Current challenges include changes in economic and technologic realities at national and international levels. A goal for nursing knowledge and action is to empower communities. Commitment to empowerment of others requires a fierce compassion from nurses. Nursing theory expresses the values and beliefs of the discipline, helps to frame the human experience, and guides the caring process. B. Scientific Principles and Values 1.
Nursing theory is the vehicle used to operationalize a disciplinary perspective.
Theory is respective of personal meaning, human diversity, the uniqueness of the individual and spiritual expression. It provides the context from which nurses come to understand personal responses to a dynamic and changing health care environment. In nursing theory, the discipline articulates core beliefs and common assumptions. Guided by these universal philosophical links, multiple epistemologic views emerge to help understand the complex, dynamic, interactive and transforming caring experience that occurs between the nurse and patient, family, community or other social group. It is useful in providing an approach to guide nursing practice, education and research.