Nursing involves a process of dynamic interactions of various ways of knowing to provide excellent care. Carper recognized four fundamental patterns of knowing in nursing: empiric, ethics, personal, and aesthetic patterns. The empirical aspect of knowing relates to the science of nursing. The aesthetic aspect of knowing shows more of the art of nursing. Personal knowing pertains to the self-confidence of the nurse in their knowledge. Ethics refers to moral obligations and values of applying knowledge. Nurses in practice can improve patient care when all forms of knowing are integrated. So how does a nurse apply each aspect of knowing into effective practice?
The science of nursing or the empirical pattern of knowledge only partially reflects nursing knowledge. This is the concrete, factual, and numerical aspect of health care. Empirical knowing is based on the assumption that what is known is accessible through the physical senses: seeing, touching and hearing. This is where evidence based practice (EBP) comes in. Evidence-based practice focuses on the methods of critically evaluating and applying available data and research, to understanding and improving the clinical decision-making. By using updated research and techniques provided by EBP a nurse can provide better health care. Empirical knowing is also the grounds to health care policies and procedures. These policies and procedures are an attempt at providing the nurse and patient an approved and consistent system from which to follow based on accepted evidence based research. Nurses face a challenge when trying to translate the broad best evidence into the specific clinical practice.
Bridging the gap from research to clinical practice can be accomplished by applying the sec...
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... passion and acceptance to others, by knowing your preferences, ideals, and biases. Being aware of one’s self can help actualize the different beliefs of others.
Nursing has evolved into a discipline that regards the understanding between the relationships amongst theory, practice, research, and experience. The interrelationship between each aspect of knowing has enhanced the ability of the nurse to supply appropriate care. The four patterns of knowing when used together are beneficial to nursing leadership theory, specifically because they were developed by nurses for nurses. These four patterns show the complexity of nursing knowledge. The patterns are not mutually exclusive; there is overlap, interrelation and interdependence. Such unity may be perceived as necessary for achieving mastery in what we do, where no one pattern alone should be considered sufficient.
Evidence-based practice (EBP) entails the use of explicit, reliable, and judicious evidence to make effective decisions about the care of patients. This DNP student will introduce EBP with the IOWA model. The IOWA model applies to this DNP proposal. The IOWA model is an EBP applicable in healthcare setting and implemented to show the applicability of evidence in nursing to give the best outcome. Doody and Doody (2011) noted that the IOWA model focuses on problem-focused triggers and knowledge in undertaking quality improvement study. The steps involved include topic selection, team formation, evidence retrieval, grading evidence, developing an EBP evidence, implementation of EBP, and evaluation of the progress. These steps apply to this DNP proposal, showing best practices, guidelines, procedures, and policies
There are different types of knowledge and different ways of knowing. Four fundamental concepts of knowing in nursing highlighted by Caper (1978) are empirical, personal, ethical and aesthetic. He divided knowledge into two forms which are tacit and explicit. Tacit is insights and based on experience and not easily visible and expressible, difficult to share and communicate with others which is highly personal. Empirical sources of knowledge depend upon an individual’s manner of observing and responding to events in the outside world (Higgs et al, 2004). Whereas explicit is formal and based on rationality and easily can be expressed, shared, communicate which are highly universal principles. Rationalism comes from within the individual and depends upon theoretical reasoning rather than on data from the real world (Higgs et al, 2004).
Carper’s (1978) pivotal work of identifying nursing’s ways of knowing was a seminal work that laid the foundation for further analysis. Her ways of knowing have identified methods that have allowed the nursing discipline to further its own knowledge as well as the profession. Two other ways of knowing have emerged, Munall’s (1993) “unknowing” pattern; and also sociopolitical knowing by Zander (2011, p. 9) or emancipatory pattern (Chinn & Kramer, 2011, p. 5). Here these patterns are discussed through experiences in my personal practice.
The curriculum of nursing school is generally built on one or more specific conceptual models or concepts (McEwen, & Brown, 2002). Nursing school has proliferated and preparing nurses from associate degree to doctoral level. Nurses prepared at each nursing level can be involved with nursing theory. At doctoral level, nurses are apprehensive with science philosophy which discussed on nature of knowledge and how it is known, the philosophy of nursing science, invention of nursing knowledge, theory testing and research projects to develop new theory. At master level, nurses can be a primary provider in the advanced practice and apply theoretical perspectives which focused on client for specific nursing outcomes. Next, research process and use
Evidence-based practice integrates best current evidence with clinical expertise and patient/family preferences and values for the delivery of optimal health care (qsen.org). Like most medical professions, nursing is a constantly changing field. With new studies being done and as we learn more about different diseases it is crucial for the nurse to continue to learn even after becoming an RN. Using evidence-based practice methods are a great way for nurses and other medical professionals learn new information and to stay up to date on new ways to practice that can be used to better assess
The article was complicated, but it helped address the learning patterns and what a nurse needs to know in their practice to better themselves and provide the best care for a patient. By acknowledging the patient as a person, applying science based practice, using artful skills, and ethically providing care to a patient, the nurse extends their patterns of knowing and forms their knowledge base.
When caring for patients it is fundamentally important to have a good selection of up to date evidence Based Practice clinical articles to support research strategies, this allows professionals to assemble the most resent and accurate information known which enables them to make decisions tailored to the individual’s plan of care. It is essential to have clinical expertise and have the involvement from the individual patient, they must have full engagement and incorporation in order to have the accurate evaluation.
The fundamental patterns of knowledge were first identified by Barbara Carper (1978), and included empirical, personal, ethical, and aesthetic knowing. According to Zander (2007), Carper sought to develop a holistic, individualistic, therapeutic model of practice which could be utilized to structure nursing education, and evaluate nursing practice. The addition of emancipatory knowing by Chinn and Kramer followed in 2008. These patterns of knowledge have shown to be very beneficial, if not crucial to the nursing profession. The purpose of this paper is to provide an in depth explanation of aesthetics, and its importance in nursing. A detailed scenario of esthetic nursing will be included. This
In healthcare it is very important to have strong leaders, especially in the nursing profession. A nurse leader typically uses several styles of leadership depending on the situation presented; this is known as situational leadership. It is important that the professional nurse choose the right style of leadership for any given situation to ensure their employees are performing at their highest potential. Depending on which leadership style a nurse leader uses, it can affect staff retention and the morale of the employees as well as nurse job satisfaction (Azaare & Gross, 2011.) “Nursing leaders have the responsibility to create and maintain a work environment which not only promotes positive patient outcomes but also positively influences teams and individual nurses” (Malloy & Penprase, 2010.) Let’s explore two different leadership styles and discuss how they can enhance or diminish the nursing process.
Nurses use evidence based practice and research to develop knowledge needed to practice in the nursing profession. Nurses use practical knowledge and theoretical knowledge in the many roles that nurses perform. As a provider of care and manager of care, nurses should use evidence based practice, research, and theoretical knowledge to ensure the best possible outcome for the patient. Lifelong education in nursing is necessary to keep up with the changes in nursing practice and to reinforce ethical knowledge and the core values that nurses use in their everyday practice. The professional value of caring as a nurse is one of the most important values. The caring attitudes of nurses will carry over to all other values that nurses should possess,
Nursing is a science and art . Nursing as a science is a knowledge of knowing the medications being able to assign nursing diagnosis and so on while in the other hand nursing as a Art are something Innate like respond to the patient’s needs,treat them with compassion and educate them patiently. “the art of nursing is more than a great deal of science. It is more than just knowing; it is doing. It bridges information from nurses to patients in a skillful way. It is the application of all the science known to nursing to give the utmost care the patient needs”(Chua, 2014).Nursing is a highly respectful and profession field which focused on the care of individuals , prevention , treatment and protection . It is taking care of illness and injury
Evidence-based medicine (EBM) has been described as “the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decision about the care of individual patients” . Evidence-Based Practice is a thoughtful integration of the best available evidence, coupled with clinical expertise. It enables one to address healthcare questions with an evaluative and qualitative approach. It is about applying the best available research evidence in provision of health, behavior and education services to enhance outcomes. Evidence-Based practice is about performing the best possible practice in order to provide the best possible care .
Nursing theory can be used to empower nurses by giving autonomy and improve skills. With the rise of healthcare, administrative decisions involving nurses could have a negative effect on patient care. There are four concepts that make up the nursing metaparadigm, person, environment, health and nursing and act as the model for nursing care. All theories in the nursing practice proves valuable within the profession but may vary between different theorists depending on what their beliefs are. Some theorists can view the same situation entirely different. Both Rogers and Neuman were theorist that developed theories for viewing and caring for patients but in two different ways. Professionalization, coherence, and enhanced communication are three arguments when determining the importance of theory in nursing. Multi-disciplinary nursing becomes necessary to achieve positive patient
The art of nursing is defined as being mindful of what the patient needs emotionally and physically. In order to fully practice the true art of nursing, one must have compassion, a caring attitude, and good communication skills (Palos, 2014). Another definition of the art of nursing is having a personal connection between the nurse and the patient (Kostovich & Clementi, 2014). My personal interpretation of the art of nursing is to be aware of the patient’s specific needs; being physically present when they need you; respecting the patient and the family; and being gentle when delivering nursing care. The science of nursing on the other hand is having the knowledge, skill, critical thinking and evidence-based practice integrated with nursing practice (Palos, 2014). With this concept, a nurse must have a good understanding of various types of diseases and be able to identify the symptoms associated with it. Medicine is an important part of science. Knowledge about the different drugs and knowing how to safely administer them are crucial in nursing care. Performing medical procedures and updating current nursing skills according to new evidence-based research is critical to achieve best patient outcome. A nurse should employ critical thinking skills and good decision making as well. My own definition of science of nursing is providing safe
Nursing theories are critical for education and practice. The theories suppose to provide a foundation for general knowledge and assist in practice. Thus, healthcare professionals, managers, and patients recognize the unique healthcare service. However,