Sample Topical Outline

Return to main “Foundations of Nursology” Course

Dates Course Objectives  ContentResources   Provide links to relevant pages on nursology.net and to relevant books and journal articles
Weeks 1 and 2 Course Objective 1  Course overview and requirements: Review course syllabus Content Focus of the Discipline (i.e. the ontology, epistemology and methodology of  nursology) Evolution of nursology as a discipline Past, present, and future threats to the existence of the discipline    What is theory? Why is theory important? What is the purpose of a theory? What difference does nursology theory make? Issues surrounding the adoption of nursology knowledge-guided activities for practice, quality improvement, research) Structure of nursology  knowledge Levels of nursology knowledge – metaparadigm, philosophies, conceptual models, grand theories, middle-range theories, situation-specific theories Define the metaparadigm of nursology and discuss various versions of the metaparadigm of nursology and statements of the focus of the discipline  Review diverse definitions and types of nursology philosophies, conceptual models, theories, and empirical indicators Discuss construction of the components of conceptual-theoretical-empirical (CTE) structures  and review examples of CTE structures for nursology practice, quality improvement, and research  See https://nursology.net/about/definitions/ https://nursology.net/history/ https://nursology.net/2019/07/09/what-makes-a-theory-or-model-nursing/ https://nursology.net/2019/10/08/are-we-ready-to-utilize-concept-analyses-to-advance-nursology-could-this-be-a-way-forward/ https://nursology.net/2020/08/18/by-and-for-numbers-meaningless-without-theory/  
Week 3 Course Objective 2-3    Discuss various frameworks for analysis and evaluation of nursology philosophies, conceptual models, and theories   Review and critique existing application of one or more frameworks for analysis and evaluation of nursology philosophies, conceptual models, and theories Review and critique the ethical dimensions of various nursology theories and conceptual models    See https://nursology.net/nurse-theorists-and-their-work/ https://nursology.net/resources/
Weeks 4-14 Course Objective 3  Select and apply one or more nursology philosophies, conceptual models, and theories for use as guides for nursology practice, quality improvement, and research    See https://nursology.net  for exemplars of nursology knowledge-guided practice, education, research, quality improvement. and health policy   

Week 15 Course Objective 4  
Each learner presents and discusses the contributions of a nursology philosophy, conceptual model, or theory to advancement of nursology practice   All learners discuss the contribution of one or more nursology philosophies, conceptual models, or theories to nursology education (curriculum construction), administration (methods of delivery of nursology practice), and research (quality improvement and other types of scholarly inquiry)