Middle-Range Nursing Theories are primarily used to address what?

Middle-range nursing theories are specifically designed to address particular phenomena that occur within nursing practice. These theories bridge the gap between grand nursing theories, which tend to be more abstract and broad, and practice-level theories, which focus narrowly on specific nursing interventions. By concentrating on a distinct aspect of nursing, middle-range theories facilitate research, guide evidence-based practice, and enhance understanding of specific patient care situations or health problems.

For instance, a middle-range theory might focus on the impact of supportive relationships on patient recovery, allowing nurses to tailor their interventions based on this specific phenomenon. The practical application of such theories can lead to improved patient outcomes since they provide a more detailed framework to understand the dynamics involved in particular clinical scenarios.

In contrast, general nursing practices, broad healthcare systems, and fundamental nursing ethics are too expansive or foundational. These aspects do not represent the targeted focus that middle-range theories embody, which is all about honing in on specific phenomena to create actionable insights in nursing practice.