Selecting Theories for Nursing

APA formal, and in text citation must be included also

Nurses use evidenced based practice (EBP) to guide their clinical decisions.  Educators also use theory and EBP to create teaching/learning opportunities. you will select theories and models of education to support teaching and learning in one of the DCN Bachelor of Science in Nursing Completion Option courses.  You must select a course that has a clinical component.  See the attached document for a list of courses and course descriptions.  Assume that you have classroom and lab/simulation time available on campus, as well as a clinical rotation with opportunities for patient care and/or community-based activities.

Choose two models or theories for each mode of instruction (2 class, 2 lab, and 2 clinical) upon which you could build your learning activities.  Of the six, one must be selected from the following: self-directed, experiential, transformative, and service learning. One must be a nursing theory. You may use theories or models beyond those found in your texts. The scientific literature has several that may be interesting to you.

Choose 6 different theories/models in total.  Provide a brief summary of each and explain your rationale for choosing it, including how it specifically supports your learning goals for the course. You are not creating the specific learning activities, just researching theory to provide direction for future curriculum-building decisions.  Organize your presentation as follows:

  • Introduction – Provide a brief description of the course you have chosen, including where it falls in the curriculum, and your overall student learning goals.
  • Theories to Support Classroom Instruction
  • Theories to Support Lab/Simulation Activities
  • Theories to Support Clinical Experiences
  • Conclusion

Sources:  A minimum of four sources is required. Use any of your books as references. Find at least two additional peer-reviewed nursing journal articles.

See the rubric for grading details.

Cite any sources in APA format.

Selecting Theories for Nursing

Introduction The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Completion Option course chosen for this paper is NURS 452: Nursing Leadership and Management. This course is usually taken in the final semester of the program, and its primary objective is to prepare nursing students for leadership and management roles in healthcare organizations. The student learning goals for this course include developing an understanding of leadership and management theories, as well as learning how to apply them in healthcare settings to improve patient outcomes.

Theories to Support Classroom Instruction

  1. Transformational Leadership Theory Transformational leadership theory emphasizes the importance of inspiring and motivating followers to achieve their full potential. It encourages leaders to be role models who inspire followers to work towards a common goal. This theory would be useful in classroom instruction, as it can help nursing students understand the importance of leadership in healthcare settings and how it can positively impact patient outcomes.
  2. Adult Learning Theory Adult learning theory suggests that adults learn best when they can relate new information to their previous experiences. It also highlights the importance of making learning relevant and applicable to the learner’s life. This theory would be useful in classroom instruction, as it can help nursing students understand the importance of creating a learning environment that is relevant to their experiences and future careers.

Theories to Support Lab/Simulation Activities

  1. Experiential Learning Theory Experiential learning theory suggests that individuals learn best through direct experience. It emphasizes the importance of reflection and feedback in the learning process. This theory would be useful in lab/simulation activities, as it can help nursing students understand the importance of hands-on experience and how it can improve their clinical skills.
  2. Cognitive Load Theory Cognitive load theory suggests that learners can only process a limited amount of information at one time. It emphasizes the importance of designing learning activities that are not too complex and do not overload the learner’s working memory. This theory would be useful in lab/simulation activities, as it can help nursing educators design activities that are appropriate for the level of the learner and do not overwhelm them with too much information.

Theories to Support Clinical Experiences

  1. Self-Directed Learning Theory Self-directed learning theory emphasizes the importance of learners taking responsibility for their own learning. It suggests that learners should be encouraged to set their own learning goals and develop strategies to achieve them. This theory would be useful in clinical experiences, as it can help nursing students take ownership of their learning and become more autonomous in their practice.
  2. Benner’s Novice to Expert Theory Benner’s Novice to Expert theory suggests that individuals progress through five stages of proficiency as they gain experience in a particular area. It emphasizes the importance of experience and reflection in the development of expertise. This theory would be useful in clinical experiences, as it can help nursing students understand the importance of experiential learning in the development of their clinical skills.

Conclusion In conclusion, selecting appropriate theories and models for teaching and learning in nursing education is crucial for achieving the desired student learning outcomes. The six theories and models discussed in this paper have been carefully selected to support teaching and learning in NURS 452: Nursing Leadership and Management. These theories can be applied to different modes of instruction, including classroom instruction, lab/simulation activities, and clinical experiences, to support student learning and improve patient outcomes.

Sources: Cherry, K. (2021). Transformational leadership: A complete guide. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/transformational-leadership-2795313 Knowles, M. S., Holton III, E. F., & Swanson, R. A. (2015). The adult learner: The definitive classic in adult education and human resource development. Routledge. Kolb, D. A. (2014).

 

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