Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia. Related to modifier: dangling modifier, misplaced modifier. Modifiers are, quite simply, any word or group of words that modifies (describes or elaborates upon) another element in a sentence. Modifiers can either be adjectives, which modify nouns (or sometimes pronouns), or adverbs, which modify pretty much everything else (usually verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs). Whether a modifier is an adjective or adverb depends on what it modifies and how it functions in a sentence.
Steven Edwards' Philosophy of Nursing is a book that must be read by any nursing school faculty member who teaches nursing theory as well as anyone interested in developing a more indepth understanding of the nature of nursing. This book is unique in that it examines nursing theory from a philosophical perspective.
Nurses should apply principles of human relations to the problems that arise at all levels of experience. Peplau's theory explains the phases of interpersonal process, roles in nursing situations and methods for studying nursing as an interpersonal process. Nursing is therapeutic in that it is a healing art, assisting an individual who is sick or in need of health care. Nursing is an interpersonal process because it involves interaction between two or more individuals with a common goal. The attainment of goal is achieved through the use of a series of steps following a series of pattern. The nurse and patient work together so both become mature and knowledgeable in the process.