Bridging the theory-practice dichotomy in nursing: The role of nurse educators

Abstract

The theory-practice gap is a quandary that many researchers have been trying to resolve for several decades in many practice disciplines. Nursing as a practice discipline encounters this predicament due to the fact that nursing knowledge is not yet well-defined. In this paper, we discuss the meaning of knowledge in general and nursing knowledge in particular. We also discuss the role of nurse educators in delineating the impact of knowledge on nurses’ practice and patients’ outcomes. Finally we suggest approaches for nursing faculty to bridge the theory-practice gap to assist students to apply theory to their clinical practice.