Nursing knowledge is the means by which the purpose for patients’ care is achieved. It’s exhibited by demonstration of certain attributes, actions and behaviors while dealing with patients. Findings show that it’s a clear account of the theoretical background to nursing study. Such knowledge answers critical problems on how nursing philosophy relates to practice (Chaska, 2001). Building nursing knowledge is enhancing the means by which purpose for patient care is achieved. My aspirations are to be a professional nurse bridging the gap between research and practice. My goal in this paper is to explore on the personal, empirical, aesthetic and ethical ways of building nursing knowledge.
In order to improve the capability of nurses to integrate all the ways, educators should review the current system to enhance cognitive, practical and personal knowledge. The fundamental patterns of knowing outline guidelines to help nurses’ meet patients’ needs. These patterns are the essential steps needed in nursing. They help gain a rounded approach towards understanding, accessing and treating patients. Personal knowledge is a research process within nursing. It is theoretically developed via examples, attributes, components and definition. Self-discovery is yet a fundamental way of knowing in nursing. From a personal experience, knowledge builds nursing by developing one’s approach to patients. Polit and Beck (2014) assert that personal knowledge in nursing results to improvement in research and practice. For example, through observation, a nurse knows how to inject a patient. The latter makes a nurse confident while handling a patient especially during examination. Experience builds nursing through expanding knowledge base and finding solutions to existing problems (Polit, 2014, P-20).
From an empirical standpoint, knowing helps build nursing in that it instils confidence during practice. It also emphasizes on the importance of research in building nursing. Observations and evidence availability aid in effective communication, which leads to provision of quality healthcare services. For example, a nurse answers a patients’ question based on knowledge learnt from school. Nurses are also able to conduct an analysis based on observations while working with doctors. Empirical knowing helps nurses make evidence based treatments which betters their nursing knowledge. For instance, a nurse comparing two types of cooling blankets for febrile patients (Polit, 2014, P-24).
From an ethical standpoint, ethics governs nurses’ conduct while dealing with patients. They define a nurse’s moral code while in practice. For example, a nurse knows to differentiate right from wrong (Polit, 2010). Ethics help build nursing through protecting patients’ rights and dignity. They allow a nurse to exhibit morally acceptable behaviors resulting to achievement of patient care. Ethical knowing also helps nurses in refining their moral code.
From an aesthetic perspective, nursing is perceived as a skill. This is because the latter portrays the creative and expressive styles of a nurse. Aesthetic knowing integrates all ways of knowing creating a new understanding of phenomena. A proficient nurse is able to understand patients’ feelings, attitudes and preferences.
In summation, building nursing knowledge thrives through the application of personal, aesthetic, empirical and ethical ways of knowing. Their integration provides the desired output in nursing. It helps nurses design effective interventions, provide sensitive advice and motivating patients to comply with treatment (Polit, 2014, P-25). Generally, the ways of knowing helps appreciate nursing as both art and science.
- Chaska, N. L. (2001). The nursing profession: Tomorrow and beyond. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
- Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2010). Essentials of nursing research: Appraising evidence for nursing practice. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
- Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2014). Essentials of nursing research: Appraising evidence for nursing practice. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health /Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.