A critique of several conceptions of practice theory in nursing

Abstract

The thesis of this article is that the Dickoff, James, and Wiedenbach (1968a, 1968b) conception of a practice theory is roughly equivalent to a plan of action. This idea is contrasted with other conceptions of a prescriptive practice theory, especially the set-of-rules conception described by Jacox (1974). The set-of-rules conception is shown to be untenable, and other conceptions of practice theory are shown to be nothing more than examples of established forms of knowledge.