Nursing Theories: Secret Weapons Against Healthcare Chaos

Today on Nurses Out Loud, Suzi Eichinger—38-year nursing veteran—dives into a topic many think is just “school stuff”: nursing theories. Far from dusty textbooks, these frameworks shape how nurses think, act, and care for patients in the real world.

From Florence Nightingale’s Environmental Theory to Virginia Henderson’s 14 Needs, Dorothea Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory, Hildegard Peplau’s Interpersonal Relations Theory, Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring, and Madeleine Leininger’s Transcultural Nursing Theory—Suzi unpacks how each offers practical, bedside power to cut through chaos, prevent burnout, and deliver care with intention.

With real stories, hard truths, and a few laughs, Suzi challenges nurses—new grads and veterans alike—to rethink their attitude, focus on healing environments, foster trust, and prioritize patient autonomy. She weaves in the La Red Foundation’s principle of Attitude—the disciplined courage and persistence that transforms not just healthcare, but the people delivering it.

Whether you’re charting at 2 a.m., managing a busy clinic, or holding a patient’s hand in their last moments, these theories can become your GPS—guiding not just what you do, but how you do it.

If you’ve ever wondered how to find meaning in the middle of broken systems, or how to keep your care from becoming just “tasks on a list,” this episode is for you.