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CHAP TER

State of the Art and Science

of Nursing Theory

Martha Raile Alligood

“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.”
Alligood, M. R. (2011). Nursing Science Quarterly, 24(4), p. 304.

t becomes obvious from studying texts such as this integrity of each work and keeping the size of the text
Ione that understanding and use of nursing theoreti- workable. Unit I content was updated and restructured,
cal works is active and growing globally, pointing the and a new Chapter 4 was added on knowledge struc-
way to new knowledge through research, education, ture and the role of analysis in theory development.
administration, and practice applications. Reviews of Units II to VI were updated, and the uniform outline
the seventh edition of this text by consumers identified of each chapter was maintained. The philosophies, nurs-
by the publisher as well as published reviews in schol- ing models, and theories in Units II to IV address each
arly nursing journals recognize its contribution to metaparadigm concept (person, environment, health,
professional nursing. Suggestions that are given receive and nursing). Since middle-range nursing theories
careful consideration for each new edition (Dickson & (Unit V) are limited in scope and specific to practice, care
Wright, 2012; Smith, 2012; Paley, 2006). Smith (2012) was given to clarifying this and specifying the metapara-
points out, “The text is significant in that it provides digm concepts addressed. Rodgers (2005) notes that
nursing students with an accurate and scholarly refer- “middle-range theories currently have the most emphasis
ence to identify significant philosophies, models and in nursing” (p. 191). Similarly, Im & Chang (2012) con-
theories that are pertinent to their own nursing prac- clude that “ . . . middle range [theory] will play an essen-
tice” (p. 201). Similarly, Dickson and Wright (2012) tial role in nursing research . . . ” (p. 162).
conclude, the text “simply and elegantly describes the As in previous editions, the chapters in this eighth
great progress that nursing as a discipline and profes- edition are written by those who use the various theo-
sion has accomplished guided by the vision of leading retical works in their professional practice and research.
nursing theorists. The scope and depth … may address Nurses around the world are increasingly recognizing
the concerns and critics who argue nursing theory the vital nature of theoretical works and applying them
is outdated or irrelevant to current practice and re- to their practice, research, education, and administra-
search” (p. 204). In this eighth edition, effort was given tion (Alligood & Marriner Tomey, 1997, 2002, 2006;
to updating the chapters while maintaining clarity and Alligood & Tomey, 2010; Butts & Rich, 2011; George,

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