Theory and practice: bridging scientists' and practitioners' roles

Past and recent progress in theory development for psychiatric mental health nursing (PMHN) and its link to practice are reviewed. Results of a national survey of practitioners reflecting the current use of theory from the disciplines of nursing, psychiatry, and behavioral sciences are reported. Progress addressed in furthering the science of PMHN includes the taxonomy of nursing diagnoses and concept analysis. Case study methods are acknowledged as one approach to continue theory development. One paradigm, representative case research (RCR), is noted for its heuristic value for theory development and its potential for bridging the scientist-practitioner roles of mental health clinicians.