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Learn more: PMC Disclaimer | PMC Copyright Notice J Nurs Scholarsh . 2026 Apr 8;58(3):e70086. doi: 10.1111/jnu.70086 Search in PMC Search in PubMed View in NLM Catalog Add to search Updates of the Status Quo of Situation‐Specific Theories (2015–2025) Dongmi Kim Dongmi Kim 1 The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA Find articles by Dongmi Kim 1, ✉ , Eun‐Ok Im Eun‐Ok Im 1 The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA Find articles by Eun‐Ok Im 1 Author information Article notes Copyright and License information 1 The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA * Correspondence: Dongmi Kim ( [email protected] ) ✉ Corresponding author. Revised 2026 Mar 13; Received 2025 Oct 28; Accepted 2026 Mar 18; Issue date 2026 May. © 2026 The Author(s). Journal of Nursing Scholarship published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Sigma Theta Tau International. This is an open access article under the terms of the http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non‐commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made. PMC Copyright notice PMCID: PMC13062608 PMID: 41952368 ABSTRACT Introduction Situation‐specific theories (SSTs) have emerged as an important approach for bridging the gap between nursing theory, research, and clinical practice. Unlike grand or middle‐range theories, SSTs address specific nursing phenomena within clearly defined populations or contexts. Since their introduction, SSTs have gained prominence as tools for uniting empirical evidence, patient experience, and theoretical guidance. The purpose of this article is to provide an updated synthesis of nursing SSTs published between 2015 and 2025, mapping their purposes, target populations, theorizing methods, and linkages to research and clinical practice. Methods A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify SSTs published between 2015 and 2025. Five electronic databases were systematically searched using the keywords “situation‐specific theory”. Only peer‐reviewed, English‐language primary studies describing the development, testing, or application of SSTs were included. Titles, abstracts, and full texts were reviewed against inclusion criteria, resulting in 23 eligible studies. Data were extracted into a standardized table summarizing study characteristics, purposes, target populations, theorizing methods, and practice or research linkages. Findings were synthesized narratively to identify recurring themes and methodological trends in SST development, providing an integrated overview of the current state and application of SSTs. Results Five overarching themes were identified across the 23 studies: (a) Broadened Scope, (b) Purpose‐Driven Theorizing, (c) Dynamic Theory Lifecycle, (d) Methodological Maturity, and (e) Integration Across Practice, Education, and Research. Based on these findings, five recommendations are proposed: (a) Creative and Innovative Methods, (b) Collaborative and Interdisciplinary Development, (c) Broad Theoretical Integration, (d) Sustain Multi‐Source Synthesis, and (e) Ongoing Theory Testing and Refinement. Conclusions In summary, this review demonstrates that SSTs have evolved into dynamic, context‐sensitive frameworks that unite theory, research, and practice. Continued innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and empirical refinement will be essential to sustain their relevance and strengthen nursing's theoretical and clinical foundations. Clinical Relevance Utilizing SSTs in clinical settings may enhance the relevance and effectiveness of care by aligning interventions with the unique needs of particular patient populations or situations. Keywords: clinical practice, nursing practice, nursing theory, situation‐specific theories, systematic review, theory development 1. Introduction In the late 20th century, nursing scholars lamented a widening gap between theory and practice, noting a persistent “tension between theoretical vision and clinical wisdom” that threatened to render nursing knowledge disconnected from real‐world care (Saifan et al. 2021 ). This critique arose as patient populations diversified and clinical encounters grew more complex, prompting calls for theories explicitly tuned to social, cultural, and contextual variation in practice (Kim 1986 ). In response, Im and Meleis ( 1999 ) introduced the concept of situation‐specific theories (SSTs) as a new tier of nursing theory to address these challenges (Im and Meleis 1999 ). They defined SST as theories focusing on particular nursing phenomena within defined populations or clinical settings, deliberately bounded by time and place rather than aiming for universal generalization. These theories were envisioned as practical “blueprints for action” in practice, more clinically explicit than grand or mid‐range models (Im 2005 ). Im outlined core SST properties: low abstraction, explicit contextualization, direct linkage to research and practice, incorporation of patient and cultural diversity, and deliberate limits on broad generalizability (Im 2021 ). By design, SSTs occupy a different tier in the nursing knowledge hierarchy. Grand theories offer broad, abstract frameworks, and middle‐range theories address general phenomena, but SSTs deliberately narrow their lens to the specifics of a situation (Im and Meleis 2021 ). For example, when theories are ranked by level of abstraction (grand→middle→situation‐specific), SSTs have been argued to be the “best theories” for studying complex clinical issues because they focus on defined populations or practice domains (Im and Meleis 1999 ). Despite this narrow scope, SSTs still employ rigorous theory‐development methods: scholars note that only minor modifications to standard evaluative criteria are needed, since SSTs share many features with middle‐range theory except for their limited generalizability (Provencher and Fawcett 2024 ). Over the past two decades, the SST approach has gained momentum. Since Im and Meleis's seminal paper, nursing scholars have published an increasing number of articles developing new SSTs (Im 2014a ). Im ( 2014b ) conducted the first integrative review of SSTs covering publications from 1999 through 2013, noting the burgeoning interest in this theoretical form (Im 2014b ). More recently, Provencher and Fawcett ( 2024 ) observe that “many situation‐specific theories have been developed during the past several years” (Provencher and Fawcett 2024 ). These emerging SSTs span a wide range of practice domains—from chronic illness self‐care to culturally specific transitions and end‐of‐life communication—reflecting both new theory construction and attendant empirical studies (Gonella et al. 2023 ; Riegel et al. 2022 ). Many SSTs have been explicitly tested or refined through qualitative and quantitative research, and some have been updated over time (e.g., Riegel et al.'s heart failure self‐care SST, originally published in 2008 and updated in 2016). In practice, SSTs are increasingly used to inform targeted interventions and assessments for specific patient populations (Gonella et al. 2023 ). In light of this proliferation of theory development, empirical scholarship, and clinical application, an updated synthesis of SSTs in nursing is clearly needed. This article presents an integrated literature review of nursing SSTs published between 2015 and 2025. We systematically searched multiple scholarly databases to identify SSTs introduced or elaborated during this period. In doing so, we build on Im's earlier review by extending the coverage to the most recent decade of theory work. The purpose of this article is to map the current landscape of SSTs, examining their stated purposes, the populations and contexts they target, the methods used for theorizing, and how each theory links to research evidence or clinical practice. 2. Methods 2.1. Search Strategy We conducted a comprehensive database search to identify situation‐specific theories (SST) published between 2015 and 2025. This review was conducted as a scoping review, with the aim of mapping the breadth, characteristics, and applications of SSTs across disciplines, rather than evaluating intervention effectiveness or synthesizing outcome evidence. Five electronic databases were searched: PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. The search strategy employed the keyword string “situation‐specific theory” OR “situation specific theory” (exact and un‐hyphenated forms) to capture all relevant titles and abstracts (Table 1 ). No controlled vocabulary (e.g., MeSH) was used, as there is no dedicated subject heading for SST. Search results were limited by publication date (2015–2025). This review was intentionally limited to theories that were explicitly identified by their authors as situation‐specific theories (SSTs). We did not attempt to retrospectively classify theories as SSTs based on conceptual characteristics or level of abstraction. While this approach may have excluded theoretically relevant work that functions at a situation‐specific level but is not labeled as such, it enhances transparency, reproducibility, and conceptual fidelity to the original authors' theoretical intent. TABLE 1. Search strategies. Databases Search terms PubMed (46) “situation‐specific theory” OR “situation specific theory” CINAHL (40) “situation‐specific theory” OR “situation specific theory” PsycINFO (29) “situation‐specific theory” OR “situation specific theory” EMBASE (61) “situation‐specific theory” OR “situation specific theory” Web of Science (178) “situation‐specific theory” OR “situation specific theory” Open in a new tab 2.2. Eligibility Criteria Articles were included if they were primary reports explicitly involving a situation‐specific theory. Eligible publications presented the development, testing, or application of an SST in nursing or related health fields, published between 2015 and 2025. Only peer‐reviewed journal articles written in English were included. We excluded all gray literature, such as dissertations, theses, conference abstracts, opinion pieces, commentaries, book chapters, and editorials because these are not peer‐reviewed primary studies. To capture the full scope of SST usages, we did not restrict to nursing contexts: SSTs from other disciplines were included if they met the SST definition. This inclusive approach is consistent with the exploratory purpose of scoping reviews and was intended to reflect the diverse contexts in which SSTs have been employed. 2.3. Study Selection and Data Extraction Search results were imported into citation‐management software and duplicates were removed. After duplicate articles ( n = 147) were removed, Covidence, a software for facilitating the literature review process, was employed to screen the articles. Titles and abstracts of the remaining records were screened against the inclusion criteria ( n = 207); full texts were retrieved for any potentially relevant reports ( n = 39). Each full text was then assessed to confirm eligibility, and reasons for exclusion were documented (e.g., not related to the situation‐specific theory development ( n = 7) and full text unavailable ( n = 7), not written in English ( n = 2)). As a result, 23 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final review and synthesis (Figure 1 ). FIGURE 1. Open in a new tab PRISMA flow diagram included searches of databases and registers only (Page et al. 2021 ). Using a standardized data‐extraction form, we collected key information from each included study. Data were extracted into the data extraction table shown in Table 2 . The data extraction table was organized into five categories: (1) Study Characteristics (authors, year, and title); (2) Purpose (study aim or research question); (3) Target Population; (4) Theorizing Methods; and (5) Practice/Research Links. These elements were summarized from each study to facilitate comparison across SSTs. Consistent with scoping review methodology, we did not use a formal risk‐of‐bias appraisal or multiple independent reviewers. Transparency and rigor were instead supported through documentation for exclusion reasons and team‐based consensus discussion for records with uncertain eligibility. TABLE 2. Date extraction table. Author (Year) Purpose Theorizing methods Linkage to practice/research Emond et al. ( 2024 ) To describe the development of SST of compassionate care for parents experiencing miscarriage in the emergency department (ED) Integrative Approach using literature review, two empirical studies, transitions Theory as conceptual foundation, collaborative efforts of an experienced interdisciplinary team Provided directions for future research and practice in improving ED care for parents experiencing miscarriage and supporting further development of SSTs in nursing Awamura and Sakashita ( 2025 ) To develop a SST describing and explaining the transition process of stroke survivors with dysphagia Integrative approach using literature review, qualitative findings, and application of transition theory Provided directions for practice (supporting stroke survivors in adapting to dysphagia during transition) and research (further testing and refinement of the SST in diverse contexts) Baird and Reed ( 2015 ) To design SST for guiding interventions that support immigrants and refugees in navigating and adapting to cultural transitions Integrative approach (Not specified) using literature review, and theoretical analysis to extend liminality into a situation‐specific theoretical framework Provided directions for practice (nursing interventions to support persons in cultural transition) and for future research (further testing and refinement of the concept of liminality within nursing practice) Dias Aldrighi et al. ( 2024 ) To develop a SST in nursing that explains women's transition to motherhood after age 35 without reproductive planning Integrative approach using literature review, qualitative research, concepts deduced from Meleis's Transition Theory, and the researchers' own experience Provided directions for practice (guidelines for differentiated care to support this specific population, including psychosocial and reproductive health interventions) and for future research (expanding theoretical and scientific nursing knowledge through further development and validation of an SST that illuminates the unique characteristics and challenges of the population) Furtado‐Eraso et al. ( 2024 ) To develop a preliminary, situation‐specific nursing theory that deeply examines the emotional experiences of women who have suffered spontaneous perinatal loss (at any trimester) Integrative approach (Not specified) using grounded theory approach with qualitative study data to inductively derive core concepts underpinning the SST Provided directions for practice (nursing strategies to support women through emotional turmoil following perinatal loss) and for research (a theoretical basis for future studies to examine women's experiences of perinatal grief, validate the identified stages of loss) Gonella et al. ( 2023 ) To present a SST of end‐of‐life communication in nursing homes Integrative approach combining literature review, empirical evidence (qualitative and qualitative findings), clinical experiences and clinical discussions with nurses, physicians, psychologists, NH managers and (discussions with international colleagues) Provided directions for practice (guidance for nurses and staff on effective end‐of‐life communication strategies tailored to nursing home settings) and this theory can guide research focused on structuring communication skills interventions for healthcare professionals Herber et al. ( 2019 ) To advance a new SST of barriers and facilitators for self‐care in patients with heart failure, building on findings from qualitative meta‐summary and meta‐synthesis Integrative approach utilized qualitative meta‐summary to aggregate findings from prior studies, followed by meta‐synthesis to integrate them into a higher‐level conceptual framework In practice, provides guidance for healthcare professionals to recognize and address key barriers and facilitators of heart failure self‐care, while also offering a framework for research and interventions that enhance outcomes and reduce hospitalizations Hirano et al. ( 2023 ) To develop a SST that supports health management in patients with heart failure Integrative approach combining a literature review, Orem's Self‐Care Theory as a conceptual foundation, and insights from clinical practice In practice, this SST allows nurses to recognize signs and symptoms of ineffective health management in outpatients with heart failure and guides them in how to act in these scenarios. In research, it provides a framework to evaluate and refine interventions that improve self‐care and clinical outcomes Hirano et al. ( 2025 ) To update and refine the situation‐specific theory (SST) for health management in heart failure Integrative approach (not specified) utilizing Delphi study methodology with multiple rounds of expert consensus to validate and expand the SST In practice, the updated SST provides nurses with refined guidance to identify and intervene in cases of ineffective health management in heart failure. In research, it establishes a validated theoretical framework to support ongoing evaluation and development of targeted interventions for this patient population Hodgson et al. ( 2024 ) To develop a SST explaining the social‐ecological resilience processes of Indigenous adolescents in the United States and Canada Integrative approach drawing on literature review, empirical findings, clinical experiences and existing social‐ecological frameworks In practice, this SST offers culturally sensitive guidance for nurses to support resilience‐building interventions among Indigenous adolescents. In research, it provides a framework to further explore resilience processes and evaluate culturally informed health promotion strategies Im et al. ( 2015 ) To present a SST —SPAKIM—explaining the physical activity experience of midlife Korean immigrant women Integrative approach using literature review, two empirical studies (Quantitative & Qualitative findings), existing theory (Transitions Theory) Provides directions for practice (tailoring physical activity promotion programs that address cultural attitudes, transition conditions, and daily life contexts specific to Korean immigrant midlife women); also suggests further development and evaluation of SPAKIM's concepts in future research Jin and Peng ( 2022 ) To develop a SST that explains and guides culturally tailored, nurse‐led self‐management for Chinese patients with heart failure Integrative approach using a literature review, clinical experiences, existing theories (Leininger's culture care theory and Prochaska's transtheoretical model) In practice, this SST provides culturally tailored guidelines for nurses to support Chinese patients' heart failure self‐management, considering sociocultural beliefs and practices. In research, this theory offers a framework for testing and refining culturally specific interventions to improve self‐management and outcomes in Chinese patients with heart failure Lee and Song ( 2021 ) To develop a SST to explain nurses' experiences of the COVID‐19 crisis Integrative approach (not explicably mentioned) using grounded theory approach with qualitative study data Practice: Offers insights into nursing challenges and needs during pandemics, promoting targeted support, resilience training, and organizational preparedness. Research: Lays groundwork for further studies on nurse well‐being, coping strategies, and systems‐level responses to health crises Lee ( 2018 ) To develop a SST that explains and guides nursing care for older adult populations and their families Integrative approach (Not explicably mentioned) using empirical research (focus group interviews with nurses) and existing theory (Watson's Theory of Human Caring) Practice: Provides nurses with a framework to deliver person‐centered, goal‐concordant geropalliative care through four domains: aligning care, keeping safe, comforting body–mind–spirit, and facilitating transitions. Enhances effectiveness in advocating for older adults' values and preferences Research: Offers a theoretical foundation for evaluating and refining geropalliative care models, supporting further exploration of well‐being outcomes, moral distress reduction, and the effectiveness of primary palliative care interventions Micheluzzi et al. ( 2025 ) To develop a SST that explains and guides the use of immersive virtual reality (VR) in rehabilitation for patients with disabilities Integrative approach (Not explicably mentioned) combining literature review and existing theory (Neuman system model) Research: This theory lays a foundation for future nursing research focused on enhancing adherence to rehabilitation among patients with disabilities, thereby advancing outcomes in an area that remains relatively underexplored Practice: This theory offers practical guidance by enabling nurses overseeing rehabilitation to incorporate immersive virtual reality (iVR) into care protocols, both to improve patient outcomes and to validate the theory in clinical settings Riegel et al. ( 2016 ) To revise and update the SST of Heart Failure Self‐Care, reflecting advancements in science and practice Integrative approach using literature review This theory offers a refined theoretical model for empirical testing for research and provides a framework for nurses and clinicians to guide patient education, monitoring, and self‐care decision‐making in heart failure Riegel et al. ( 2022 ) To update and expand the Situation‐Specific Theory of Heart Failure Self‐Care by incorporating new insights about the problem, the person, and environmental factors influencing self‐care Integrative approach using literature review Both clinical practice and research need to account for the interactions of problem, person, and environmental factors that influence heart failure self‐care decision making, applying these considerations in patient care and guiding future studies Ross et al. ( 2020 ) To develop a SST that explains depressive symptoms among registered nurses through a systemic lens, addressing individual, organizational, and professional factors Integrative approach using literature review, nursing theory (Roy Adaptation Model), and Collaborative efforts The theory guides future research on depressive symptoms among registered nurses and, by addressing and alleviating these symptoms, ultimately benefits patients, the healthcare system, and nurses themselves Smith et al. ( 2025 ) To develop a situation‐specific biopsychosocial model explaining the multidimensional experience of pain in patients with heart failure (The BPS‐HF) Integrative approach using literature review and existing theory (Biopsychosocial model of pain) The BPS‐HF model should be further evaluated through additional research, and its integration into models of care could support a more holistic and individualized approach to pain assessment Smith et al. ( 2024 ) To develop a SST addressing cardiovascular disease (CVD) management among African American emerging adults Integrative approach using literature review, and existing nursing theory (Theory of planned behavior) Researchers can use this theory to design studies that target multidimensional risk factors for cardiovascular disease in African American emerging adults, while also guiding clinical practice and prevention interventions tailored to this population Teixeira et al. ( 2021 ) To develop a SST that explains the phenomenon of nutritional deficits in children with cancer Integrative approach (Not explicably mentioned) using literature review and existing nursing theory (Roy Adaptation Model) This theory can assist nurses in the early identification of nutritional deficits in children with cancer, given their heightened risk related to the disease and its treatment, while further empirical testing is needed to validate and strengthen the theory Willis et al. ( 2015 ) To develop a SST that explains the healing process of men who experienced childhood maltreatment Integrative approach (Not explicably mentioned) using findings of a hermeneutic phenomenological study and existing theory (Rogers' science of unitary human beings) This theory provides guidance for nurses to support men's healing by acknowledging suffering and fostering resilience and offers a theoretical foundation for further empirical studies Yang et al. ( 2022 ) To develop an SST that explains how Korean patients with chronic kidney failure on hemodialysis achieve a healthy life despite illness burdens Integrative approach using literature review, existing framework (network episode model), a review of related literature, and findings from three qualitative and one quantitative study The theory can guide nurses and healthcare professionals in designing interventions that promote self‐management behaviors and improve health‐related outcomes among Korean CKF patients on hemodialysis, while further survey and intervention studies are needed to test and validate the theory's factors and interrelationships Open in a new tab 2.4. Data Synthesis Findings from the included studies were synthesized using a narrative, descriptive approach, which is consistent with established guidelines for scoping reviews (Levac et al. 2010 ). Narrative synthesis is a textual approach that organizes and describes study findings when statistical pooling is not feasible (Lisy and Porritt 2016 ). Narrative synthesis provides “a first step in looking systematically at, and organizing, the data” and enables comparison of theories across contexts (Ryan 2013 ). In our synthesis, we systematically examined the extracted data to identify common patterns, themes, and differences across SST development. An inductive thematic approach was used to guide the synthesis. Initial codes were generated from the extracted data fields and applied across all included studies. These codes were then iteratively compared and grouped into higher‐order categories based on conceptual similarity. Through constant comparison across studies and team discussion, categories were refined into a set of five overarching final themes that captured recurring conceptual patterns across the 23 included studies: (a) Broadened Scope, (b) Purpose‐Driven Theorizing, (c) Dynamic Theory Lifecycle, (d) Methodological Maturity, and (e) Integration Across Practice, Education, and Research. To enhance transparency and auditability, each included study was mapped to one or more synthesis themes based on its stated purpose, population and setting, theorizing approach, and practice/research implications. This mapping is presented in Table 3 , which demonstrates how individual studies contributed to the development of the five overarching themes. TABLE 3. Mapping of included studies to synthesis themes. Author (Year) Broadened scope Purpose‐driven theorizing Dynamic theory lifecycle Methodological maturity Integration across practice, education, & research Dias Aldrighi et al. ( 2024 ) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Awamura and Sakashita ( 2025 ) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Baird and Reed ( 2015 ) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Emond et al. ( 2024 ) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Furtado‐Eraso et al. ( 2024 ) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Gonella et al. ( 2023 ) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Herber et al. ( 2019 ) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Hirano et al. ( 2023 ) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Hirano et al. ( 2025 ) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Hodgson et al. ( 2024 ) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Im et al. ( 2015 ) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Jin and Peng ( 2022 ) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Lee and Song ( 2021 ) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Lee ( 2018 ) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Micheluzzi et al. ( 2025 ) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Riegel et al. ( 2016 ) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Riegel et al. ( 2022 ) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Ross et al. ( 2020 ) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Smith et al. ( 2025 ) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Smith et al. ( 2024 ) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Teixeira et al. ( 2021 ) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Willis et al. ( 2015 ) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Yang et al. ( 2022 ) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Open in a new tab Note: ✓ indicates that the study contributed substantively to the corresponding synthesis theme. Themes were not mutually exclusive; most studies informed multiple thematic categories. 3. Results 3.1. Broadened Scope Emerging SSTs from 2015 to 2025 demonstrate a wide breadth of clinical applications, consistent with Im and Meleis' original intent that SSTs be tightly bounded to a phenomenon, population, and context (Im and Meleis 1999 ). By condition, chronic illness self‐care continues to dominate the field. Heart failure (HF) is the most extensively theorized, with multiple SSTs dedicated to self‐care and symptom management (Herber et al. 2019 ; Hirano et al. 2023 ; Jin and Peng 2022 ; Riegel et al. 2016 ; Smith et al. 2025 ). These works represent not only initial theory construction but also systematic refinement and updating over time, highlighting HF as a “test‐bed” for SST development. Beyond HF, other chronic conditions have also been targeted such as chronic kidney disease self‐care for Korean patients on hemodialysis (Yang et al. 2022 ), and nutritional deficits in pediatric oncology (Teixeira et al. 2021 ). Stroke survivors with dysphagia illustrate expansion into post‐acute rehabilitation contexts (Awamura and Sakashita 2025 ), while new psychosocial domains include depressive symptoms among nurses and organizational well‐being (Ross et al. 2020 ). Reproductive and perinatal conditions have also been addressed, with theories of miscarriage care in the emergency department (Emond et al. 2024 ), perinatal loss (Furtado‐Eraso et al. 2024 ), and late motherhood transition after age 35 (Dias Aldrighi et al. 2024 ). Together, these works show that SSTs are increasingly addressing conditions that blend physiological, psychological, and relational dimensions. By population, SSTs have increasingly targeted specific cultural, demographic, and role‐defined groups. Immigrant and ethnic populations are well represented, with Korean immigrant women's physical activity experiences (Im et al. 2015 ), culturally tailored HF self‐care among Chinese patients (Jin and Peng 2022 ), and cardiovascular risk management among African American emerging adults (Smith et al. 2025 ), Other SSTs focus on Indigenous adolescents' resilience (Hodgson et al. 2024 ), families navigating end‐of‐life communication in nursing homes (Gonella et al. 2023 ), care for older adults as well as the quality of life of their family caregivers (Lee 2018 ). Parent‐focused SSTs have emerged in bereavement contexts, such as compassionate care for parents experiencing miscarriage (Emond et al. 2024 ). Importantly, SSTs have also begun to explore organizational and workforce issues, such as nursing organizational well‐being, systemic assessment of depressive symptoms among nurses (Ross et al. 2020 ), and nurses' experiences during the COVID‐19 crisis (Lee and Song 2021 ). Finally, innovative areas of theorizing include immersive virtual reality in rehabilitation (Micheluzzi et al. 2025 ) and geropalliative care for older adults (Lee 2018 ). These developments mark a notable broadening from patient‐only models toward family, caregiver, vulnerable populations, and workforce populations. By setting, SSTs situate theories within concrete practice environments. In acute care and emergency departments, miscarriage care has been theorized as a transition process requiring sensitive, time‐limited interventions (Emond et al. 2024 ). In long‐term care, theories of end‐of‐life communication highlight staff–family interaction patterns unique to nursing homes (Gonella et al. 2023 ). Community and home settings remain central to chronic illness SSTs, with HF, CKD, asthma, and stroke survivors illustrating how theories inform daily routines, self‐care, and caregiver involvement outside hospital settings. Rehabilitation settings have seen innovation, such as immersive virtual reality as a nursing intervention for disability care (Micheluzzi et al. 2025 ). Perinatal and neonatal settings are also emerging, including SSTs of perinatal loss (Furtado‐Eraso et al. 2024 ). Across these settings, SSTs consistently anchor their scope to practice contexts where nurses are central actors and interventions can be clearly delineated. In summary, the current status quo demonstrates that SSTs are flourishing across a wide range of clinical domains, which broadened the scope of SST development and applications. Overall, SSTs target clearly defined conditions, populations, and settings—as envisioned by Im and Meleis—spanning chronic disease self‐care, transitional experiences, cultural contexts, vulnerable populations, organizational well‐being, and emerging clinical issues (Im and Meleis 1999 ). Their proliferation reflects the growing sophistication of nursing science, providing mid‐range, context‐grounded frameworks that are actionable in clinical practice where generic theories may be insufficient. 3.2. Purpose‐Driven Theorizing The literature on SSTs in nursing demonstrates that scholars increasingly emphasize the practical and contextual purpose of theory building. Rather than positioning SSTs as abstract contributions, authors consistently identify highly targeted goals that align with the immediate needs of patients, caregivers, clinicians, or health systems. These purposes vary across populations and settings but share a unifying concern with improving the fit between nursing theory and real‐world challenges. One of the most prominent purposes in recent SST work is the articulation of lived experiences that are underrepresented in broader theoretical models. Researchers have designed theories to capture the meaning of miscarriage in emergency departments or the grief of perinatal loss (Emond et al. 2024 ; Furtado‐Eraso et al. 2024 ). By focusing on emotional, social, and identity‐related aspects of these experiences, such SSTs aim to create conceptual clarity where practice is often fragmented. The purpose here is both explanatory and transformative: to validate patient perspectives while offering nurses a clearer guide for compassionate, individualized care. Another frequent purpose is to guide disease‐specific management and self‐care. Chronic illness settings—such as heart failure, kidney failure, asthma, and cardiovascular disease—have generated a wide range of SSTs (Herber et al. 2019 ; Hirano et al. 2023 ; Jin and Peng 2022 ; Kim and Kim 2020 ; Riegel et al. 2016 , 2022 ; Smith et al. 2024 , 2025 ; Yang et al. 2022 ). The intent is not to reinvent self‐management theories but to contextualize them for the complexities of particular diseases and populations. For example, a theory developed for Chinese and Korean patients explicitly embeds cultural beliefs, daily practices, and sociostructural barriers into its explanations of how patients engage in self‐care (Jin and Peng 2022 ). In these cases, the purpose of SST development is to deliver culturally sensitive and clinically actionable frameworks that improve adherence, reduce complications, and ultimately shape tailored interventions. SSTs also pursue the purpose of supporting transitional or crisis processes. Theories on motherhood after advanced maternal age, resilience among Indigenous adolescents, or nurses' experiences during the COVID‐19 pandemic share a common aim: to illuminate the challenges that arise when individuals or groups face profound disruption or transformation (Dias Aldrighi et al. 2024 ; Hodgson et al. 2024 ; Lee and Song 2021 ). These purposes are forward‐looking, offering not only descriptions of what individuals endure but also pathways for designing interventions that foster resilience, adaptation, and recovery. 3.3. Dynamic Theory Lifecycle While much of the early SST literature was oriented toward developing new models to meet these varied purposes, a recent and important trend is the explicit updating and refinement of existing SSTs. This marks a significant step in the maturation of the SST movement, as the purpose shifts from creation alone to sustained consolidation and validation. These update papers typically have the same overall structure but focus on new evidence. For example, Riegel and colleagues described their work as a “revised and updated” theory of heart failure self‐care (Riegel et al. 2016 , 2022 ). They systematically reviewed recent HF research to modify the model's factors and add new propositions (Riegel et al. 2022 ). Similarly, Hirano et al. explicitly aimed to “present its respective update” of a heart failure management SST by using a Delphi consensus process (Hirano et al. 2023 ). In their Delphi study, experts validated the theory's elements (with > 80% agreement) and suggested refinements to the relationships among factors (Hirano et al. 2023 ). This marks one of the first explicit uses of formal consensus methodology to update an SST, setting a precedent for collaborative, evidence‐informed revision. In these cases, the updated SSTs retained the original conceptual structure (concepts and propositions) while integrating new findings or expert feedback. These updates highlight the evolving maturity of SST work: as more empirical studies accumulate, scholars are moving from initial theory construction toward iterative testing, refinement, and consolidation. The central purposes of SST publications fall into two complementary categories: generating new theories that explain and guide practice in areas overlooked by broader models, and updating prior SSTs to ensure their continued relevance in light of emerging research and expert consensus. This dual orientation illustrates both the responsiveness of nursing theory to immediate practice concerns and its growing commitment to sustained theoretical development. By foregrounding purpose—whether creating or updating—SST scholars strengthen nursing's capacity to deliver care that is empirically grounded, culturally sensitive, and adaptable to the shifting landscapes of health and illness. 3.4. Methodological Maturity All of the identified SST development studies use integrative, multi‐source approaches ( n = 23) even though some are not explicitly mentioned as an integrative approach ( n = 10). Authors typically begin with extensive literature reviews and then combine those findings with other inputs. For example, Im ( 2021 ) found that SSTs are “developed using multiple sources of theorizing such as existing theories, literature reviews, research findings, and clinical exemplars” (Herber et al. 2019 ). Across the broader literature, literature reviews remain the most common source for theorizing ( n = 18), identified in roughly two‐thirds of SST development process (Riegel et al. 2016 , 2022 ). These reviews were not limited to descriptive summaries; rather, they often adopted integrative or systematic formats, synthesizing findings across qualitative, quantitative, and mixed‐methods research. For example, updated SSTs in heart failure self‐care relied on comprehensive syntheses of studies, survey findings, and patient‐reported outcomes (Riegel et al. 2016 , 2022 ). Literature reviews thus function as a scaffolding process: they consolidate diverse empirical insights and identify conceptual gaps that require theoretical integration. In this way, they both refine existing SSTs and generate propositions for new ones. Other theorizing approaches ( n = 15) include theoretical reasoning, derivation, and triangulation, often applied when researchers seek to harmonize an SST with related mid‐range theories or to incorporate perspectives from adjacent disciplines (Awamura and Sakashita 2025 ; Dias Aldrighi et al. 2024 ; Emond et al. 2024 ; Hirano et al. 2023 ; Hodgson et al. 2024 ; Im et al. 2015 ; Jin and Peng 2022 ; Lee and Song 2021 ; Micheluzzi et al. 2025 ; Ross et al. 2020 ; Smith et al. 2024 , 2025 ; Teixeira et al. 2021 ; Willis et al. 2015 ; Yang et al. 2022 ). In practice, most SST papers we reviewed indeed synthesize prior theory and evidence: many explicitly cite existing nursing or behavioral theories as a foundation and then weave in new empirical data. Quantitative and qualitative research findings ( n = 11) are often incorporated (e.g., through prior studies or new survey/focus‐group data) to inductively derive key concepts (Awamura and Sakashita 2025 ; Dias Aldrighi et al. 2024 ; Furtado‐Eraso et al. 2024 ; Gonella et al. 2023 ; Hirano et al. 2023 ; Hodgson et al. 2024 ; Im et al. 2015 ; Lee and Song 2021 ; Lee 2018 ; Willis et al. 2015 ; Yang et al. 2022 ). Among them, three SSTs were built from grounded theory studies and phenomenology, linking rich qualitative insights with broader theory (Furtado‐Eraso et al. 2024 ; Lee and Song 2021 ; Willis et al. 2015 ). These approaches allowed scholars to capture lived experiences directly from patients, families, and clinicians, generating context‐specific concepts that generalized frameworks could not provide. Two studies in this review explicitly used mixed‐method designs to develop their situation‐specific theories (Im et al. 2015 ; Yang et al. 2022 ). This iterative triangulation of qualitative and quantitative strands ensured that the resulting SSTs were not only richly descriptive but also empirically substantiated. By blending inductive construct generation with deductive testing, these studies exemplify the methodological rigor that characterizes recent SST development. Clinical experiences and practice‐based wisdom also played a prominent role ( n = 4) (Gonella et al. 2023 ; Hirano et al. 2023 ; Hodgson et al. 2024 ; Jin and Peng 2022 ). Many SSTs explicitly incorporated frontline nurses' reflections, case exemplars, or practice workshops, ensuring that theory remained grounded in care realities. For instance, Gonella et al. ( 2023 ) on end‐of‐life communication in nursing homes and Hirano et al. ( 2023 ) on health management in heart failure were both grounded in clinical experiences, ensuring that their theoretical frameworks reflected real‐world practice contexts. Collaboration has become another hallmark. Several SSTs were developed through interdisciplinary and cross‐cultural teams that integrated nursing, medicine, psychology, and social science. For instance, Emond et al. ( 2024 ) partnered with emergency nurses and perinatal care experts, while Gonella et al. ( 2023 ) had clinical discussions with nurses, physicians, psychologists, NH managers, and international colleagues. Such efforts broadened both conceptual rigor and practical application. Together, these developments mark a shift: SSTs are no longer static, one‐time constructs but dynamic models continually refined through empirical testing, clinical application, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Literature reviews remain the most frequent strategy for theory development, but new consensus methods, focused interviews, and mixed‐method triangulation illustrate an evolving maturity. The trend toward a systematic approach demonstrates nursing science's recognition that theories must evolve alongside clinical realities and patient needs. 3.5. Integration Across Nursing Practice, Education and Research Consistent with the original conceptualization of SSTs as “blueprints for action,” nearly all SSTs published between 2015 and 2025 explicitly anchor their frameworks in clinical practice while simultaneously articulating research agendas. This dual integration underscores SSTs' distinctive role in nursing science: bridging abstract theorizing with tangible practice implications and ongoing scholarly refinement. Most SSTs translate their theoretical constructs into practice‐oriented strategies, emphasizing the development of tailored assessments, interventions, and care protocols. For instance, Emond et al. ( 2024 ) proposed a miscarriage care theory for emergency departments (EDs), outlining compassionate communication strategies, supportive presence, and sensitivity to the unique emotional needs of grieving parents. In contrast, Riegel et al. ( 2016 , 2022 ) focused on chronic illness self‐care, offering nursing frameworks for daily monitoring, medication adherence, and lifestyle modification in heart failure patients. Jin and Peng ( 2022 ) extended this line of work by embedding cultural tailoring in Chinese patients' self‐management of heart failure, recommending culturally sensitive patient education and dietary guidance. Other SSTs inform highly specific clinical practices. Gonella et al. ( 2023 ) articulated a framework for end‐of‐life communication in nursing homes, delineating competencies in listening, truth‐telling, and relational care. Dias Aldrighi et al. ( 2024 ) introduced a theory to guide care for women experiencing late motherhood transitions, integrating risk monitoring with psychosocial support. Lee ( 2018 ) proposed the Geropalliative Caring Model for older adults, recommending structured approaches to spiritual care, family engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Collectively, these examples demonstrate how SSTs provide clinicians with actionable, context‐specific strategies that extend beyond what more generic middle‐range theories can offer. SSTs frequently highlight their utility for guiding nursing assessments and clinical decision‐making. Many theories propose operational definitions of constructs (e.g., resilience, adaptation, self‐care confidence) that can be directly integrated into patient evaluations. For example, Smith et al. ( 2025 ) proposed a biopsychosocial model of pain in heart failure that identifies multidimensional assessment points—physical, psychological, and social—that can be integrated into clinical pain protocols. Similarly, Im et al. ( 2015 ) provided culturally grounded constructs for assessing immigrant women's adaptation and physical activity behaviors, while Baird and Reed ( 2015 ) provided frameworks for how immigrants and refugees navigate and adapt to cultural transitions. Several SSTs explicitly note their potential to inform nursing education. By offering context‐grounded conceptual maps, SSTs help structure curricula around real‐world challenges. For instance, Emond et al. ( 2024 ) emphasized how their theory could be used to train ED nurses in miscarriage care through simulation and reflective practice. Hirano et al. ( 2025 ) using Delphi consensus to refine a heart failure management theory, recommended embedding the updated model into continuing education modules for cardiac nurses. Beyond specialized domains, theory on organizational well‐being has potential for nurse workforce training, particularly in resilience and stress management (Ross et al. 2020 ). Alongside practice implications, SSTs consistently propose research directions that reinforce iterative testing and refinement. Many authors emphasize the need to empirically validate theoretical constructs, often calling for mixed‐methods or longitudinal studies. For instance, Jin and Peng ( 2022 ) explicitly framed their theory as a basis for testing culturally tailored interventions, while Hirano et al. ( 2025 ) described how their Delphi‐refined model could support the development of new measurement instruments. While all nursing theories are intended to be examined and refined through research, SSTs are distinctive in the extent to which they explicitly foreground current clinical practice problems and articulate direct linkage between theoretical propositions, nursing actions, and empirical inquiry. This systematic linkage—clinical action on one hand, scholarly testing on the other—marks SSTs as distinctive within nursing theory. Each theory simultaneously provides immediate guidance for nursing care and sets the stage for research that can refine, validate, or expand its propositions. As a result, SSTs function not merely as conceptual frameworks but as dynamic tools that drive a cycle of practice‐informed research and research‐informed practice. 4. Recommendations and Future Directions 4.1. Creative and Innovative Methods The next phase of SST development must embrace innovation in methodological approaches. The findings of this review suggest that while the last decade has been marked by a proliferation of SSTs grounded in qualitative studies, especially grounded theory and phenomenology. Notably, computational or data‐driven methods were not identified among the included studies, which could offer substantial promise for advancing the field. In light of this observed gap, future SST scholarship may benefit from selectively exploring innovative methodological approaches. For example, large electronic health record datasets could be mined to identify patterns in symptom progression or self‐care adherence that might inform new conceptual categories. Similarly, natural language processing could analyze patient narratives at scale, detecting common emotional or experiential trajectories that can be theorized into context‐specific models. Beyond computational methods, future research could also consider innovative designs such as network analysis or systems modeling to better capture the relational and dynamic nature of phenomena often theorized in SSTs. Chronic illness management, for instance, involves continuous interaction between patients, caregivers, and providers. Computational simulations could generate insights about feedback loops or thresholds that trigger changes in behavior—insights that qualitative interviews alone may not uncover. Innovative methodological pluralism will ensure that SSTs remain sensitive to complexity while also broadening their empirical base. Importantly, these approaches are proposed as future research directions rather than methods currently demonstrated within the reviewed SST literature. Any movement toward methodological innovation should remain balanced with rigor. Data mining and computational methods should not replace the interpretive depth of qualitative inquiry but complement it. A combined approach—integrating inductive insights from qualitative work with predictive insights from computational methods—would represent the next generation of SST methodology. Such integration could also encourage stronger translational pathways, as computational outputs often lend themselves to decision‐support tools or clinical dashboards that directly embed theory into practice. 4.2. Collaborative and Interdisciplinary Development Another potential direction for SST scholarship is the expansion of collaborative, interdisciplinary, and cross‐cultural development. Future SST development may benefit from the integration of diverse voices, not only across nursing subspecialties but also across disciplines such as medicine, psychology, sociology, and public health. For example, Emond et al. ( 2024 ) miscarriage care theory brought together nursing faculty, emergency nurses, and experts in perinatal care, allowing the theory to reflect both psychosocial and clinical dimensions of care Emond et al. ( 2024 ). These collaborative approaches yielded theories that were both conceptually rigorous and practically grounded. However, interdisciplinary, cross‐cultural, and stakeholder‐engaged approaches were not consistently documented across the included studies. Future projects could explore institutionalizing such partnerships through interdisciplinary research teams, multi‐country Delphi panels, and co‐design processes with clinicians and patients. Equally important as a future consideration is collaboration across national and cultural contexts. Nursing phenomena are deeply shaped by cultural meanings, health systems, and social determinants. By engaging cross‐national teams, SSTs can evolve into frameworks that retain contextual specificity while also demonstrating cross‐contextual applicability. For example, caregiver burden or resilience may manifest differently in East Asian and Western settings (Duangjina et al. 2025 ), yet collaboration could highlight both commonalities and divergences, enriching theoretical propositions. Many of the SSTs reviewed—such as Hodgson et al.'s ( 2024 ) work on Indigenous adolescent resilience or Jin and Peng's ( 2022 ) culturally tailored heart failure theory—demonstrate the importance of embedding cultural expertise into theorizing. The inclusion of patient and caregiver stakeholders in theory building represents another area for future development, as their experiential knowledge grounds theories in lived reality and enhance relevance to practice. 4.3. Broad Theoretical Integration SSTs should also continue to pursue theoretical integration, blending constructs across nursing theories and adjacent disciplines (Im and Meleis 1999 ). Many of the SSTs reviewed already illustrate this point: for example, the theory addressing dysphagia in stroke patients was grounded in Transitions Theory (Awamura and Sakashita 2025 ), while organizational well‐being theories were informed by the Roy Adaptation Model (Ross et al. 2020 ). Such borrowing demonstrates the flexibility of SSTs, but there is room for more systematic and explicit triangulation. For instance, chronic illness theories could benefit from combining behavioral economics insights (e.g., loss aversion, habit formation) with nursing frameworks on self‐care. Theories of adaptation among immigrant populations could blend nursing's stress‐adaptation models with anthropological theories of acculturation. Similarly, SSTs addressing depressive symptoms in nurses could be strengthened by incorporating constructs from occupational health psychology (Ross et al. 2020 ). This type of cross‐pollination enriches the conceptual foundation, prevents insularity, and expands the audience for nursing theories beyond the discipline itself. Importantly, theoretical integration can also help move SSTs along the continuum from situation‐specific to mid‐range theories when appropriate. Some SSTs—such as heart failure self‐care—are already functioning as mid‐range frameworks due to repeated refinement and wide application. Recognizing when and how integration can broaden scope without diluting contextual specificity will be a key challenge for scholars in the coming years. 4.4. Sustain Multi‐Source Synthesis A consistent feature of SST development has been reliance on multiple sources of theorizing, and this should remain central to future work. Our review of 23 SST articles employed an integrative approach that combined multiple methods: (1) literature reviews, (2) empirical findings—both qualitative and quantitative, including consensus‐based methods, (3) the incorporation of existing theories, (4) clinical experiences, and (5) collaborative efforts. This diversity reflects the epistemological richness of nursing science, but it also underscores the need for more deliberate methodological layering. For example, new SSTs should ideally begin with integrative reviews or meta‐syntheses of existing studies, followed by qualitative inquiry to capture contextual depth, quantitative surveys for validation, and consensus panels to refine propositions. Such multi‐source synthesis ensures both inductive richness and deductive strength. Several successful examples already exist: Hirano et al. ( 2025 ) updated a heart failure management theory using a Delphi study combined with existing theory, while Furtado‐Eraso et al. ( 2024 ) developed a perinatal loss theory by blending literature review with qualitative narratives. Future SST development can also expand the use of reflective practice groups and clinical workshops as sources of theorizing. These methods capture frontline nurses' tacit knowledge and practice wisdom, grounding theory in clinical realities. By formalizing multi‐source synthesis as a standard practice, SST scholarship can ensure that theories remain simultaneously rigorous, relevant, and responsive to evolving nursing practice. 4.5. Ongoing Theory Testing and Refinement Perhaps the most urgent direction for the next decade is sustained theory testing and refinement. While new SSTs continue to emerge, many remain underutilized outside the context in which they were developed. This limited translation reduced their broader clinical impact and risks fragmentation within the field. To address this concern, future work must prioritize translating SSTs into standardized nursing protocols, simulation‐based training programs, and multi‐site intervention trials that explicitly evaluate their clinical effectiveness. To illustrate a concrete pathway for enhancing evidence‐based practice (EBP), miscarriage care in emergency departments represents a clearly defined situation‐specific clinical concern (Emond et al. 2024 ). In this context, SST‐derived constructs such as compassionate communication, acknowledgment of parental identity, and structured emotional support can be operationalized into standardized assessment checklists, clinical care algorithms, and simulation‐based competency training for nurses. These practice components can then be evaluated using predefined patient‐centered and staff‐level outcomes, including perceived emotional validation, satisfaction with care, and clinician confidence in managing acute grief encounters. Establishing this explicit linkage between theoretical propositions, structured nursing actions, and measurable outcomes creates a transparent implementation framework that strengthens context‐sensitive EBP. Similarly, organizational well‐being theories could be embedded into hospital resilience programs and tested through workforce retention and stress reduction metrics (Ross et al. 2020 ). Simulation‐based training offers another promising pathway: SSTs on communication could be translated into simulation modules for nursing education, ensuring consistent application of the theoretical framework in clinical practice (Gonella et al. 2023 ). Together, these approaches exemplify how sustained theory testing and structured implementation can move SSTs from conceptual models to actionable empirically validated drivers of EBP. Longitudinal and intervention studies are also critical for refining SST propositions over time. For example, resilience models for Indigenous adolescents require long‐term evaluation to assess how well they capture developmental or contextual shifts (Hodgson et al. 2024 ). Clinical trials could further test the effectiveness of interventions explicitly derived from SSTs, bridging the gap between conceptual frameworks and measurable patient outcomes. Ultimately, the field is moving into a consolidation phase where the key task is not only creating new SSTs but also validating and refining existing ones. By embedding SSTs into clinical interventions, educational curricula, and health system protocols, nursing can ensure these theories achieve their intended role: actionable, evidence‐grounded frameworks that unify research, practice, and education. 5. Limitations This scoping review has several limitations. First, the search strategy was intentionally restricted to studies that explicitly used the term “situation‐specific theory” in titles or abstracts. While this ensured conceptual clarity, it may have excluded theory work aligned with SST principles that was not explicitly labeled as such. Second, the review was limited to English‐language, peer‐reviewed journal articles, which may have resulted in the omission of relevant SST development reported in other languages or gray literature. Third, title/abstract screening and data extraction were primarily conducted by a single reviewer, with team discussion used to resolve uncertainty and verify extracted data. Although consistent with the exploratory aims of scoping reviews, this approach may introduce some selection bias. Finally, no formal appraisal of methodological quality or risk of bias was conducted, as the purpose of this review was to map patterns and trends in SST development rather than to evaluate the rigor of individual theories. Accordingly, findings should be interpreted as a descriptive synthesis of explicitly labeled SSTs rather than an assessment of theory quality or effectiveness. 6. Conclusions In this article, the current status of SSTs published between 2015 and 2025 was examined through a scoping review of 23 articles. Within the scope of the included studies, the findings demonstrate that SSTs have proliferated across diverse clinical domains, populations, and practice settings, reflecting the broadened scope of SSTs during this period. Importantly, this decade has seen not only the purpose‐driven creation of new SSTs but also the emergence of updated and refined theories, particularly in areas such as heart failure self‐care and health management, marking a maturation of the field where existing frameworks are iteratively tested, revised, and consolidated with dynamic theory lifecycles (Riegel et al. 2016 , 2022 ). Scholars have employed varied theorizing methods—ranging from literature reviews, synthesizing existing theories, qualitative research to mixed‐methods and consensus approaches, clinical narratives, and collaborative efforts—to generate new theories and refine existing ones, which reflects the methodological maturity of theorizing (Emond et al. 2024 ; Hodgson et al. 2024 ). Importantly, SSTs are increasingly linked to practice, education, and research, offering context‐grounded frameworks that address immediate clinical needs while advancing empirical inquiry. The five overarching themes identified across this heterogeneous body of literature represent recurring conceptual and methodological patterns within contemporary SST scholarship. Thus, the extension of these findings beyond individual study contexts operates at the level of theoretical synthesis and scholarly trends within the defined SST literature corpus, rather than statistical generalization to broader clinical populations. Looking ahead, five future directions emerge as central: (1) creative and innovative methods, such as data mining and computational analytics, to complement traditional qualitative inquiry; (2) collaborative and interdisciplinary development, bringing together cross‐national, cross‐disciplinary teams with patient and caregiver stakeholders; (3) broad theoretical integration, blending constructs from grand and mid‐range theories with insights from adjacent disciplines; (4) sustained multi‐source synthesis, layering literature, empirical findings, clinical experiences, and consensus to ensure rigor and contextual sensitivity; and (5) ongoing theory testing and refinement, with a focus on translating SSTs into standardized nursing protocols, simulation‐based training, and multi‐site intervention trials. Together, these directions highlight SSTs as dynamic, evolving frameworks that not only generate conceptual clarity but also unify nursing research, practice, and education in context‐specific, evidence‐based ways. 7. Clinical Resources Situation‐Specific Theories: Philosophical Roots, Properties, and Approach: https://journals.lww.com/advancesinnursingscience/fulltext/1999/12000/situation_specific_theories__philosophical_roots.3.aspx . Evidence‐based practice based on theories: https://nursingtheory.org/articles/evidence‐based‐nursing . National Implementation Research Network: https://nirn.fpg.unc.edu/ . Funding The authors have nothing to report. Conflicts of Interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Acknowledgments The authors have nothing to report. Data Availability Statement Data sharing is not applicable to this study because no original datasets were generated or analyzed, and the article takes an entirely theoretical approach. 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