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176 UNIT II Nursing Philosophies

MAJOR CONCEPTS & DEFINITIONS—cont’d
is always a violation of the patient’s dignity. Not suffering. In reconciliation, the importance of sacri-
to be taken seriously, not to be welcome, being fice emerges (Eriksson, 1994a). Having achieved
blamed, and being subjected to the exercise of power reconciliation implies living with an imperfection
are various forms of suffering related to care. In with regard to oneself and others but seeing a way
the situation of being a patient, the entire life of forward and a meaning in one’s suffering. Reconcili-
a human being may be experienced as suffering ation is a prerequisite of caritas (Eriksson, 1990).
related to life (Eriksson, 1993, 1994a; Lindholm &
Eriksson, 1993). Caring Culture
Caring culture is the concept that Eriksson (1987a)
The Suffering Human Being uses instead of environment. It characterizes the to-
The suffering human being is the concept that Eriksson tal caring reality and is based on cultural elements
uses to describe the patient. The patient refers to the such as traditions, rituals, and basic values. Caring
concept of patiens (Latin), which means “suffering.” culture transmits an inner order of value preferences
The patient is a suffering human being, or a human or ethos, and the different constructions of culture
being who suffers and patiently endures (Eriksson, have their basis in the changes of value that ethos
1994a; Eriksson & Herberts, 1992). undergoes. If communion arises based on the ethos,
the culture becomes inviting. Respect for the human
Reconciliation being, his or her dignity and holiness, forms the goal
Reconciliation refers to the drama of suffering. A of communion and participation in a caring culture.
human being who suffers wants to be confirmed The origin of the concept of culture is to be found in
in his or her suffering and be given time and space such dimensions as reverence, tending, cultivating,
to suffer and reach reconciliation. Reconciliation and caring; these dimensions are central to the basic
implies a change through which a new wholeness motive of preserving and developing a caring cul-
is formed of the life the human being has lost in ture (Eriksson, 1987a; Eriksson & Lindström, 2003).

Use of Empirical Evidence the other. The evidence concept developed by Eriksson
From the beginning development of her theory, has been shown to be empirically evident when
Eriksson established it in empiricism by systemati- tested in two comprehensive empirical studies in
cally employing a hermeneutical and hypothetical which the idea was to develop evidence-based caring
deductive approach. In conformity with a human sci- cultures in seven caring units in the Hospital District
ence and hermeneutical way of thinking, Eriksson of Helsinki and Uusimaa (Eriksson & Nordman, 2004).
developed a caring science concept of evidence A further development of evidence resulted in caring
(Eriksson, Nordman, & Myllymäki, 1999). Her main scientific evidence concept and theory (Martinsen &
argument for this is that the concept of evidence in Eriksson, 2009).
natural science is too narrow to capture and reach During the 1970s, Eriksson initially developed a
the depth of the complex caring reality. Her concept nursing care process model (Eriksson, 1974), which
of evidence is derived from Gadamer’s concept of later, in her doctoral dissertation (1981), was formu-
truth (Gadamer, 1960/1994), which encompasses the lated as a theory. Since then, Eriksson, step by step, has
true, the beautiful, and the good. She points out, in deepened her conceptual and logical understanding of
accordance with Gadamer, that evidence cannot be the basic concepts and phenomena that have emerged
connected solely with a method and empirical data. from the theory. She has tested their validity in em-
Evidence in a human science perspective contains pirical contexts, where the concepts have assumed
two aspects: a conceptual, logical one, which she calls contextual and pragmatic attributes (Kärkkäinen &
ontological, and an empirical one, each pre-supposing Eriksson, 2004b). This logical way of working, a constant