This user-friendly text stresses how theory informs practice and research in the everyday world of nursing. Divided into four sections, content sets the stage for understanding middle range theory by elaborating on disciplinary perspectives, an organizing framework, and evaluation of the theory.

Disciplinary perspectives linked to middle range theory -- Understanding middle range theory by moving up and down the ladder of abstraction -- Evaluation of middle range theories for the discipline of nursing -- Theories of uncertainty in illness -- Theory of meaning -- Theory of bureaucratic caring -- Theory of self-transcendence -- Theory of symptom management -- Theory of unpleasant symptoms -- Theory of self-efficacy -- Story theory -- Theory of transitions -- Theory of self-reliance -- Theory of cultural marginality -- Theory of moral reckoning -- Theory of self-care of chronic illness -- Concept building for research -- Nature immersion : a concept for nursing research -- Sheltering in place : a concept for nursing research -- Yearning for sleep while enduring distress : from concept building to research proposal development -- Reconceptualizing normal : from concept building to proposal development -- Middle range theory : spinning research and practice to create knowledge for the new millennium -- Middle range theory : a perspective on development and use.