Nursing theories and their relation to knowledge development in Iceland.

The main focus of this column is the use of nursing theories and their relationships to knowledge development in nursing in Iceland. This exploration is preceded by a brief historical view of the nursing history in Iceland. First, the term nursing theory must be put into perspective. Readers of this journal are well acquainted with the definition of nursing theory as “a distinct and well-articulated system of concepts and propositions rooted explicitly in a philosophy of nursing and intended solely to guide nursing practice and research” (Cody, 1994, p. 144). Cody refers to this definition as the “minimal criteria for any conceptual system to be called a nursing theory” (p. 144). Meleis’ (1997) definition, however, mirrors a broader perspective when she defines nursing theory as “a conceptualization of some aspect of nursing reality communicated for the purpose of describing phenomena, explaining relationships between phenomena, predicting consequences, or prescribing nursing care” (p. 12). This definition is not restrained by origins in the philosophy of nursing but indicates that a nursing theory is grounded in the life world of nursing and meant to further nursing practice. In this column, notions of both definitions are apparent. The importance of sharpening the focus of the discipline of nursing through theories based solely on the philosophy of nursing is acknowledged at the same time that the importance of openness and willingness to explore alternate points of view, not limited to the philosophy of nursing, is credited.