A macroscopic continuum mechanical model for incompressible side chain nematic polymers, under isothermal conditions is given. The model is a synthesis of a transient network model and the standard nematorheological model. Simplifications in the model yield constitutive equations that are identical to well-known theological models for polymer melts and for low-molar-mass nematics. The model is used to derive the anisotropic relaxation modulus, and the orientation-dependent storage and loss moduli for small-amplitude oscillatory shear. The model is partially validated with existing small-amplitude oscillatory shear data. The present model is able to predict and explain the observed differences in the storage and loss moduli between the isotropic and shear flow-aligned nematic phase of a side chain nematic polymer.