Nursing knowledge for the 21st century: an international commitment

This article sets forth some assumptions about 21st century trends in science, communication systems, and lifestyle patterns. Further, it offers speculations about the relationship of these trends to future health care. Nursing knowledge in light of the assumptions and speculations is addressed and a nursing science curriculum proposed. A complex of centers to replace today's health care system is described in an effort to make explicit the contribution of the professional nurse to the health care of individuals and families in the 21st century. The author calls for an international commitment from nurses of all nations to use extant nursing theories and frameworks, rather than the biomedical model, as guides to research and practice in order to expand the base of nursing knowledge while specifying the uniqueness of the discipline.