Innovations in Nursing Research: Using the AIM to Apply Graduate Nursing Research to Professional Practice in Norway

The Artinian Intersystem Model (AIM) was developed by integrating and extending a number of theories especially those of Chin (1969), Kuhn (1974), Antonovsky (1987), Blumer (1969), Stallwood and Stoll (1975), and Hill (1949). These theories were used to describe the interactional process that takes place when patient/client and nurse/health provider come together to form a mutual plan of care. The model can be used by the novice practitioner as well as by the advanced practice nurse because the complexity of the model derives from the knowledge base of the user, not from the structure of the model as stated. However, when additional theories are used to inform practice, the professional nurse operates from a much wider knowledge base and the approaches to understanding the concern of the client are multiplied. The purpose of this presentation is to demonstrate how theories developed using grounded theory (GT) methodology (Glaser, 1978, 1998, 2001, 2005) can be used to enhance the effectiveness of the use of the model. Substantive grounded theories integrated by a core category offer explanations of how people living through a variety of health-related life situations resolve their main concern. These theories have relevance for the subjects in the study and the academic community because they fit the situation under study having been derived from observations and interviews with the participants. Therefore, they can be easily applied to practice. Although any nurse can use the process of the AIM, not every nurse pursues a career in research and develops theory. Therefore, it is important for practitioners to understand how the research findings of other researchers can be applied to enhance clinical practice. Selected case studies using the AIM and developed from grounded theories will be presented to show how research and practice can be integrated.