Nursing Theorists and Their Work

Nurses and students at all stages of their education and nursing career are interested in learning about nursing theory and the use of theoretical works from around the world. Associate degree and baccalaureate students will find the life of the theorists, their conceptual focus, definitions, and theoretical assertions interesting. Graduate students will be more attracted to the logical form, acceptance by the nursing community, the theoretical sources for theory development, the use of empirical data, and the analyses of each work.

Martha Raile Alligood is a Professor Emeritus at East Carolina University College of Nursing. She holds a BSL from Johnson University, a BSN from the University of Virginia, an MS from The Ohio State University, and a PhD in nursing science from New York University. Her career includes graduate faculty appointments at several universities. She is a fellow of the National League for Nursing Academy of Nursing Education and a recipient of numerous awards.

Nursing theory became a major theme in the last half of the 20th century and continues to stimulate phenomenal professional growth globally through quality improvement, development of nursing literature, and education around the world.