Question

In particular, why have multiple theories in nursing?

What is the impact of multiple theories on nursing knowledge and practice?

Using Carper's Ways of knowing, how do you express the (a) empirical, (b) ethical, (c) personal, and (d) aesthetic aspects of nursing?

Why is it important to have multiple ways of knowing in nursing?

How is Carper's framework useful to nursing practice?

Think of a situation from your personal practice (either when you were a nursing student or a practicing nurse) in which multiple ways of knowing were used.

Answer 1

Nursing is a standard profession dealing with physical, psycho social aspects of the patient. Theories in nursing provides a conceptual framework of nursing practice to deliver quality patient care.

WHY MULTIPLE THEORIES IN NURSING:

The core concept is nursing care is a holistic care , nurses considered all components of patients like person, environment,health and nursing component . All the given concepts have positive influence on patient health.

Nursing theories used in daily practice : Florence Nightingales environmental theory, Peplau's Interpersonal relations theory, Leininger's Transcultural care theory, Orem general theory, King's goal attainment theory,

Barbara A Carper states five fundamental patterns of knowing in nursing empirical, ethic,personal,knowledge,aesthetics aspects.

Empirical is defined as knowledge acquired by pure investigation and real life experience. Empirical knowledge is not base on assumptions. In nursing empirical knowledge is acquired by evidence based practice , conducting research studies to deliver quality care .

Personal knowing states nurses awareness of their own strength and weakness it comes from the learning by mistakes and experience. Personal knowing facilitates nurses to establish strong therapeutic relationship with patients by understanding individual needs.

Ethics is defined as do 's and dont's . Understanding code of ethics given by American Nurses Association safeguard nurses from legal pursuits and keep nurses in track to make sound clinical judgement.

Aesthetic is a way of performing a art skillfully. In nursing aesthetic knowing is expressed through actions, conduct, attitudes towards patient. Nurses must perform all skin in a aesthetic sense.