Question

Mrs. Jackson, an 86-year-old widow, was admitted to the hospital with a hip fracture. She has very poor eyesight because of macular degeneration and takes eye drops for the condition. Her husband died 5 years ago, and she subsequently moved into an assisted housing development. She had to give up driving because of her eyesight and sold her car to another resident 5 months ago. Although her daughter lives in the area, Mrs. Jackson has little contact with her.

This distresses her greatly, as she describes being very close with her until 8 years ago. She feels safe in her new environment but complains that she is very lonely and is not interested in joining activities. She has a male friend in the complex, but recently he has been showing less interest. Her surgery is scheduled for tomorrow, but she has not yet signed her consent form. She does not have advance directives.

Discussion

Using the case study above, refer to Carper’s fundamental patterns of knowing in nursing and describe how you would use empirical, personal, aesthetic, and ethical patterns of knowing to see that Mrs. Jackson’s holistic needs were addressed.

1. Discuss at least one nursing intervention for each of the four patterns of knowing.
2. How do the patterns of knowing add to an understanding of the client?
3. Compare and contrast your responses with your classmate’s posts. Are they similar, different?

Answer 1

carper's fundamental patterns of knowing is a conceptual and syntactical structure of nursing knowledge. It includes 4 patterns.
Empirical knowing: It is observational care of the patient with a special sense and experimentation with the evidence-based practice.
Personal pattern: it is holistic care involves the patient in conceptual care through communication.
Aesthetic pattern: it is a way of understanding as a nurse by providing nursing care, it reflects on the nursing perspective to fulfill the patient's needs.
Ethical pattern: nursing behavior as a professional understanding that understands patient situation and needs, applying moral codes for the patient which is best for the patient in order to protect and respect human life.
Nursing interventions:
Empirical:
-Spend time with the patient and be a good listener.
Personal :
-Involve patients in therapies like meditation, cognitive-behavior therapies, provide education about self-care and communicate the patient with the social group.
Aesthetic :
-Make professional relationships with the patient, provide spiritual support and skills with professional instruction which is best for the patient. Be supportive and fulfill the patient daily needs.
Ethics:
-apply culturally sensitive care and maintain interpersonal relationships to avoid loneliness and depression.
Professional knowledge as a fundamental pattern of knowing, nurses evidence-based practice show a positive view for patient life, it provides a unique perspective of the discipline, it ensures interpersonal relationship among nurse and patient.