The problem for nurse educators is how best to prepare nurses for advanced practice roles. This can be achieved through both theoretical and practical approaches.

Making sure that practical and theoretical knowledge is used is a possible solution to the perceived gap amid nursing theory and nursing practice. This is because problems considered crucial to the development of nursing knowledge through a practical approach are solved. The nurse clinician is in a good position both to determine the extent to which nursing care problems are addressed by nurse care researchers (through a practical approach), and to be informed about the outcomes of such research, thereby ensuring that connections amid theory and practice settings are maintained.  Physicians, as well as concerned individuals, are to make sure that the outcomes of research are adequately judged for the improvement of nursing as a profession.

Through theoretical approach, nurses should be able to integrate the research finding, into their knowledge base and apply them in nursing practice. Also, the findings should contribute to the development and improvement of existing theory.  The existing knowledge, especially the nursing theoretical perspective from which the phenomenon was approached, should be analyzed by the researcher and in comparison to other research outcomes. Similarities amid the current knowledge base, and the research findings (through a practical approach), add strength to the findings, and existing knowledge, and hence the importance both theoretical and practical approaches. This will assist in the practitioners’ competency enhancement and the enhancement of the quality of offered services. The acquired knowledge also provides physicians with appropriate knowledge that assists them interpret and evaluate the research of others and in conducting quality research.

In a nut shell, it is imperative to employ both theoretical and practical in nurse training  in the nursing practice improvement.