Page 434 - Encyclopedia of Nursing Research

PHIlOSOPHY OF NURSING n 401

ethics, history of nursing philosophy, and of answers are discussed. The questions
nursing methods of philosophical inquiry. raised guide the inquiry, and data collection
These articles, along with past and current and analysis occur together. Data analysis P
scholarship on nursing philosophy, comprise focuses on words and is often collaborative
the core and expanding knowledge base of and cyclical (i.e., answers generate questions,
philosophy of nursing. This knowledge base questions generate analysis, analysis gener-
has helped nurses to identify central phil- ates questions). Thus, the ultimate investiga-
osophical concerns of nursing, the nature tive method in nursing philosophical inquiry
of and boundaries for nursing, and the val- is the critically engaged and reflective mind;
ues and beliefs of nurses. Yet, major issues it searches for nursing philosophical insights
remain. examples of these issues include the through reasoning and through ways of
following: (a) How does one determine the knowing. The expression of this critically
good in quality of life when the good is defined engaged and reflective mind is the written
differently? (b) How does one resolve com- word.
peting stances on the nature of being and of In addition to the preceding philosoph-
doing in nursing practice? (c) How does one ical inquiry research method, Burns and
identify the moral aims of nursing in a plu- Grove (2009, chap. 4) also identify three cat-
ralistic society? egories of philosophical inquiry research.
Philosophy of nursing is a disciplined These categories, with their primary meth-
method of inquiry involving critical examina- ods of inquiry, include the following:
tion and comprehensive study of the human
health nursing experience—its reality (nurs- 1. Foundational inquiry. This category of
ing metaphysics), its knowledge (nursing philosophical inquiry research focuses on
epistemology), its morality (nursing ethics), analysis of the philosophical bases, struc-
its history (history of nursing philosophy), ture, and values of a science; its primary
and its ways of reasoning and of knowing. methods of inquiry are exploration and
Nursing’s disciplined method of inquiry is logical analysis. Two examples of foun-
called nursing philosophical inquiry; it involves dational philosophical inquiry research
subjecting nursing philosophical perspec- include Mackey’s (2009) Towards an
tives to critical examination to determine Ontological Theory of Wellness: A Discussion
their soundness through appeals to reason of Conceptual Foundations and Implications for
and through appeals to ways of knowing. Nursing and Green’s (2009) A Comprehensive
These appeals typically include (a) critical Theory of the Human Person from Philosophy
analysis, reflection, and interpretation; (b) and Nursing.
conceptual, linguistic, and ethical analysis; 2. Philosophical analysis inquiry. This cat-
(c) nursing historical analysis; (d) nursing egory of philosophical inquiry research
process analysis; (e) personal processes of focuses on examination of meaning and
knowing; (f) artistic processes of knowing; on building theories of meaning; its pri-
and (g) intuitive processes of knowing. mary methods of inquiry are linguistic
Philosophy is the basis of science and analysis and concept analysis. Two exam-
of research and directs the methods within ples of philosophical analysis inquiry
them. The qualitative research method research include Hage and lorensen’s
of nursing philosophical inquiry is simi- (2005) A Philosophical Analysis of the
lar to other qualitative research methods: Concept Empowerment: The Fundament of an
literature is broadly examined; conceptual Education-Programme to the Frail Elderly and
meanings are explored; questions are raised; Harper’s (2006) Ethical Multiculturalism: An
answers are suggested; and ramifications Evolutionary Concept Analysis.