Nursing Theories: Florence Nightingale

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Healthcare is constantly changing and evolving. Technology has improved many practices. As nurses increase their knowledge via higher education and continuing education, nursing practice continue to follow various theorists both past and present. The nursing profession is unique because many of their practices are based on both nursing and non-nursing theories. There are various different types of entries into the profession of nursing from associate degree programs to doctorate of nursing practice (DNP). Of all the various programs, one of the main goals is to make sure the students are already to work in their select field. Being aware of the various theories and theorist that influence the nursing practice is important. There are three theories that influenced and continue to influence writer’s nursing practice: Florence Nightingale’s Environmental Theory, Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, and Madeline Leininger Transcultural Nursing Theory.

Florence Nightingale is considered one of the first nursing theorists. Even though she never formerly formulated a theory, her scholarly writings and written opinions on environmental manipulation for the promotion of health is well known to anyone studying nursing. Nightingale combined spirituality with nursing to give her patients the best possible care possible. Florence Nightingale began following her mother when she made rounds to the underprivileged areas within their communities (Heggae, 2013). She later professed receiving a call to serve others. As part of her Environmental Model, she has thirteen essential points that must be addressed to promote wellness amongst the sick (Butts & Rich, 2011). These points are continually addressed in today’s nursing practice du...

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...es away. Nightingale, Maslow, and Leininger theories emphasizes that each individual deserves quality care to meet needs from the lowest level to the highest level.

Works Cited

Butts, J. B., & Rich, K. L. (2011). Philosophies and theories for advanced nursing practice. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Heggae, M. (2013). Nightingale’s Environmental Theory. Nursing Science Quarterly, 26(3), 211-219.
Hoffman, E. (1992, January/February). The best interview of Abraham Maslow. Psychology Today.
Maslow Theories. (n.d.). Retrieved February 18, 2014, from http://positivementalhealth foundation.com/life-questions/abraham-maslow-hierarchy-of-needs/
Ray, M. A. (2012). Remembering Madeleine M. Leininger. International Journal for Human Caring, 16(4), 6-8. Retrieved from
Transcultural nursing: Essential for excellence [Interview]. (1996, January). Nursing96, 76-79.

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