Nursing theories were mainly developed to explain, predict and explain the process of nursing. These theories are distinctively divided into three. They include high, middle and low range theories (Meleis et al, 2000). Their distinction lies between specific factors such as complexity, specificity, concepts, testability and sources of development. In terms of complexity, high range theories are more comprehensive and can be globally adopted, while middle-range theories have a more realistic view (Meleis et al, 2000).
On the other hand, low range theories tend to be narrow and very simple in their ideas. Specificity as a factor of distinction refers to their application to the general population; in this case, high range theories also known as grand theories are not usually specific to any setting or group of people while middle-range theories can be applied to different settings and groups of people (Meleis et al., 2000). On the other hand, low range theories, also known as practice theories, are specific to the group of people it is to be applied to.
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The concepts found in all three theories also differ in several ways with grand theories having more abstract concepts that are not operation able. Middle range theories, on the other hand, have a limited amount of concrete ideas. Practice theories are limited to a single and concrete concept (Meleis et al., 2000). In terms of testability, practice theories are all testable in a real environment, while middle-range theories can only conjure some testable hypotheses. Grand theories are simply not testable due to the abstractness of the ideas they present.
The sources of where these theories come from also form a ground to differentiate them. Grand theories were created long ago and have grown over time; they have created many ideas to the contemporary middle-range theories (Meleis et al., 2000). Practice theories are normally derived from the actual practice of nursing and some middle-range theories. In a research study proposing a theory of wellbeing supportive physical environment used a middle range theory in their deductive and inductive phases. It proposes that the wellbeing of elderly people can only be determined by themselves (Lenz at al., 1995). Informing an environment that can be safe for the elderly in society, it is important that older people identify what they feel at home (Lenz et al., 1995).
References
Meleis, A. I., Sawyer, L. M., Im, E. O., Messias, D. K. H., & Schumacher, K. (2000). Experiencing transitions: an emerging middle-range theory. Advances in nursing science , 23 (1), 12-28.
Lenz, E. R., Suppe, F., Gift, A. G., Pugh, L. C., & Milligan, R. A. (1995). Collaborative development of middle-range nursing theories: Toward a theory of unpleasant symptoms. Advances in Nursing Science .
