Unit I – Professional Dimension of Nursing

Subtopic 2: Nursing as a science

INTRODUCTION
Through this topic you will learn about the ideas that theorist of the nursing
profession have contributed with. They have been very valuable in the
development of the unique and exclusive field of the profession as a science.
You will have the opportunity to examine these theories by using the Concept
Framework of Interamerican University of Puerto Rico’s Nursing Program,
where the main concepts of the nursing process, humanitarian attention,
leadership and care management, communication, health-disease
continuum, and nursing investigations are emphasized.
Read:
The Theory of Nursing Knowledge and Practice
Dr. SL Van Sell - I Kalofissudis
2002 Edition
Extracts from their under publication work "The Evolving Essence of the Science of Nursing, A
Complexity Integration Nursing Theory
http://www.nursing.gr/theory/Holistic.html

Once you have completed this Unit, you are expected to have gained a
rapport with the professional dimension of nursing and its foundation as a
science.
The objectives we’ll be dealing with for this topic are:
1. To analyze nursing from the point of view of its characteristics as a
science and the main theories that lay their foundation.
2. To examine the profession’s theories by using the Nursing Program’s
Concept Framework.
3. To emphasize the importance of the investigation for the evidence-based
practice and the use of technology in the development and advancement
of the professional dimension of nursing.
To tend to these objectives, we will discuss the following topics:
Nursing as science
1. Nursing theories
2. Paradigmatic concepts
3. Types of theories
4. Nursing theorists (p. 148)
The Nursing Program’s Concept Framework
1. Nursing process
2. Humanistic attention
3. Communication
4. Health-disease continuum
5. Leadership and management
6. Investigation

Surf through the unit and the subtopics it presents. Do the assigned learning
activities and gain awareness and knowledge of what the professional
dimension of nursing is.