Building qualitative study design using nursing's disciplinary epistemology.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Science
• Qualitative Research Methodology

Background:

• Nursing research often adopts social science methods, potentially limiting alignment with nursing's unique knowledge base.
• Enhancing the quality of nursing knowledge requires study designs sensitive to the discipline's epistemology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the implications of using core nursing knowledge as theoretical scaffolding for qualitative nursing research.
• To advocate for study designs that are intrinsically aligned with nursing's disciplinary knowledge structure.

Main Methods:

• This paper critically analyzes existing literature on nursing theory and qualitative research traditions.
• It reflects on contextual factors influencing qualitative research in nursing.
• It proposes design considerations derived from nursing epistemology.

Main Results:

• Nursing knowledge encompasses general principles and context-specific applications, vital for practice.
• Effective nursing knowledge must be adaptable to dynamic healthcare settings and individual patient needs.
• It must also align with nursing's ethical obligations and action-oriented nature.

Conclusions:

• Aligning qualitative research design with nursing's epistemology ensures logical coherence and fidelity to practice knowledge.
• This approach strengthens the scientific basis of nursing inquiry.
• It supports the development of knowledge that is both rigorous and relevant to nursing practice.