THROUGHOUT the many editions and revisions of this book, I received a lot of feedback and many responses about the ideas presented. These arrived in writing, in person, in meet- ings, and in e-mails. Many responses, from many corners of the world, reflected a real intellectual engagement in the book. Some were inspired by our theoretical history, others questioned our philosophical past, but mo…
Preface to the Third Edition This book offers the perspective that nursing is a professional discipline with a body of knowledge that guides its practice. Nursing theories are an important part of this body of knowledge, and regardless of complexity or abstraction, reflect nursing and should be used by nurses to frame their thinking, action, and being in the world. As guides, nursin…
Preface As we continue to be challenged by the organization and financing of the contemporary health care system, as well as a worldwide nursing shortage, the need to articulate what nursing is and can be has never been more critical. Conceptual models of nursing and nursing theories provide clear answers to questions about what nursing is, what nursing can be, and how what…