Concept Development and Analysis
Concepts have been called the “building blocks” of nursing theory. That is a metaphor that can create a mental image of a theoretical model. Since concepts are foundational to a theory, it is important to examine how nurses understand concepts to clarify the meaning of the terms used in theory, research and practice.
Identify a concept that is common in your nursing practice that you would like to learn more about. Describe the concept and explain how it is used in practice. Where did the concept originate, and has the concept evolved in its use and meaning? Is there a consensus on the definition of the concept?
