The Neuman Systems Model in Practice

An integrative nursing theoretical framework

“…Dunng the past 25 years nurses have given mcreasmg attention to nursmg theory Literature abounds on the importance of relatmg theory to practice In the administration bterature, however, there are few articles on the use of nursing theory m a nursmg organization Several authors discuss issues and questions that need to be considered in selecting or assessmg a practice theory (Capers 1986, Buchanan 1987 while others descnbe the implementation of a particular nursing theory m clmical practice (Anna et al 1978, Mastal et al 1982, Capers et al 1985, Lucas et al 1988 Other than this author's descnption of the use of Orlando's theory for both dmical and administrative practice (Schmiedmg 1984(Schmiedmg , 1986 there has been bttle if any discussion on the use of nursmg theory as the organizmg framework for both clmical and administrative Correspondence Norma / Schmiedmg Associate Professor The University of Rhode Island College of Nwsing King^on, Rhode bland 0Z881, USA practice until the recent article by Jennings & Meleis (1988) Jennings & Meleis note that a nursing perspective has not routinely been incorporated into nursmg admmistrative practice They believe that an integrative framework, used both m clmical and administrative practice, would help sobdify the nursmg disciplme as well as advance knowledge development…”