Theories applied in nursing practice can prove ineffective.

1. What contributions has nursing research made to nursing practice and health care? ( 250 words) Blais, K., Hayes, J., Kozier, B., Erb, G. (2006). Professional Nursing Practice: Concepts and Perspectives (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education. Adamsen, L., Larsen, K., Bjerregaard, L., & Madsen, J. (2003). Moving forward in a role as a researcher: the effect of a research method course on nurses research activity. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 12(3), 442-450. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. 2. At your present level of education, how would you perceive nurses applying theory? (250 words) 3. How have changes in medical practice and cost containment strategies affected nursing practice? (250 words) Terry C. Blum; Stuart H. Milne; Chester S., S. l. (n.d). Workplace characteristics and health care cost containment practices. Journal of Management, 22(5), 675. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. 4. What do you project for the nursing profession in the future? (250 words) Pinkerton, S. (2001). The Future of Professionalism in Nursing. Nursing Economic$, 19(3), 130-131. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Blais, K., Hayes, J., Kozier, B., Erb, G. (2006). Professional Nursing Practice: Concepts and Perspectives (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education. ANSWER Nursing Nursing practice has evolved through new technological advancements in information schemes and treatments over the past decade. There is a need for flexibility as demonstrated in patient situations which affects nurses decision making, actions, and clinical observations. Nursing research and methodology has contributed to the interest in research for most nurses (Adamsen, Larsen, Bjerregaard & Madsen, 2003). A study designed to evaluate the positive contributions of research concluded that the nurses developed an interest to the extent of developing their own research projects which they later implemented in their clinical fields (Adamsen, Larsen, Bjerregaard & Madsen, 2003). After comparing nurses who undertook a research course from those who did not, there was evident distinction in research commitment and personal research (Adamsen, Larsen, Bjerregaard & Madsen, 2003). The commitment to basic research has contributed to the improvement in decision making, being up-to-date with technological advancements, and developing new techniques of handling patients for their well being and health. In addition research has facilitated the need to further education in nursing shifting from a practitioner to a researcher. Research generally has facilitated nurses in increasing their education and by that have subsequently improved in securing the welfare, health, and lives of patients (Blais, Hayes, Kozier, & Erb, 2006). Theory can be defined as a compilation of unified concepts that illustrate an observance that is predictive and explanatory in nature. In nursing theory it can be defined as a set of relationships, assumptions, propositions, and definitions developed from nursing models that project systematic and purposive view of events. In the modern nursing world for a theory to be effective and beneficial it must be developed by or in collaboration with practitioners and researchers (Blais, Hayes, Kozier, & Erb, 2006). Most theories are developed by researchers who tend to think in a different about the theory on the basis of nursing practice. Application of theories in nursing practice does not provide any specific procedural rules for practice which has definite procedures and principles. Theories applied in nursing practice can prove ineffective. For instance, specific guidelines in nursing practice can achieve quality of care at a minimum rate, but application of theory may lead to none at all. Through assessment data analysis in the nursing process theories have effectively been organized in nursing practice (Blais, Hayes, Kozier, & Erb, 2006). Nurses are able to explain, predict, and describe everyday experiences through application of theory. Theory also provides a basis for collecting valid and reliable data about the welfare and health of patients which aid in decision and implementation (Blais, Hayes, Kozier, & Erb, 2006). Medical practice and cost containment approaches have been categorized in two descriptions. One the approach involves advocating for more efficient and effective employee use of medical practice resources to reduce costs while the second involves directly shifting costs to employees to ease their burden (Blum, Milne & Spell, 1996). The approach aimed at shifting costs facilitates savings that are clear-cut. However shifting of costs may leave the benefit too limited and ineffective in line with its original purpose (Blum, Milne & Spell, 1996). Such a situation may lead to demoralized, inferior, and unstable personnel and may even hinder early intervention patient treatment or prevention in medical practice. In the long run it may become a liability to the employers as employees will not react making the situation more serious and increasing the treatment cost eventually (Blum, Milne & Spell, 1996). The application of alternative plans concept that are cost effective positively affect the personnel in that it boosts employee participation and options in their benefits. In management of utilization the employer is at bay with clear and immediate savings in expenses (Blum, Milne & Spell, 1996). Nursing is defined as a profession since it has licensing bodies, organizations, and a code of ethics, researches, accreditations of schools and colleges, and numerous nursing publications (Pinkerton, 2001). The nursing profession has suffered from shortage. Facts and studies from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing conclude that the number of professional nursing students is rapidly decreasing by approximately three thousand students per year (Pinkerton, 2001). In the future nursing may be faced with serious shortages in professional nurses as stiff conditions are applied driving away young persons. Care delivery and management strategies and concepts will have to change in the near future as it is driving many professional nurses from nursing (Pinkerton, 2001). In the long run the educational system in nursing will subsequently change due to technological and practical advancement. In the future health care delivery will be community based while critical and acute care will be delivered in hospitals (Blais, Hayes, Kozier, & Erb, 2006). Through mobile health care delivery people will get health services from remote or specific locations such as inner city neighbor hoods. Americans will receive health care mostly at home in the long run for minor cases (Blais, Hayes, Kozier, & Erb, 2006). Through computer terminals pharmacists in collaboration with nurses will be able to diagnose general illnesses (Blais, Hayes, Kozier, & Erb, 2006). Finally the nursing practice will be globally focused in future. References Adamsen, L., Larsen, K., Bjerregaard, L., & Madsen, J. (2003). Moving forward in a role as a researcher: the effect of a research method course on nurses research activity. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 12(3), 442-450. Blais, K., Hayes, J., Kozier, B. & Erb, G. (2006). Professional Nursing Practice: Concepts and Perspectives (5th Ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education. Blum, T., Milne, S. & Spell, C. (1996). Workplace characteristics and health care cost containment practices. Journal of Management, 22(5), 675. Pinkerton, S. (2001). The Future of Professionalism in Nursing. Nursing Economic$, 19(3), 130-131.

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