Knowledge and practice development: toward an ontology of nursing

Area of Science:

• Nursing Science
• Philosophy of Science

Background:

• Modern nursing's construction has obscured its ontological significance.
• This has led to a crisis in nursing knowledge and practice development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the crisis in nursing knowledge and practice.
• To highlight the importance of ontological dimensions in nursing.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of nursing's construction.
• Argumentation for integrating ontological perspectives.

Main Results:

• Identified a lack of clarity regarding nursing's ontological dimensions.
• Established a link between this lack of clarity and a crisis in nursing knowledge.

Conclusions:

• Nurses must articulate their practice through both epistemological and ontological lenses.
• Integrating ontological explanations is crucial for advancing nursing knowledge and practice.