Which statement best describes descriptive nursing theory?

• A. Focus on understanding and describing the what, how, and why of phenomena such as patient experiences and cultural impacts
• B. Focus on predicting health outcomes using statistics
• C. Prescribes nursing interventions for diseases
• D. It is primarily about pharmacology in nursing

Answer: (A)

Descriptive nursing theory is about describing phenomena—what exists, how it presents, and why it matters—often focusing on patient experiences and cultural influences on care. This makes the statement about understanding and describing the what, how, and why of phenomena such as patient experiences and cultural impacts the best fit. The other options shift toward predicting outcomes with statistics, prescribing interventions for diseases, or focusing on pharmacology, which are not the aim of descriptive theory.