Final answer:
Middle range theories in nursing are less abstract than grand theories and focus on specific aspects of nursing practice to improve patient outcomes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Middle range theories are considered to be less abstract than grand nursing theories. They are focused on the specific aspects of nursing practice, rather than the broad, overarching philosophies of grand theories. Middle range theories concentrate on experiences, phenomena, and concepts that are typically encountered in the daily practice of nursing.
Where grand theories provide a universal framework for nursing actions and goals, middle range theories are much more practical and applicable to nursing practice, aiming to improve, explain, or predict patient outcomes or the effects of specific nursing interventions. These theories serve to bridge the gap between grand theories and direct clinical practice, enabling nurses to tailor their care to individual patients based on evidence-supported frameworks.
Examples of middle range theories in nursing include the Theory of Comfort, Stress and Coping Theory, and the Theory of Self-Efficacy, each of which has a specific focus such as patient comfort, response to stress, and patient confidence in managing their health, respectively.