Contrast and Comparison of Nursing Grand Theorists
Carol Goetz
Maryville University

The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast nursing theorists from the four categories which are identified by Meleis as: Needs, Interaction, Outcome and Caring. (Meleis, 2012, Chapter 9) I have chosen Faye Abdellah, Imogene King, Myra Levine and Jean Watson as the grand theorists that I would like to explore for this study in contrast and comparison. This decision was made, in part, due to the fact that all of these theorists were born and educated in the twentieth century and I felt that their theories might be more applicable to my nursing practice. The information contained in the tables was obtained from several sources in an
Louis | According to Meleis “Nurses as human |A process of action, reaction,|The need to choose fundamental|
| | |University |beings interact with patients as human|and interaction whereby nurse |content of a new masteral |
| | |1957 – MSN St. Louis |beings, and both are open systems that|and client share information |nursing degree program |
| | |University |also interact with the environment. |about their perceptions of the|prompted King to formulate her|
|Imogene |Interaction |PhD – Teacher’s College, |Therefore,