Theory practice gap - Essay Example

Theory Practice Gap Theory Practice Gap The theory practice gap has been an ongoing challenge to most healthcare professionals with the main concern being how to theoretical concepts learnt in class with clinical situations. Personally, I feel that the theory practice gap has been a hindrance to the development of nursing as a discipline. This gap has made it challenging for graduates to adequately relate what they learn in class and the actual practices in healthcare institutions. Considering that knowledge involved in the nursing practice cannot be taught through theory, the notion of ‘applied theory’ provides hardly any benefits to this field.

Consequently, the assumption that theory taught in class must directly apply in the nursing practice for it to be relevant can barely be termed as true. Nursing, therefore, cannot be viewed as a theory but rather as a practice.From the above observations, one would not term nursing theory as a science. This is because theory in nursing inadequately attempts to represent information that cannot be represented in theoretical form. While theorists propose that ‘nursing theories’ can be used by nurses to justify their interventions, it is important t consider that nursing is a dynamic field that cannot rely on theoretical knowledge for development.

Nursing practice remains the most reliable source of knowledge for this discipline and as such, there is a need for change of the way nurses are trained, and are equipped with nursing skills. Unless this is done, students graduating from colleges will remain to find it difficult to familiarize with nursing practice.