What do you mean by "Theory without practice is empty and practice without theory is blind", (CROSS, 1981). Give examples.
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Introduction to Nursing Theory: Its History, Significance, and Analysis
CHAPTER 1
Introduction to Nursing Theory: Its History, Significance, and Analysis
Martha Raile Alligood
“The systematic accumulation of knowledge is essential to progress in any profession… however theory and practice must be constantly interactive. Theory without practice is empty and practice without theory is blind” (Cross, 1981, p. 110).
This text is designed to introduce the reader to nursing theorists and their work. Nursing theory has become a major theme over the past 50 years, stimulating phenomenal growth and vast expansion of nursing education and literature. Selected nursing theorists are presented in this text to expose students to a broad range of nurse theorists and different types of theoretical works. Many nurses of early eras delivered excellent care to patients; however, much of what was known about nursing was passed on through vocational education that was focused on skillful completion of functional tasks. Whereas many of these practices seemed effective, they were not tested nor used uniformly. Developing nursing knowledge on which to base nursing practice was a major goal put forth by leaders of the nursing profession in the twentieth century, as nurses sought to improve practice and to gain recognition of nursing as a profession. The history of nursing clearly documents sustained efforts put forth toward the goal of developing a substantive body of nursing knowledge to guide nursing practice (Alligood, 2006a; Bixler & Bixler, 1959; Chinn & Kramer, 2008; George, 2002; Johnson & Webber, 2004; McEwen & Wills, 2006; Meleis, 2007; Parker, 2006).