Understanding Nursing Theories and Theorists

Nursing theories are foundational to the nursing profession, shaping how nurses understand their roles, deliver patient care, and interact with diverse healthcare systems. These theories help provide a structured lens through which complex health situations are approached, making it easier to analyze problems, predict outcomes, and improve nursing interventions. Just as medical mnemonics guide physicians in assessments, nursing theories guide nurses in their clinical, educational, and research responsibilities.

At their core, nursing theories offer a framework for defining nursing goals, guiding decision-making, and standardizing the delivery of nursing care across settings. Whether introduced in a nursing program or explored further in advanced practice, these theories bridge the gap between nursing science and hands-on experience. They are not merely academic concepts—they influence everything from evidence-based practice to communication between a nurse and their patients.

This guide explores key definitions, historical contributors, types of nursing theories, and practical applications in today’s clinical environments. By gaining a deeper understanding of how these theories were developed and how they continue to evolve, both nursing students and professionals can more effectively apply theoretical insights to real-world challenges. Ultimately, understanding nursing theories empowers nurses to deliver safer, more compassionate, and more effective care.

What Are Nursing Theories?

Nursing theories are systematic explanations of the phenomena that define nursing care, behavior, and outcomes. These theories offer structured insights into the nursing profession, aiming to define nursing’s purpose, functions, and relationship with patients and the environment. At their essence, nursing theories describe, explain, predict, and prescribe nursing actions based on well-defined concepts and principles.

For example, Dorothea Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory focuses on the idea that nurses intervene when patients are unable to meet their own care needs. Similarly, Madeleine Leininger’s Transcultural Nursing Theory emphasizes the importance of culturally congruent care. Each theory provides a different lens to view the same goal: promoting holistic and effective patient care.

Why Are Nursing Theories in Practice Important?

Understanding nursing theories is crucial because they establish a foundation for nursing decision-making, improve communication among healthcare providers, and enhance the consistency of nursing interventions. Theories offer a shared language and purpose for both practice and education, ensuring that nursing students, researchers, and clinicians approach care with evidence-based rationale.

The importance of nursing theories is most evident in areas like healthcare policy, curriculum development, and clinical training. For example, Florence Nightingale’s Environmental Theory—often considered the first nursing theory—shifted nursing from a domestic role to a profession guided by scientific principles. Her theory emphasized cleanliness, fresh air, and proper sanitation, ideas that continue to inform modern clinical practice and infection control.

Nursing theories also validate nursing research by offering a conceptual basis for forming questions, interpreting findings, and applying results. This means that theory and research are mutually reinforcing tools in improving healthcare outcomes.

How Do Nursing Theories Influence Practice?

Nursing theories influence daily nursing practice by guiding assessments, planning interventions, and evaluating outcomes. These theories serve as blueprints that guide nursing practice in hospitals, clinics, and community settings. By applying theoretical knowledge, nurses can prioritize care, allocate resources efficiently, and personalize treatments based on individual patient needs.

For instance, Hildegard Peplau’s Theory of Interpersonal Relations helps nurses build therapeutic relationships that support emotional and psychological healing. In contrast, Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring emphasizes the deep connection between the nurse and the patient, integrating compassion and empathy into every interaction.

In practice, these theories help nurses answer critical questions: How should I respond to a patient in distress? What approach should I take to enhance recovery? By linking nursing knowledge to action, theories turn abstract concepts into real-world results.

What Are the Key Components of Nursing Theories in Nursing Practice?

Although the types of nursing theories vary in complexity and focus, they share several core components. These typically include:

• Concepts – the building blocks of a theory (e.g., health, environment, person, and nursing).
• Definitions – clarify what each concept means within the context of the theory.
• Assumptions – statements taken to be true without proof, forming the theory’s underlying beliefs.
• Propositions – statements that describe relationships between concepts.
• Models – visual or symbolic representations that provide a framework for understanding theory in application.

Most nursing theories are structured around the nursing metaparadigm, which includes four central concepts: person, health, environment, and nursing. For example, Virginia Henderson’s Nursing Need Theory views the patient as an individual requiring support to achieve independence. This aligns closely with the metaparadigm by addressing both physiological and psychosocial dimensions of care.

These components come together to form a theoretical framework that helps guide nurses in education, research, and practice. Whether used to teach a nursing program, inform hospital protocols, or assess health outcomes, these elements ensure that theories remain relevant and actionable in diverse settings.

What Are the Different Types of Nursing Theories?

Nursing theories can be classified based on their level of abstraction and scope. The types of nursing theories include grand nursing theories, middle-range nursing theories, and practice-level nursing theories. These categories help nurses, researchers, and educators apply theories based on the depth of explanation needed and the clinical context involved.

Each type of theory offers distinct value. While grand theories provide a broad philosophical outlook, middle-range theories connect abstract ideas to everyday nursing challenges. In contrast, practice theories address specific situations with focused nursing interventions. Understanding these levels equips nurses with the ability to choose the most appropriate theoretical framework for various aspects of nursing care and research.

What Are Grand Theories and How Do They Function?

Grand nursing theories are the most abstract and conceptual among all types. These theories offer a comprehensive view of the nursing profession, defining what nursing is, what nurses do, and why they do it. While grand theories do not always provide specific direction for practice, they provide a framework for understanding the values, beliefs, and assumptions behind nursing as a discipline.

An example is Dorothea Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory, which posits that nursing is required when individuals are unable to care for themselves. Similarly, Florence Nightingale’s Environmental Theory—a foundational model of nursing—emphasizes modifying the environment to support healing, which laid the groundwork for modern nursing. These theories guide nurses conceptually but often need to be paired with more specific theories or clinical guidelines for direct application.

Because grand theories are often taught early in a nursing education curriculum, they help shape the philosophical understanding of what it means to be a nurse and the broader goals of the nursing profession.

What Are Middle-Range Theories and Their Applications?

Middle-range nursing theories bridge the gap between grand theories and practice. They are more specific and easier to apply in clinical practice, offering insights that are both practical and research-based. These theories usually focus on particular phenomena or concepts, making them highly useful in understanding patient experiences, decision-making, and specific nursing behaviors.

For example, Hildegard Peplau’s Theory of Interpersonal Relations is a classic middle-range theory that emphasizes the therapeutic relationship between nurse and patient. Another influential theory is Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring, which explores the emotional and spiritual dimensions of caring in nursing. Both theories offer concrete guidance that can be translated directly into nurse-patient interactions, team communication, and care planning.

Middle-range theories are essential for developing evidence-based practice because they offer hypotheses that can be tested through nursing research. As such, they help nurse educators and clinicians connect theory, practice, and scholarship in a meaningful and measurable way.

What Are Practice Theories and How Do They Differ?

Practice-level nursing theories—sometimes called micro theories—are the most specific of all theory types. These theories focus on defined clinical situations, populations, or procedures. Their goal is to help nurses address particular patient needs with clear, actionable strategies that can be implemented in daily routines.

For instance, a practice theory might guide pain management in postoperative patients or improve communication strategies in dementia care. Because they are context-specific, these theories are especially valuable in developing care protocols and evaluating outcomes in narrowly defined clinical environments.

Unlike grand or middle-range theories, practice theories are often developed directly from the experiences of bedside nurses or through focused clinical studies. As a result, they are deeply embedded in the application of nursing and provide direct tools for problem-solving in the field of nursing.

Who Are the Key Nursing Theorists in Nursing Theories?

The development of nursing theories has been shaped by a group of pioneering nursing theorists who sought to elevate nursing from a task-based occupation to a respected, research-informed nursing profession. These theorists laid the foundation for structured nursing education, influenced clinical practice, and inspired ongoing nursing research.

Key contributors include Florence Nightingale, Hildegard Peplau, Virginia Henderson, Dorothea Orem, Jean Watson, Imogene King, and Madeleine Leininger, among others. Each of these theorists developed a unique perspective on nursing care, contributing to the diversity and richness of the discipline. Their works continue to guide nurses globally, offering tools for reflection, communication, and evidence-based practice.

These influential figures did not only advance theory; they also transformed theory and practice into a unified approach for improving patient care, enhancing health systems, and defining the philosophy of nursing.

What Are the Major Contributions of Florence Nightingale in Nursing Care?

Florence Nightingale, often recognized as the founder of modern nursing, introduced the first nursing theory: the Environmental Theory. Her work during the Crimean War led to a systematic understanding of how surroundings—like ventilation, light, cleanliness, and noise—directly impacted health outcomes. This theory describes how altering the environment could promote healing and prevent illness.

Florence Nightingale’s Environmental Theory emphasized sanitation and hygiene as essential components of nursing care. Her advocacy for data-driven hospital reforms marked the beginning of nursing science and public health awareness. Even today, the principles from her theory are embedded in infection control practices, hospital design, and patient safety protocols.

Nightingale’s work became a foundation for nursing practice, particularly in the way it linked health to environment—an idea that has shaped both theoretical and practical aspects of nursing systems worldwide.

How Did Hildegard Peplau Contribute to Nursing Theory?

Hildegard Peplau introduced the Theory of Interpersonal Relations, a groundbreaking model that shifted the focus of nursing from simple task completion to meaningful human interaction. This theory emphasizes the therapeutic relationship between the nurse and the patient, recognizing that communication and trust are essential to healing.

Peplau’s theory identifies distinct phases of the nurse-patient relationship: orientation, identification, exploitation, and resolution. Her work highlighted the nurse’s role as counselor, teacher, resource person, and surrogate—roles that are now integral to nursing practice.

As a nursing theorist and educator, Peplau was also instrumental in establishing psychiatric nursing as a specialty and advocating for the professionalization of nursing. Her insights continue to help nurses strengthen communication, emotional intelligence, and patient collaboration in every area of care.

What Insights Did Virginia Henderson Provide in Nursing Theory?

Virginia Henderson made a lasting impact through her Nursing Need Theory, which defines nursing as assisting individuals—sick or well—in performing activities that contribute to health, recovery, or a peaceful death. Henderson identified 14 fundamental human needs that nurses should help patients meet, ranging from breathing and eating to communicating and learning.

Her theory provides a holistic perspective, emphasizing the physical, psychological, and social components of care. What sets Henderson’s theory apart is its focus on promoting patient independence—a concept that resonates across acute care, rehabilitation, and community health settings.

Often referred to as the “First Lady of Nursing,” Henderson’s work is widely cited in nursing programs and textbooks and serves as a framework for nurses to assess, plan, and evaluate care. Her philosophy helped to define nursing as both an art and a science, balancing compassion with clinical precision.

How Do Nursing Theories Evolve Over Time?

Nursing theories are not static; they grow and adapt alongside advancements in healthcare, education, and social dynamics. Initially, nursing theories were rooted in broad philosophical ideas, as seen in grand theories like Florence Nightingale’s Environmental Theory. Over time, theories have become more detailed, empirical, and clinically relevant, aligning more closely with the realities of nursing practice.

As the nursing profession expanded into research, leadership, and technology, theorists began refining models to address contemporary patient needs. For example, while earlier theories focused heavily on hygiene or interpersonal communication, more recent ones address topics like cultural diversity, mental health, chronic illness, and palliative care. This ongoing evolution ensures that theories stay relevant to the field of nursing and can better support the growing complexity of nursing and health care.

The dynamic nature of nursing theories in practice reflects both the profession’s historical foundations and its vision for future progress.

What Factors Contribute to the Evolution of Nursing Theories?

Several factors drive the ongoing development of nursing theory. Societal changes, advancements in medical science, and global health challenges continually reshape how nurses view care delivery. As patient needs become more complex, new theoretical frameworks are required to support individualized, equitable, and responsive nursing care.

Technological progress also plays a significant role. Innovations like telehealth, wearable devices, and electronic health records demand new ways of conceptualizing nurse-patient interactions. Likewise, increasing cultural diversity in healthcare settings has led to the development of transcultural nursing theory and related models, which acknowledge that cultural care theory is vital to comprehensive care.

Educational reforms, especially in Master of Science in Nursing programs, encourage theory development through critical thinking and scholarly inquiry. These programs empower students and professionals alike to question, refine, or even create theories that better reflect current realities in care delivery.

How Do Current Trends Impact Nursing Theories?

Modern healthcare trends significantly influence how theories guide nursing practice. Patient-centered care, value-based reimbursement, population health management, and the integration of AI in healthcare systems are just a few examples of shifts that require new theoretical insights.

For instance, the growing emphasis on evidence-based practice has pushed theorists to create models that are not only philosophically sound but also measurable and applicable in diverse clinical contexts. This trend blurs the line between theory and practice, encouraging the creation of middle-range theories that offer both conceptual strength and practical utility.

Another emerging trend is the emphasis on mental wellness and holistic care. In response, many nursing theorists are developing models that consider emotional, spiritual, and environmental influences on healing. These changes ensure that theories remain grounded in real-world needs while advancing the understanding of nursing in a modern context.

What Role Does Research Play in the Development of New Theories?

Nursing research is central to the advancement of theory. Through observation, data collection, and clinical trials, researchers identify gaps in existing models and generate new knowledge that fuels innovation. Research helps validate, refine, or challenge existing theories and serves as the evidence base for creating new ones.

For example, when a specific patient population demonstrates unique needs that are not adequately explained by current models, researchers may formulate a new practice-level nursing theory. Similarly, insights from large-scale studies may inform the expansion of existing frameworks like the theory of self-care or the theory of goal attainment, enriching them with new dimensions.

Ultimately, science in nursing ensures that theory development is not limited to academic abstraction. It connects theoretical thinking with measurable outcomes and specific nursing interventions, creating a continuous feedback loop between practice and research. This process keeps nursing theories grounded, relevant, and impactful in ever-evolving clinical environments.

How Can Nursing Theories Be Applied in Clinical Practice?

Applying nursing theories in practice bridges the gap between academic learning and hands-on care. These theories offer more than abstract concepts—they are tools that guide nursing practice in assessment, decision-making, intervention planning, and outcome evaluation. By using theory, nurses are better equipped to deliver patient-centered, ethical, and consistent nursing care.

Theories also provide a critical structure for developing care plans and evaluating patient progress. For instance, when managing a patient with a chronic illness, a nurse might draw from the theory of nursing systems to determine how much support the patient needs from healthcare professionals versus self-management strategies. In this way, theory supports clinical practice by offering frameworks that organize patient information and direct appropriate care actions.

What Are Practical Examples of Nursing Theories in Nursing Research?

Numerous examples of nursing theories demonstrate their practical value in everyday settings. One widely applied model is Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring, which promotes emotional presence and compassion as essential elements of healing. Nurses working in oncology or hospice care often rely on this theory to foster trust and spiritual connection with patients and families.

Another practical example is Dorothea Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory, which informs nursing approaches in rehabilitation and post-operative care. Nurses use this theory to assess patients’ abilities to care for themselves and design interventions that promote independence—a key goal in recovery-oriented programs.

In multicultural healthcare environments, Madeleine Leininger’s Transcultural Nursing Theory helps nurses respect and integrate cultural values into treatment plans. By aligning care with each patient’s cultural beliefs and practices, this theory supports more personalized and respectful nursing interventions.

How Can Nurses Integrate Theories into Their Daily Practice?

To successfully apply theory in nursing, integration must start with education and continue through reflective practice. Nurses can incorporate theories by aligning patient assessments, goal setting, and care strategies with specific models that fit the clinical situation. For instance, in mental health nursing, the theory focuses on interpersonal communication and relationship-building may be the most effective guide.

Nurses can also collaborate with interdisciplinary teams using a theoretical framework as a shared language for developing care plans. This is particularly helpful in acute and long-term care, where team-based approaches are essential for improving patient care outcomes.

Mentorship and continuing education also play vital roles in helping nurses apply theory. Nurse educators and clinical leaders can model how theory translates into action, especially for nursing students and newly licensed professionals. As nurses become more familiar with theory-driven thinking, they are empowered to apply it naturally in their clinical reasoning and problem-solving processes.

What Challenges Do Nurses Face When Implementing Theories?

Despite their importance, nursing theories may be underutilized in some settings due to various challenges. Time constraints, heavy workloads, and a lack of institutional support can make it difficult for nurses to connect theory with the fast-paced demands of bedside care. In addition, some practitioners may perceive theory as overly academic or disconnected from the realities of practice.

Another challenge is the absence of standardized education on how to apply theory effectively. Without structured guidance, especially during a nursing program, nurses may struggle to move from abstract understanding to practical use. Moreover, not all theories are easily adaptable to every clinical environment. For example, grand theories may feel too broad without the support of middle-range theories that offer more specific guidance.

Nevertheless, these barriers can be addressed by incorporating theory into care pathways, clinical protocols, and ongoing professional development. When institutions value and promote using nursing theories, it becomes easier for individuals to embrace them as integral to both quality care and professional identity.

What Resources Are Available for Understanding Nursing Theories?

To master the complexities of nursing theories, nurses and students need access to well-rounded, credible learning resources. These materials deepen theoretical knowledge and connect abstract concepts to real-world applications. Whether one is a nursing student, nurse educator, or practicing nurse, having the right tools can make understanding and applying theories more attainable.

Resources include textbooks, scholarly journals, e-learning platforms, academic databases, and professional communities. These materials help build a solid theoretical foundation, enhance critical thinking, and improve the ability to guide nursing practice with informed judgment. By using reliable sources, individuals gain a richer understanding of the importance of nursing theories in various contexts—from bedside care to leadership and policy-making.

What Books and Journals Should Nurses Read on Nursing Theories?

Several authoritative texts and journals provide a comprehensive overview of theories in nursing and their practical relevance. A widely recommended title is Nursing Theorists and Their Work by Alligood and Tomey, which covers key theorists, historical context, and applications. Another foundational book is Theoretical Basis for Nursing by Melanie McEwen and Evelyn Wills, known for its accessible explanations of the concepts of nursing theory and diverse theoretical frameworks.

Journals such as Advances in Nursing Science, Nursing Science Quarterly, and Journal of Advanced Nursing regularly publish peer-reviewed articles exploring levels of nursing theory, theory development, and theory-testing studies. These journals also provide examples of how theories are integrated into evidence-based practice, helping readers understand how theory supports clinical and academic progress.

For those interested in cross-cultural or specialized theories, journals focusing on transcultural nursing and health equity are valuable for exploring areas like cultural care theory and global care delivery.

What Online Courses and Workshops Focus on Nursing Theories?

Online learning platforms offer flexible and accessible ways to enhance one’s understanding of nursing theories. Many accredited universities and institutions provide virtual modules, webinars, or continuing education courses as part of nursing program curricula or postgraduate training. For instance, courses within a Master of Science in Nursing degree often include deep dives into theory of nursing, theoretical analysis, and application.

Workshops and e-learning courses can be found on platforms like Coursera, edX, and MedBridge. These programs allow learners to engage with topics such as nursing metaparadigm concepts, theory suggests models, and foundation for nursing practice development in a structured and interactive format.

These online options are especially beneficial for working professionals who want to enhance their theoretical knowledge without leaving the clinical setting. Many courses also include case studies and simulations that connect theory to practice.

How Can Professional Organizations Support Nurses in Learning About Theories?

Professional nursing organizations play a crucial role in promoting the application of nursing theories and advancing nursing knowledge. Organizations like the American Nurses Association (ANA), International Council of Nurses (ICN), and Sigma Theta Tau International provide members with access to theoretical resources, conferences, workshops, and scholarly publications.

These groups often sponsor events or webinars focused on specific models, such as the theory of goal attainment or the self-care deficit nursing theory, offering forums for discussion and collaboration. In addition, they foster mentorship opportunities and communities of practice where experienced nurses can help others apply theoretical knowledge in diverse settings.

By supporting professional development and offering access to cutting-edge theory-based research, these organizations help nurses stay current with emerging ideas and theories can also help shape policy, education, and nursing systems.

What Is the Future of Nursing Theories?

The future of nursing theories lies in their adaptability to the rapidly changing landscape of healthcare. As the world faces new challenges—emerging diseases, aging populations, and growing health disparities—nursing theory must evolve to remain relevant and impactful. Theories will need to address not only traditional concerns like nursing care and recovery, but also broader social, technological, and ethical dimensions of health.

One major shift will be the continued integration of science in nursing with theory development. As health data becomes more precise and personalized, theories will be expected to incorporate data-driven reasoning and predictive models that support real-time decision-making in clinical practice. Future theories will likely be more interdisciplinary, drawing from psychology, technology, ethics, and systems thinking to form a more holistic framework for nurses.

Ultimately, the goal of nursing theory will remain the same: to improve patient outcomes, inform education, and advance the nursing profession. However, the strategies to achieve this will continue to grow in complexity, reach, and innovation.

How Will Technology Influence Nursing Theories?

Technology is poised to reshape how nursing theories are essential to practice and learning. Innovations such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and telehealth are changing how care is delivered, documented, and evaluated. These tools not only impact the nurse’s workflow but also introduce new variables into the patient experience that must be reflected in theoretical models.

For example, theories may soon need to address how virtual care alters the theory of interpersonal relations, or how decision-support systems affect autonomous judgment in the application of nursing. The use of wearable health tech and remote monitoring introduces concepts that did not exist in traditional theories, requiring adjustments or entirely new models.

Technology also enhances access to understanding nursing theories. Digital platforms allow for immersive learning, simulation-based education, and AI-driven literature analysis, making it easier for nurses to explore theory in both formal education and continuing development

What Is the Potential for New Theoretical Frameworks in Nursing?

As healthcare delivery becomes more individualized and complex, there is great potential for new theoretical frameworks in nursing. These frameworks will likely emerge to address specific populations, such as patients with multiple chronic conditions, individuals in marginalized communities, or those receiving care primarily in digital environments.

For instance, a future theory emphasizes community-based care coordination might develop from the increased role of nurses in public health and social support systems. Similarly, theories may emerge to examine health equity, climate change, and disaster preparedness through a nursing lens.

New frameworks can also evolve from blending existing models. Combining elements from cultural care theory, nursing need theory, and theory of human caring, for example, may result in hybrid theories that are both person-centered and systems-aware. These new frameworks will help shape a more resilient, inclusive, and effective foundation for nursing education and practice.

How Can Nurses Contribute to the Development of Future Theories?

Every nurse—from novice to expert—has the potential to shape the future of theory. Nurses on the front lines gather real-time insights into patient experiences, care processes, and system gaps. By documenting, analyzing, and reflecting on their experiences, they can generate questions and propose models that address unmet needs in care delivery.

Nurses can also engage in nursing research and quality improvement projects that explore emerging patterns and concepts. Through collaboration with educators, theorists, and interdisciplinary teams, these insights can become the seeds of innovative theory. Participation in research groups, professional organizations, and advanced education programs—like a Master of Science in Nursing—offers pathways for turning clinical wisdom into theoretical contributions.

Whether by refining existing nursing theories or creating entirely new ones, nurses play a pivotal role in ensuring that theory continues to align with real-world practice. Their voices are essential in making sure the theory suggests that patients are not just recipients of care, but active participants in an evolving and responsive healthcare system.

Conclusion: The Enduring Value of Nursing Theories

Nursing theories are more than academic concepts—they are essential tools that shape the way nurses think, act, and deliver care. From guiding clinical decisions to structuring nursing education and influencing research, these theories provide a foundational framework for the nursing profession. Whether grand, middle-range, or practice-based, each theory offers unique insights that support the holistic, patient-centered nature of nursing.

As healthcare continues to evolve, nursing theories must evolve with it. Advances in technology, emerging health trends, and the growing complexity of patient needs all point to the need for dynamic, adaptable theoretical frameworks. Nurses—through research, critical thinking, and daily practice—play a vital role in refining existing models and contributing to the development of new ones.

Ultimately, understanding nursing theories empowers nurses to deliver more thoughtful, evidence-based care. It deepens their connection to the discipline, strengthens advocacy for patients, and reinforces the professional identity that sets nursing apart as both a science and an art.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 4 types of nursing theory?

The four main types of nursing theories are:

1. Grand Nursing Theories – Broad and abstract, offering a global framework for nursing.
2. Middle-Range Nursing Theories – More specific and applicable to certain aspects of nursing practice.
3. Practice-Level Nursing Theories – Narrow in scope, guiding specific nursing interventions in clinical settings.
4. Descriptive Theories – Focus on describing phenomena and relationships without directly guiding action.

What are the 4 nursing theories in community health nursing?

Common nursing theories applied in community health include:

1. Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory – Emphasizes patients’ self-care capabilities and needs.
2. Roy’s Adaptation Model – Focuses on individuals’ adaptation to environmental changes.
3. Pender’s Health Promotion Model – Encourages health-promoting behaviors in populations.
4. Neuman Systems Model – Views the client as an open system in constant interaction with stressors.

What are Florence Nightingale’s theories?

Florence Nightingale developed the Environmental Theory, which emphasizes the impact of the environment—such as cleanliness, ventilation, light, and nutrition—on patient recovery. Her theory laid the foundation for modern nursing and emphasized prevention and hygiene in nursing care.

What is Rogers’ nursing theory?

Martha Rogers’ theory is the Science of Unitary Human Beings. It views patients as irreducible, dynamic energy fields in continuous interaction with their environments. The theory focuses on the whole person and the integration of human and environmental fields, promoting a holistic approach to nursing practice.