.

Evaluation

1. Identify
explicit and implicit assumptions (values/beliefs) underlying the theory. On
what assumptions does the theory build?

2. Examine
if the theory has a description of the four concepts of the nursing
metaparadigm. If so, how are they explained in the theory? If the metapardigm
is not explained, what elements do you see as relevant to the theory and why?

3. Discuss
the clarity of the theory. Did it have lucidness and consistency?

Application

1. Examine
how the theory would guide nursing actions.

2. Describe
specificallyhow you can use this theory in your area of nursing (Practice,
Education, Informatics or Administration).

APA
Style/Format

CRITERIA	WEIGHT
Theory/Author Name and Background: 1. Select a Grand or Mid-Range Theory that is appropriate to your practice setting. 2. Describe the theorist’s background in detail and discuss how their experiences have impacted the theory development. 3. Examine crucial references for the original and/or current work of the theorist and other authors writing about the selected theory. 4. Identify the phenomenonof concernor problems addressed by the theory.	10 10 10 10
Theory Description: 1. Explain whether the theory uses deductive, inductive or retroductive reasoning. Provide evidence to support your conclusion. 2. Describe the major concepts of the theory. How are they defined? (theoretically and/or operationally) Is the author consistentin the use of the concepts and other terms in the theory? 3. Interpret how the concepts are defined. Implicitly or explicitly? 4. Examine the relationships (propositions) among the major concepts.	14 18 14 14
Evaluation: 1. Identify explicit and implicit assumptions (values/beliefs) underlying the theory. On what assumptions does the theory build? 2. Examine if the theory has a description of the four concepts of the nursing metaparadigm. If so, how are they explained in the theory? If the metapardigm is not explained, what elements do you see as relevant to the theory and why? 3. Discuss the clarity of the theory. Did it have lucidness and consistency?	20 20 20
Application: 1. Examine how the theory would guide nursing actions. 2. Describe specificallyhow you can use this theory in your area of nursing (Practice, Education, Informatics or Administration).	10 10
APA Style/Format: Free of grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors. Citations and references are written in correct APA Style.	20
Total:	200