This nursing text is devoted to the teaching of theory, research, and reasoning. It helps nursing students develop a foundation of reasoning skills that are necessary to integrate the components of knowledge, skills, values, meanings, and experiences into nursing practice. The text delivers a clear and understandable message about theory, what it is, and how it supports nurses and their practice. It provides an overview of theory, theory development, important nursing theories and nursing theorists, as well as a method for critiquing theory.