An instrument for theory and research development using the behavioral systems model for nursing: the cancer patient. Part I.

The initial steps in theory development and testing are analysis, theoretical development, operational definition, and measurement of concepts. For nursing models to be useful in research, practice, and education, their concepts should be treated as such. This paper presents the first three of such steps using the Behavioral Systems Model for Nursing. The steps of measurement and verification will be presented in subsequent papers in Nursing Research.