title: Nursing in a complex world: a case for grand theory.
abstract: The authors of this column put forth a call for more grand theory to be used as the basis of nursing research. To that end, complexity theory and the Neuman systems model are reviewed followed by a discussion of the links that occur between them. Then evidence of the increased use of middle-range theory as the foundation of current nursing research is put forth. Finally, there is a discussion about the authors' conclusion that the complexity of the phenomena of interest for nursing research requires theories to be used as underpinnings that are more abstract and less reductionistic.
authors.affiliation: Saint Xavier University, 7807 Janes Ave, Woodbridge, Illinois 60517, USA. Florczak@sxu.edu
authors.forename: Kristine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Florczak
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Poradzisz
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hampson
mesh_terms: D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009729:Nursing; D015399:Nursing Research