I chose to watch this particular video because I had so much interest in learning about middle-range theories. I realized that I had applied some of the theories in my internship but at this time, I had no much knowledge regarding these theories. After seeing that the video was about middle-range theories, I was very optimistic to learn about the theories so that I can gain more knowledge regarding what I will be doing as a practice nurse. From the video, I learnt that middle-range theories have high specificity, and when compared with grand nursing theories, these theories incorporate a more limited aspect of reality. This, therefore, means that middle-range theories lie between practice theories and grand theories. Concepts in middle-range theories are operationally defined as well as concrete. Since the propositions are relatively concrete, it is, therefore, easy to carry out empirical tests on the propositions.
After watching the video, there were different parts of my philosophy, where I agree with this theorist. I agree with the theorist that frequently used middle-range theories are consistent, easily understood, clearly stated, and deal with more up-to-date nursing standpoints. These theories are also easily used in nursing practice in providing guidance. The increased use of these theories by nurses shows that the theories are readily operationalized and easy to apply in clinical practice as well as clinical setting.
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The surprise I get after watching the video is that I was thinking that these theories are a novel idea in nursing. However, it surprised me that, middle-range theories have been applied for the past two decades with much of the theory development focusing on the creation, explication, and testing of middle-range theories. Through this focus, a considerable number of published middle-range nursing theories have been published. These theories have been applied in research as well as in practice. Theories such as Leininger’s Culture Care theory and Pender’s Health Promotion Model are broad and applicable to virtually all aspects of nursing. However, others, such as Beck’s postpartum depression theory are entirely circumscribed.
I would recommend this video to another student so that they can learn the applicability of middle-range theories in nursing as well as research. Nursing and research are closely intertwined, and thus, it would be necessary for the student to gain this knowledge. Since middle-range theories address specific situations, client populations, and provide a better source when making testable hypotheses, most researchers like working with them. These theories have increasingly been used in investigative research as the investigation frameworks.
I received much value from the video. Not only did I learn on what are middle-range theories, but I learnt also about their different levels as well as where these theories are applied. The middle-range theory has three levels that include low middle-range theory, middle-range theory, and high middle-range theory (Elo, Kääriäinen, Isola & Kyngäs, 2013). Low middle-range theory generally consists of fairly specific as well as theoretically defined constructs. Theories in low middle-range are more specific and defined. Examples of these include intervention for post-surgical pain, acute pain management, women’s anger, postpartum depression, Chronic Sorrow Theory, Caregiver stress theory, maternal role attainment, and chronic pain adaptation theory. Middle-range theories include theory of unpleasant symptoms, theory of comfort, and uncertainty of illness theory. Other theories such as theory of care-seeking behavior, motivation in health behavior, Health behavior interaction model, and chronic illness trajectory framework also fall under the middle-range theories category. High middle-range theories are more specific and more defined. They include Occupational Health Nursing, The Tidal Model, The Omaha System, and The Nursing Skill Acquisition Model. These theories have broad as well as abstract fairy concepts such as culture, adaptation, and transcendence and caring.
References
Elo, S., Kääriäinen, M., Isola, A., & Kyngäs, H. (2013). Developing and Testing a Middle-Range Theory of the Well-Being Supportive Physical Environment of Home-Dwelling Elderly. The Scientific World Journal, 2013, 1-7. doi: 10.1155/2013/945635
