Abstract
•Although there has been research conducted internationally on depressive symptoms in nurses, most studies have lacked a guiding theoretical framework. The Systemic Assessment of Depressive Symptoms among Registered Nurses (SAD-RN) situation-specific theory fills a needed gap.•Using depressive symptoms as the anchor, related emergent concepts of SAD-RN include context, stressors, protective factors, negative health outcomes, and low patient care quality.•This article offers practical implications to nurse researchers in testing the SAD-RN.•Addressing and alleviating depressive systems among RNs through validated SAD-RN can benefit the health care system, RNs, and patients the RNs serve in different parts of the world.
A mentally-healthy nursing workforce is vital to providing quality healthcare. While there has been research conducted internationally on depressive symptoms in nurses, most studies have lacked a theoretical framework.
The purpose of this article is to describe the development of a situation-specific theory, the Systemic Assessment of Depressive Symptoms among Registered Nurses (SAD-RN).
The SAD-RN was developed through theory synthesis using the Roy's Adaptation Model (RAM) as a framework. Sixty-four research articles were selected to abstract relevant concepts based on a priori RAM concepts.
Using depressive symptoms as the anchor concept, related emergent concepts of SAD-RN include context, stressors, protective factors, negative health outcomes, and low patient care quality.
SAD-RN is an evidence-based comprehensive model that offers researchers a guiding theory to be used in their future research on depressive symptoms among RNs.