Nursing Theory Course Reflection

Nursing theory seemed rather vast and confusing. There are so many theories from so many differing viewpoints. Some of them built on others, some completely their own. I associated myself to the one theorist assigned to me, turned out to be a good fit. Betty Neuman was most naturally familiar to me as most of my schooling as a nurse was modeled after her theories. Her Systems model has always made sense to me. It is a formal, holistically structured adaptable model with consideration for biology, psychology, socio-cultural, as well as, developmental aspects of the human state. Many other theorist attempts to explain various nuances, some more specific, some more generalized all too often vague or overly explicit. When I am looking for an all encompassing theory adaptable to our modern progression of thought and analysis, I find myself relating back to Ms. Neuman. Adaptability is the hallmark attraction of any theory for me.

As I have progressed through the Bachelors course of study, I have found use for many of the different theories in nursing, both in research and the evaluation process. I can see how different perspectives help in understanding various problems and applications. I still have to echo the fact that they work because, of what I feel is their ability to adapt to the work being studied. I may one day have an understanding of my own unique theory, but with so many theories and theorist out there, the need for another one seems superfluous. I guess mine wouldn’t be unique, it would utilize parts of all of them and I would call it the, "Theory of Adaptability".