Models of nursing: their relevance to the care of elderly people.

The adoption of nursing models has become widespread throughout the profession with little empirical evidence of their usefulness or critical evaluation. This paper gives an overview of the issues surrounding the development and use of models and presents research data which indicates that one model (Roper, Logan & Tierney's Activities of Living) is problematic in the long-term care of the elderly. The characteristics of this model which are problematic are common to other models and have relevance for other areas of nursing.