Personal Reflection In Nursing

For centuries the development of nursing knowledge has been influenced by numerous theorists and their respective theories. These theories have influenced, and continue to influence, nursing education, practice and research. (Johnson & Webber, 2005)

Throughout my time on the Mother Baby Care Unit, I have faced many instances in which I have been able to reflect on both my patients and the care that I was providing them. One situation in particular that I found myself critically reflecting upon involved a new mother who was feeling slightly stressed about being discharged as her newborn son would not be going home with her. For confidentiality reasons, this patient will be given the pseudonym of Kayla for the remainder of this reflection.

Nursing knowledge is the result of incorporating what is known and understood through learning, research, experience, and theory. Knowledge depends on research and theory to provide a collective, structured, and current information. This information can be used to explore phenomena, answer questions, generate new theory, and solve problems. DNPs need to be familiar with the components and levels of abstraction in nursing knowledge. The way to comprehend this information is by using the structural holarchy established by Jacqueline Fawcett. It distinguishes the various components of nursing knowledge based on the level of abstraction. Fawcett (2005) develops nursing knowledge into a structural holarchy with five components: metaparadigm, philosophy, conceptual model, theory, empirical indicator. The larger whole is nursing knowledge and each component is a complete whole as well as part of a larger whole. The most concrete component in the holarchy of nursing knowledge is the empirical indicator and the most abstract component is the metaparadigm (Butts & Rich, 2015).

This paper explores Carper’s four fundamental ways of knowing, including its relationship and application to nursing theory. Carper (1978) identifies four ways of knowing as empirical, personal, ethical, and aesthetic. Each is individually important to nursing, but cannot adequately address the fundamental principles of nursing alone. This paper examines each pattern as expressed herein and ensures that all the relevant areas of nursing are attended to in the most professional, competent, and ethical manner.

Throughout the development of theory in the discipline of nursing there are concepts of knowledge that are fundamental. Four of these patterns of knowing were first explored by Carper (1978) which included: empirical knowing, ethical knowing, personal knowing, and aesthetic knowing. Later, an additional facet was added by Chinn and Kramer (2008) which introduced emancipitory knowing. While all of these forms of knowledge are critical for holistic nursing care, this paper will place an emphasis on personal knowledge and how it contributes to the development of knowledge within nursing and the roles of advanced care practitioners.

Since its establishment as a profession more than a century ago, Nursing has been a source for numerous debates related to its course, methods and development of nursing knowledge. Many nursing definitions and theories have evolved over time. Furthermore it is in a constant process of being redefined.

Additionally, nursing philosophy allows a critical analysis of the structure of reality, the structural origin, and the scope of knowledge, as well as the valid argument, human action and its values,

Nursing knowledge gathering process is moving along the changing society. Initially, Nursings’ Knowledge were derived from other disciplines, followed by a self-generation phase, realizing that the legitimacy of any profession is built on its ability to generate and apply theory. And, finally into a transformation phase, in which nursing knowledge significantly influences its own practice as well as that of other disciplines (N). These challenges in nursing knowledge development has helped to learn how to consider nursing phenomena through many lenses and has enhanced to improve the nursing of people. Although, Nursing has struggled to assert itself as a profession, while enjoying a cherished status in society, failure to

the most valuable knowledge in the field of nursing. The practice is illuminated by science and

Booth, K., Kenrick, M., & Woods, S. (1997). Nursing knowledge, theory and method revisited. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 26(4), 804-811.

The credibility of a profession is based upon its ability to create and apply theory. Nursing as a whole has not been at the forefront of theoretical research being much more practical or hands-on in nature. Unless nurses increase the value placed on research and the body of knowledge that establishes the legitimacy of their practice then nursing will remain in a subordinate position in the medical environment. Theorists anticipated that by conceptualizing models of nursing, practitioners would be able to become more autonomous in their clinical settings while increasing the visibility and authority of nursing as a discipline. It

The purpose of this paper was to facilitate personal reflection and analysis of my current approach to nursing. First to identify how I define each of the nursing metaparadigms Person, Environment, Health and Nursing. Next to explain why I feel the way I do about each concept and lastly to analyze which paradigm my thinking represents. A major focus being on defining the relationships between the four metaparadigms identified by Fawcett. In (Kozier et al, 2014) its stated that “philosophical thinking provides the foundation for the development and critical analysis of nursing knowledge. Nursing knowledge is organized and communicated by using concepts, models, frameworks and theories (p. 62).” Within the Framework for the

Historically, the nursing discipline has borrowed its basis for knowledge and practice from other disciplines (Weaver & Olson, 2006). Today, inquiry specific to nursing is continually changing and growing, as nurses are increasingly interested in developing their own unique body of knowledge. This interest results partially from the emergence of nursing paradigms in recent years. According to Weaver & Olson (2006), paradigms are practices and beliefs that manage our knowledge by proving a framework with which to utilize within our profession, and to guide nursing research. A paradigm shapes our quest for epistemological awareness (Weaver & Olson, 2006). Examples of paradigms common within nursing are empirical, interpretive, and critical paradigms. While each paradigm is unique with sometimes competing focuses, each contributes greatly to nursing knowledge, practice, and research.

Learning goals I have set for myself during the course of this class are to gain an understanding and foundation of nursing theories, gain and understand the impacts of nursing practice as it relates the theories, and how to apply nursing theories to practices as appropriate and necessary. These goals were chosen because they will help set a foundation in nursing theories. Looking at the different topics to be discussed the two most interesting are (1) Theory of Cultural Care Diversity and Universality and (2) Nightingale’s Environmental Model (George, 2011). The two topics that are the least interesting are (1) Child Health Assessment Interaction Model and (2) Maternal Role Attainment/Becoming a Mother (George, 2011).

In order to critically examine the concepts central to the discipline of nursing it is important to clarify my understanding of what constitutes a discipline. Nursing literature has led me to understand that a discipline can be, in simple terms, thought of as a field of study with a unique perspective which gives rise to the nature and scope of inquiry of that field and therefore leads to a specialized body of knowledge (Parker, M & Smith, M, 2010). In attempt to cement nursing’s place in the professional world and in an effort to distinguish it from other disciplines it seems imperative that nursing itself agree on the discipline’s most significant concepts. Through early course readings it