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Analysis of Integration in Nursing Science and Practice
Author(s) -
Whittemore Robin
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of nursing scholarship
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.009
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1547-5069
pISSN - 1527-6546
DOI - 10.1111/j.1547-5069.2005.00045.x
Subject(s) - cinahl , process (computing) , psychology , nursing process , nursing research , nursing care , nursing practice , sample (material) , nursing , computer science , medicine , psychological intervention , chemistry , chromatography , operating system
Purpose:To clarify the definition of integration and to identify universal aspects of the experience of integration related to healing, health, and nursing care.Design:An integrative review concept analysis method was used. Relevant reports were identified by a computer‐assisted search using the keyword integration in CINAHL from 1966 to 2004 and by reviewing the reference lists of retrieved reports. The final sample included 56 reports; 36 were empirical and 20 were theoretical.Methods:Data were extracted from primary sources on the definition of integration, aspects of the process, antecedents, consequences, and facilitators. Data display matrices were used and were iteratively compared to derive a process model of integration related to health.Findings:A wide range of primary sources indicated that integration is an important aspect of healing or recovery from illness. Integration is defined as a complex person‐environment interaction whereby new life experiences (i.e., illness) are assimilated into the self and activities of daily living, thereby contributing to overall life balance.Conclusions:Results of this analysis indicate the importance of the concept of integration to the science and practice of nursing. The process of integration appears to be a significant phase that occurs between a diagnosis of illness and subsequent physical and emotional healing.