ANALYSIS OF A CONCEPT What is knowledge?? How a discipline learns defines it’s….. Epistemology = Theory (Study )of Knowledge NURSING KNOWLEDGE – Explicit (Scientific) or Research --Tacit (Experience) or Synthesis of Information

 Considered to be epistemology of nursing..  Written in 1975, and has been foundational to nursing knowledge since then  Other ways of knowing have been proposed, Ways of knowing are: Empirics Ethics Esthetics Personal

 - objective, abstract, quantifiable  - can be verified with testing  - arranged into theories  - case knowledge (biomedical model)  - concerned with “monitoring of disease and therapeutic responses”  - quantitative research uncovers this type of knowing

 - moral knowledge, based on values of profession  - choosing, justifying and judging actions based on duty, rights and obligations  - CNA ethical framework guides development of this type of knowing – e.g.: research on human subjects, care of those who are different…  - universal values to profession, as well as personal values of the nurse

 - Art of nursing, intangible essence of what nursing is  - attends to uniqueness of “contextual wholeness” rather than particular moment.  - is anticipation of outcome rather than just evaluation of select intervention  - expressive, intuitive and creative aspect of nursing, and difficult to verbalize (Expert nurse actions done before actual event “How did they know that???)

 - awareness of self in relationship  - does not require mediation through language  - engagement, active, empathetic participation of nurse as “knower”  - means being authentic – incorporating that theory of interpersonal relationships until it is second nature  - the “a-ha” experience

 Hasn’t fully developed the aesthetic way of knowing  Does not make a distinction between concepts of knowing and knowledge  Theory vs pattern of knowledge in nursing

 Experience (Experiential)  Benner Novice to Expert  Knowing how or ‘knowledge-as-ability” vs knowing that (Carper’s view, according to Benner). Skill based  Intuition  Non-rational thought processes of feeling or sensing  Not logically explained results with vast amounts of experience  Unknowing  Position of openness to understand the world view of the patient (client-centered). Leads to empathy and pt’s perspective

 Sociopolitical  Seeks to understand the ‘wherein ‘ of nursing as a practice profession.  Understanding of what nursing is by public, and what society and its politics are by nurses.