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.
Theory creates a way to organize knowledge.
It allows for the integration of knowledge from other disciplines that can inform and expand the sphere of understanding from a nursing perspective. Theory is not static. Rather, it is iterative, dynamic and evolving. It must be continually updated and informed by practice and research. Theory helps to clarify existing knowledge and direct new discoveries.