Purpose: This study was aimed to analyze the research trends by investigating the nursing theories used in research articles in Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing for the last 10 years. Methods: Among the research articles published in the Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing for the past 10 years from 2010 to 2019, the research trends was analyzed by investigating the nursing theories used in the studies. Results: As the results of a survey of 847 papers published in the Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing from 2010 to 2019, 139 studies applied to the theory were extracted. As for the theory, one Grand Theory, Roy’s adaptation model, and 6 Middle Range Theories including Kolcaba’s comfort theory, Pender's health promotion model, King's goal attainment theory, Watson's human caring theory, Reed's self-transcendence theory, Mishel's uncertainty in illness theory. Conclusion: In nursing, more use of nursing theories in research is necessary in the future, not only in quantitative research methods but also in qualitative research.