The future of nursing theory is evolving as it adapts to the growing complexities of healthcare, technology, and patient needs.
Several trends are shaping this future, including the following:
Integration with Evidence-Based Practice: Nursing theory is increasingly being integrated with evidence-based practice (EBP), where theory guides research and clinical decision-making. The emphasis is shifting towards theories that can be directly applied to improve patient care outcomes at the bedside.
Incorporation of Technology and AI: As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more prevalent in healthcare, nursing theory will need to incorporate technological advancements. This includes theories that address the use of AI in clinical decision-making, patient monitoring, and personalized care.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration: The future of nursing theory will likely involve greater interdisciplinary collaboration. Nurses are part of larger healthcare teams, and nursing theories will need to reflect how nurses work with physicians, social workers, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals.
Global and Public Health Focus: With the rise of global health challenges, such as pandemics, climate change, and healthcare disparities, nursing theory will likely expand to include a focus on public health, health equity, and social determinants of health.
Person-Centered Care: Future nursing theories will emphasize person-centered care, moving beyond treating diseases to focus on the holistic well-being of individuals, including their emotional, mental, and spiritual health.
Cultural Competence: As patient populations become more diverse, theories focusing on cultural competence and health equity will become even more essential. Nursing theories will evolve to support personalized care that respects cultural and individual differences.
Sustainability and Environmental Health: There is a growing awareness of the environmental impacts on health, which may lead to the development of nursing theories that address sustainability in healthcare practices and environmental health nursing:
Redefining Nursing Roles: As healthcare evolves, nursing theories will play a role in redefining the scope of nursing roles, such as the increasing importance of advanced practice nurses, nurse practitioners, and nurse leaders in both clinical and policy arenas.
Directions:
Create a PowerPoint presentation on one of the topics about the future of nursing.
The presentation should follow this structure:
Slide 1: Title slide with your name, course number, and course name.
Slide 2: Introduction to the future of nursing theory based on the topic you chose and why this topic is important to you.
Slide 3: What theory is used in your current practice setting? If no theory is known, or you are not employed, which theory would you recommend and why?
Slide 4: Examples of how your chosen topic impacts your current practice setting or affects your future practice.
Slide 5: What is your recommendation for teaching nursing students about nursing theory?
Slide 6: Conclusion summarizing key points.
Slide 7: Reference list following APA guidelines.
Submission
No recording is required. You may submit this assignment via a file upload.
Files greater than seven slides will not be graded.