The implications of jumping on nursing bandwagons--the case of nursing models in Newfoundland hospitals

Nurses are as susceptible as others to trends and fads which have an unproven impact on the provision of quality health care. One enduring trend has been the adoption of nursing models which, it is claimed, unifies nurses in distinctive approaches to caring. In Newfoundland, the current financial constraints in health care have created an opportunity to investigate the soundness of jumping on the nursing model "bandwagon". The author explores the meaning of nursing knowledge, the importance of developing knowledge for safe, effective practice, and explains how nursing models have become associated with nursing knowledge and imbued with almost mystical qualities. One aspect not seen in the literature-that of the cost of implementing a model for nursing care in hospitals-is presented. The implications, financial and ethical, are discussed and, in conclusion, another approach to encourage philosophizing about nursing work is outlined.