Nursing theories are developed as a foundation for nursing care. Some nursing theories have been around for hundreds of years and are still being used today. Within each theory there are four components of nursing. These four components are person, environment, health, and nursing. Two theories that are still commonly used today are the Theory of Interpersonal Relations and the Theory of Human Caring.<\/p>\n

The Interpersonal Relations Theory was developed by Hildegard Peplau in 1952. This theory promotes the idea of\u00a0the nurse-client relationship as the foundation of nursing practice.\u00a0It is defined as\u00a0\u201cAn interpersonal process of therapeutic interactions between an individual who is sick or in need of health services and a nurse especially educated to recognize, respond to the need for help\u201d (Gonzalo, 2023). Peplau believed that the nurse-client relationship goes through stages and all stages must be met for the relationship to be successful. The three phases are the orientation phase, the working, or identification and exploitation, phase, and the termination, or resolution, phase. Within this framework, Peplau gives character roles that are typical in nursing: \u201cthe stranger role,\u00a0in which the nurse receives the patient the way a stranger is met in other situations, and provides an atmosphere to build trust; the resource role, in which the nurse answers questions, interprets data, and gives information; the teaching role, in which the nurse gives instructions and provides training; the counseling role, in which the nurse helps the patient understand the meaning of current circumstances, as well as provides guidance and encouragement for change to occur; the surrogate role, in which the nurse acts as an advocate on behalf of the patient; the active leadership role, in which the nurse helps the patient take responsibility for meeting treatment goals; and the technical expert role, in which the nurse provides physical care for the patient and operates equipment\u201d (Petiprin, 2023).\u00a0This theory can be useful in helping the nurse to make decisions in various situations of patient care because nurses understand that the nursing practice requires the nurse to play different roles within patient care. Some strengths of this theory is that it\u00a0\u201chelped later nursing theorists and clinicians develop more therapeutic interventions regarding the roles that show the dynamic character typical in clinical nursing.\u00a0Its phases provide simplicity regarding the nurse-patient relationship\u2019s natural progression, which leads to adaptability in any nurse-patient interaction, thus providing generalizability\u201d (Gonzalo, 2023).\u00a0A weakness of this theory is that it does not focus on health promotion or health maintenance.<\/p>\n

The Theory of Human Caring was developed by Jean Watson in 1979. This theory focuses on how nurses express care to their patients. Watson believes that caring promotes better health outcomes than simple medical cures and is central to the nursing practice (Petiprin, 2023).\u00a0The nursing\u00a0theory\u00a0states that\u00a0\u201cnursing is concerned with promoting health, preventing illness, caring for the sick, and restoring health\u201d (Gonzalo, 2023). This theory incorporates research as a form of caring. This process includes assessment, care planning, intervention, and evaluation; all of which are the foundation for every area of nursing.\u00a0\u201cOne advantage to Watson\u2019s Philosophy and Science of Caring theory is that it creates a generalized framework for nursing that can be applied to a variety of situations and patients. It also places the patient in the context of the family, community, and culture. The patient is the focus of practice rather than the technology. However, the \u201clooseness\u201d of Watson\u2019s framework can also be a drawback in instances when something more structured is needed for the care of a patient\u201d (Petiprin, 2023).<\/p>\n

The scope of nursing practice is multidimensional and comprehensive.\u00a0I believe that both of these theories are an integral part of delivering quality nursing care. A relationship between the nurse and the patient must be established to gain trust and rapport. This relationship allows for easier and more effective communication between nurse and patient. When a patient feels that they are cared for, they are more inclined to trust the nurse to make the best decisions for their care.<\/p>\n