Research testing nursing theory: state of the art

The degree to which investigators have tested nursing theory through empirical research is analyzed. The analysis is based on 62 studies in which the nursing model of Johnson, Roy, Orem, Rogers, and/or Newman was used as a framework for the research. The analysis shows that of these 62 studies, only nine met specified evaluation criteria for the explicit testing of nursing theory. To better understand this finding, impediments and approaches to testing of nursing theory are discussed, as well as implications for nursing theory, research, and practice.