To provide guidance and understanding of the practice, grand theories have been created in nursing. These theories provide broad and abstract concepts to help explain the dynamic and complex nature of health and nursing. Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring, for example, suggests that nursing is centered on caring and that nurturing caring relationships is key to healing and improving health.
Many reasons exist for nursing grand theories to be developed and used. The first is that grand theories are a basis for developing more specific and middle-range theories. These theories can then be used as a guide in clinical practice and research. Grand theories provide a framework that can be used to guide nursing practice and ensure consistency in values and principles.
Grand theories are a way to bring together nursing expertise from different areas. This promotes the creation of an integrated and cohesive discipline. Watson’s concept of care is applicable to all nurses who work in acute, community, or hospice settings.