Aesthetic knowing grounded in an explicit conception of nursing

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Philosophy of Science
• Caring Theory

Background:

• Carper's work on aesthetic knowing in nursing is foundational but lacks an explicit nursing conception.
• This limits the development of the aesthetic pattern of knowing within nursing practice.
• The theory of nursing as caring provides a framework for expanding aesthetic knowing.

Observation:

• Aesthetic knowing in nursing involves the subjective experience of the nurse.
• The creation, expression, and appreciation of these experiences are central to aesthetic knowing.
• Encounter and interaction are crucial for appreciating aesthetic nursing experiences.

Findings:

• Aesthetic knowing in nursing is proposed as a dynamic process.
• This process encompasses the creation of the nursing experience.
• It also includes the expression and appreciation of that experience through interaction.

Implications:

• This expanded perspective offers a richer understanding of aesthetic knowing in nursing.
• It provides a clearer framework for developing the aesthetic pattern of knowing.
• Integrating aesthetic knowing with the theory of nursing as caring enhances nursing practice and knowledge development.