Evolution of Nursing Philosophy, Theory, Research, and Practice

This essay delves into the philosophy of nursing, examining its development as a scientific discipline and its core principles. It begins by defining the philosophy of science and its influence on nursing, tracing the evolution of nursing science since the 1950s. The essay explores key philosophical foundations, including rationalism and empiricism, and their impact on nursing knowledge. It then presents the author's personal philosophy of nursing, emphasizing values such as competent and vicarious holistic care, compassion, resilience, and ethical conduct. The essay comprehensively discusses the interconnectedness of philosophy, theory, research, and practice in nursing, highlighting how these elements shape nursing practice and patient care. The essay concludes by underscoring the significance of the nursing profession in promoting societal well-being and the importance of diverse philosophical approaches within the field.

Running Head: NURSING
NURSING PHILOSOPHY
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Introduction
Philosophy of science refers to a viewpoint in which one views the world. An individual's
philosophy of science forms a picture or a message that progressively becomes a model and a
point of orientation. An individual's philosophy of science permits some occurrences to happen
and others to be blocked. It allows some thoughts to be open to some people and locked to other
people. Philosophy deems some ideas correct and others inconsistent while others are considered
to be wrong. Philosophy of science is not supposed to be regarded as a black or white
proposition, but one that provides outlooks includes given ideas and thoughts, and therefore, it is
good to exclude others.
Modern science was developed 400 years ago and was meant to formalize the phenomena
of interest, which was aimed at explaining, describing, and controlling the state of affairs in
nature. Modern science has led to the development and improvement of the quality of life for
human beings. It brought a sense of order and understanding (Masters, 2014).
The development of nursing science evolved since the 1950s and was aimed at
understanding scientific disciplines. Being a scientific discipline entails the identification and
acknowledgment of the contribution of nurses to the care of patients, families, and communities.
It means that nurses can carry out clinical and basic nursing research and form a scientific base
for the care for persons across their lifespan (Smith, 2015). The fundamental questions concerning
epistemology need to be answered. The issues involved include; what are the methods used in
the production of scientific knowledge and what is the difference between science and truth.
Epistemology is concerned with the theory of experience in the philosophical inquiry. The
philosophical perspectives in which the answers are made will answer the question of how
scientists use scientific activities to interpret outcomes.

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There are two foundations of philosophical science that have evolved in the era of
modern science and that have several variations. These alternative epistemologies have a central
concern with the power of reason, sensory, and experience. The philosophical foundations
include rationalism and empiricism (Alligood, 2017). Nursing science has characterized by two
branches of philosophies of knowledge as the discipline continued to develop. The branches have
been explained by the use of two different terms, empiricist and interpretive. Understanding each
word will contribute to appreciating what nursing does to increase nursing knowledge.
Rationalism
This branch puts more emphasis on the appropriate method that can be used in the
advancement of knowledge. A priori reasoning utilizes deductive logic. The reasoning uses
deductive logic through the argument from cause and effect. This causal reasoning is a
hypothesis unless proven wrong (Alligood, 2017).
Empiricism
This is based on the idea that scientific knowledge can be derived from sensory
experience. Scientists believed that scientific facts were discovered through the generalization of
ideas (Zaccagnini, 2019). This inquiry uses inductive reasoning, which is based on the belief that
the collection of concepts aims at the generalization of facts around the world. Precisely, this
branch deals with theory then research approach.
Views of Science and Theory in the Early Twentieth Century and Later Years
This is the period when philosophers focused on the analysis of theoretical structure,
whereas scientists focused on empirical research. There was no such inquiry in the history of
science during this period. Empiricists argued that theoretical prepositions should be tested. This
led to the development of the idea that empirical facts exist independently of theories. In the

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latter years, many authors presented analysis which challenged positivist position and hence
offered the basis for a new perspective of science (Masters, 2014). Empirical knowledge was
argued to be arranged in different patterns and a particular time and a given culture. The
empiricists view phenomena collects data and analyses it to form a theory. This position is based
upon the existing truth in the world which are waiting for discovery.
Personal Philosophy of Nursing
My philosophy is based on the provision of competent and vicarious and optimum
holistic care. The values mentioned above are accomplished by compassion, resilience,
communication, and trustworthiness.
Education is vital to my philosophy. Education that involves patient care is essential in
healthcare. Information is acquired through intensive research, and this can be used to transpose
knowledge that I already have. I can use the knowledge that I possess to enhance skills, and
therefore, be able to deliver ideal care. I believe that people should respect cultural expectations,
sexual orientation, and ethnic background of patients (Alligood, 2017). To enhance the latter, I
believe I have the required skills in dealing with patients from diverse regions. I vow to uphold
ethical codes used in nursing care. I also strive to be an educator and a promoter of public
consciousness. I believe that nursing is more than a career and is a pleasure taken upon by people
who have a passion for using their understanding and skills to assist those who are not able to
support themselves.
Relationship between Philosophy, Theory, Research, and Practice
The idea of nursing practice, the nature and starting points of nursing hypothesis and the
issue of the link amid hypothesis and method are matters which have and keep on creating broad
philosophical talk inside nursing. The substance of the discussion likewise indicates an

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inclination to see the relationship as one where the reason for training lies in the aggregate 'good
judgment' understandings of professionals occupied with training. The association is likewise
understood as far as nursing being a 'moral' action in which useful shrewdness, thought,
decisions, and decisions are required for the conduct of training.
There is a proof of perspectives which endeavor to contextualize nursing inside its social
reality and accordingly to imagine the hypothesis practice relationship in manners harmonious
with the acknowledgment that nursing practice is a human and a social venture that is
characteristically 'tricky.' These contemporary conceptualizations of the hypothesis practice
relationship would seem to have advanced through a procedure in which each new origination
has been obliged with and absorbed into the effectively existing understandings (Smith, 2015).
Methods for survey the hypothesis practice relationship are communicated either unequivocally
or, in numerous cases, are certain in and recoverable from articulations of perspectives,
convictions, and presumptions. Doubtlessly the present condition of speculation regarding the
hypothesis practice relationship is one of diversity and pluralism, and there is a general
receptiveness to the commitment of various ideal models of knowing to epistemological
advancement.
Conclusion
The nursing profession is an essential field of research since it deals with the well-being
of people and society. Several models have been used to explain the developments of the nursing
field. Different nurses also possess various philosophies which they can use to take care of the
patients and hence enhance quality care.

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References
Alligood, M. R. (2017). Nursing Theorists and Their Work-E-Book. London: Elsevier Health
Sciences.
Masters, K. (2014). Nursing theories: A framework for professional practice. New York City:
Jones & Bartlett Publishers.
Smith, M. C. (2015). Nursing theories and nursing practice. London: FA Davis.
Zaccagnini, M. &. (2019). The doctor of nursing practice essentials: A new model for advanced
practice nursing. London: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.