3FV152 Nursing Theory To Epistemology

Please discuss what the phrase ‘ways of knowing’ means in relation to nursing epistemology.

Nursing epistemology is the discipline which involves the study of knowledge shared among the peer nurses, patterns of knowledge and the knowledge that develops from the patterns. There are three types of knowing according to the nurse epistemology; the clinical knowledge, empirical knowledge and conceptual knowledge (Chinn & Kramer, 2015).

The profession of nursing is influenced by the biomedical model of nursing. The different pattern of knowing actually contributes to the future articulation and the development of the nursing practice. The empirical knowledge infuses scientific knowledge among the nurses. The aesthetic knowledge helps to develop expressiveness and sensitivity (Carper, 1978). Self knowledge, reflective attitudes and experience helps in interpersonal development and infuses the capability of critical thinking. The ethical knowledge develops moral and ethics in the nurses (Lachman, 2012).

I really appreciate the thought of adhering to the ethical principles of nursing. I would like to elaborate the four components of Carper’s fundamental of knowing (Carper, 1978). According to her, the fundamental knowing actually refers to the knowledge that we posses for ourselves and what we have experienced in our lifetime. Knowledge is always enriched through reflection, observation and self actualization (Carper, 1978). Knowledge helps a clinician to establish an authentic therapeutic relationship with a patient. The empirical knowledge is obtained from objective facts and researches. I would like to tell that this kind of knowing can be employed by the use of evidence based practice. It is you to identify how your study findings have really affected your nursing techniques. It is true that in many cases the ethical component gets breached in nursing, but is this the only one?  Do we really find every nurse going beyond their conventional limits to practice evidence based practice or always remain updated by the recent advancements in science? It is very unfortunate to say that evidence based nursing is still a theory, that very few actually implement to their practice. Discussing about the ethical principles, you have rightly discussed about different parameters like Beneficence, non maleficience, Autonomy and justice.

Reflecting on my past experiences, I have realized and may be most of the nurses has realized that simultaneous application of all the ethical principle is somewhat not possible. For example non maleficence refers to a type of care without harming the patient. Again autonomy refers to the act of giving right to the patient in taking their own decisions (American Nurses Association, 2015). A patient might choose for an alternative treatment and abiding by his or her choices can affect the health of that person. This is where ethical dilemmas arise.  I would like to conclude that nursing profession is a holistic discipline that has to be explored for appreciating nursing both as a science and art. Way of knowing always helps one to be a better person.

You have rightly pointed out the various components described by Barbara Carper. The origin and the evolution of the patterns of knowing are now applied to the current researches with a goal to promote healthy ad safe care to the patient. Research from a pragmatic perspective detects hope as a variable in grief resolution. Ethical knowledge helps a caregiver to develop their moral code. The personal ethics for the nurses is based on their obligation to respect and protect the human life (Lachman, 2012). Aesthetic knowing helps to make nursing an art. It helps to reflect the perception of the nurses and the requirement of the patient. Aesthetic knowing in nursing should be expressed through conducts, attitudes, actions and interactions.

Personal knowing needs to be reconciled and integrated with the professional responsibilities. While discussing about the fundamentals of knowing it is also important to shed light on the Emancipatory knowing (Chinn & Kramer, 2015). It addresses the social and the political context of nursing and health care. Praxis is a process involved in emancipatory knowing which involves critical action and reflection. The main aim of this theory is to create an effective nursing practice.

References

American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements. Silver Spring, MD: Author.

Carper, B. A. (1978). Fundamental patterns of knowing in nursing. ANS Advances in Nursing Science(1) 1, 13-23.

Chinn, P. L., & Kramer, M. K. (2015). Knowledge development in nursing theory and process (9^th ed.). St. Louis, MI: Elsevier.

Lachman, V. D. (2012). Applying the ethics of care to your nursing practice. Medsurg Nursing, 21(2), 112.