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Applying Theory to Practice Problem: Part 2: Application of Middle Range Theory to Problem
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Applying Theory to Practice Problem: Part 2: Application of Middle Range Theory to Problem
Summary of the Problem
Urinary tract infection (UTI) has emerged to be the most common hospital-acquired infection and accounts for the majority of the hospital acquired infections. Various studies have demonstrated that the infections are as a result of urethral catheter use in the hospital setting. This problem has been ignored for a long time with similar problems such as bacteremia, ventilator-associated pneumonia and surgical site infections which receive much attention. Most of these infections are asymptomatic and have no dire consequences to the patients. However, cases of bleeding and sepsis syndrome are reported in rare occasions. Consequently, the urethral catheter tool maybe responsible for other severe outcomes such as urethral structures, discomfort as well as genitourinary trauma. For quite some time now, the attention given to this issue is less and this negligence can be attributed to the lower mortality and morbidity rates of CUTI in comparison with other hospital-acquired infections. Moreover, the negligence can be attributed to the less financial impact that patients suffer. However, since it is a common problem in hospital settings, it can be argued that they their impact is huge. Conversely, the rising rate of this problem can be due to the unsound intervention strategies.
Nursing theories are characterized by rigorous and creative structuring of concepts to explain an occurrence. There are various types of nursing theories but the common ones include; mid-range nursing theories, nursing practice theories and grand nursing theories. The scope of grand nursing theories is wider than that of mid-range theories. The mid-range theory acts as a link between the grand nursing and nursing practice theories. Conversely, the mid-range theories provide various nursing strategies, concepts, and propositions into the nursing profession (Denisco & Barker, 2016). Therefore, in light to this, the paper will provide a brief description of the origins of the mid-range theory, its previous applications as well as how it can be applied to our problem.
Types of Mid-Range Theories
There are three common types:
* The mid-range descriptive theory. This one is concerned with the identification of similarities between groups, situations or events. They are developed from descriptive research methods, either qualitative or quantitative. The best example of this theory is Peplau’s theory of interpersonal relations.
* The mid-range explanatory theories. They tend to explain the relationships between various concepts. They are developed through correlation studies which are quantitative in nature. The best example is Watson’s theory of human caring and affection.
* Predictive theories. They extend further from both descriptive and explanatory theories. They tend to explain the occurrence of changes in a situation. They are developed through experimentations. The best example is Orlando’s theory of deliberative nursing process (Blais, 2015).
Origins of the theory
Florence Nightingale is the mother of professional nursing. She championed the nursing practices as well as the development of nursing schools and health care institutions in the United States of America. During the 1970s, nursing theories started being integrated into studies. However, most of them fell into the grand nursing theories. It was through this conceptual framework that the nursing professional was simplified. Some of the explorations that were integrated in the framework include; person, health, nursing and the environment. During this time a number of conferences were conducted to establish the practicality of the theories in studies (Swanson, 2012). Various works of key nursing theorists such as Martha Rogers, Betty Neuman...