Evolution of the Language in the Science of Unitary Human Beings.

This article presents a discussion of the evolution of the language of the Science of Unitary Human Beings from the terms used by Martha Rogers in her 1970 book to changes in terms Rogers introduced in her publications over the ensuing years to new terms and language offered by Rogerian scholars before and after Rogers' death in 1994. The article follows from Rogers' insistence that the language of a science, which evolves from general language, should be specific to the level of abstraction of the relevant concepts.

Theory-based practice in a major medical centre.

Aims: This project was designed to improve care quality and nursing staff satisfaction.

Background: Nursing theory structures thought and action as demonstrated by evidence of improvement in complex health-care settings. Nursing administrators selected Modelling and Role-Modelling (MRM) for the theory-based practice goal in their strategic plan.

The power of theoretical knowledge.

Nursing theoretical knowledge has demonstrated powerful contributions to education, research, administration and professional practice for guiding nursing thought and action. That knowledge has shifted the primary focus of the nurse from nursing functions to the person. Theoretical views of the person raise new questions, create new approaches and instruments for nursing research, and expand nursing scholarship throughout the world.

Nursing theory-guided research.

Theory-guided research has a long tradition in nursing that spans at least 50 years. Yet the use of nursing theory with qualitative research approaches continues to raise questions. Grounded theory is selected by nurses as a research methodology to address research questions that are aimed at understanding the nuances of nursing communication processes.

The vital nature of environment.

The nursing perspective includes the environment of a person, family, or community and there is global acceptance of environment as a disciplinary boundary. However, there are important distinctions among the conceptual models of nursing with regard to the meaning of the term. These differences spring from the worldview and philosophy that tailor its focus and fit.

Quality nursing care in the words of nurses.

Aim: This paper is a report of a study of the meaning of quality nursing care for practising nurses.

Background: Healthcare quality continues to be a subject of intense criticism and debate. Although quality nursing care is vital to patient outcomes and safety, meaningful improvements have been disturbingly slow.

Family healthcare with King's theory of goal attainment.

King's conceptual system and theory of goal attainment provide a systematic approach to the thought and action of nursing that has stood the test of time with continuing utility for organizing the complex factors of healthcare. Following a brief overview of the conceptual system and theory of goal attainment, application to family healthcare is discussed and illustrated with the programs of research of three exemplar King scholars: family healthcare with a mentally-ill child, family healthcare with children with type 1 diabetes or asthma, and family healthcare when a family member has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The scientific benefit and developmental progression of a theory-driven program of research for practice is noted.

Influences on advancement of nursing knowledge. Interview by Jacqueline Fawcett.

This column presents a dialogue between Martha Raile Alligood and Jacqueline Fawcett about the factors that have facilitated and factors that have impeded the growth of nursing knowledge, as well as comments on strategies for effective teaching of nursing conceptual models and theories.

Holistic Obstetrical Problem Evaluation (HOPE): testing a theory to predict birth outcomes in a group of women from appalachia.

The purpose of this study was to test the Holistic Obstetrical Problem Evaluation (HOPE) theory by determining the effects of prenatal factors from the biophysical, psychosocial, spiritual, and perceptual domains of the HOPE theory with infant birth outcomes. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using standard and reliable questionnaires with a convenience sample of 120 pregnant women between the ages of 14 and 44 years and 16-28 weeks gestation, and attending three prenatal clinics in East Tennessee. Based on the multiple regression analysis, absence of maternal partner support during pregnancy and African-American race predicted variance for infant birth weight (p <.

A discipline-specific determination of high quality nursing care.

Aim: The purpose of this study is to establish a framework for defining quality of care based in nursing's unique body of knowledge through identification of nursing actions associated with high quality care.

Rationale: Nurses are legally liable and morally responsible for the quality of the care they provide to patients. Yet the meaning of 'high quality nursing care' remains ambiguous mainly because models used to define it are borrowed from other disciplines.