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Middle Range Theories in Nursing

Middle range theories have the following key characteristics: 1) They consider a limited number of relatively simple and general concepts and their relationships. 2) They can be tested empirically and focus on client problems, nursing interventions, and outcomes within a limited scope of reality or practice area. 3) They consist of two or more discrete and observable concepts linked by explicitly stated relationships, and are intended to guide nursing practice.

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Louwella Ramos
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357 views2 pages

Middle Range Theories in Nursing

Middle range theories have the following key characteristics: 1) They consider a limited number of relatively simple and general concepts and their relationships. 2) They can be tested empirically and focus on client problems, nursing interventions, and outcomes within a limited scope of reality or practice area. 3) They consist of two or more discrete and observable concepts linked by explicitly stated relationships, and are intended to guide nursing practice.

Uploaded by

Louwella Ramos
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Characteristics of Middle Range Theories

• Ideas are relatively simple and general.


• Consider a limited number of variables or concepts
• Have a substantive focus
• Consider a limited aspect of reality
• Can be tested empirically
• Focus on client problems and outcomes
• May specify an area of practice, client age range, nursing actions or interventions, and outcomes .

Frequently Used Middle Range Theories


• Are clearly stated and easy to understand
• Consistent and coherent
• Deal with current nursing perspectives
• Address relevant topics that solve persistent problems
• Can easily be adopted to guide nursing practice

Concepts and Relationship Statements of Middle Range Theories


• Middle range theories consist of two or more concepts and specified relationship(s) between the
concepts.

• Concepts should be discrete, observable, and sufficiently abstract to be applied across multiple
settings.

● Middle range theories link discrete and observable phenomena or concepts in relationships
statements are explicitly stated and preferably, they are unidirectional.

• Examples of middle range concepts

❏ Health promotion
❏ Comfort
❏ Coping
❏ Resilience
❏ Uncertainty
❏ Pain
❏ Grief
❏ Fatigue
❏ Selfcare
❏ Adaptation
❏ Self-transcendence
Comparison of Grand, Middle Range, and Practice Theories

Grand Middle Range Practice

Complexity/ Comprehensive, global Middle view of reality Narrow view; simple


Abstractness

Generalizability/ Nonspecific to setting May be generalized to Linked to special


Specificity or specialty multiple settings groups or type of
practice

Concepts Abstract, not Limited number of Single, concrete


operationalized concrete concept

Testability Not testable May generate testable Goals and outcomes


hypotheses Testable

Source of Thoughtful appraisal; Evolve from grand Derived from practice


development many years theories, practice, and practice or middle
literature range theories

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