Unit 4: Knowledge, Theory and Reasoning in Nursing Practice

Responses to Learning Activitiy 5

Learning Activity 5: Relationships among Theory, Knowledge, Research, and Reasoning

• What processes do you use to learn and understand difficult concepts?
• This will be an individual response however most people will move through the stages depicted in Johnson and Webber (2010, p. 39, Box 3.1) moving from identification of the concept to actually using or controlling the concept to bring about change. Most people learn more readily using their predominant learning style which may include visual, auditory, and/or kinesthetic means.


• What is the difference between knowing and understanding?
  
  • Knowing is being aware of a concept and progressing to the ability to apply that concept in a particular situation. Understanding means acknowledging and comprehending the significance or importance of the information.
  
  
• How do you use knowledge and/or theory in your own practice in order to influence and control?
  • You can likely think of many examples such as teaching patients about medications, explaining preoperative procedures, and completing discharge teaching.