Hermeneutics: philosophical traditions and nursing practice research

Area of Science:

• Nursing Practice Research
• Philosophy of Science
• Healthcare Systems Analysis

Background:

• Nursing research has historically overlooked the systemic issues within American healthcare, including access barriers for millions.
• This oversight is linked to foundationalism, authoritarianism in healthcare, and nursing's professional isolation.
• Philosophical hermeneutics offers a lens to examine the inescapable influence of history on nursing practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the significance of philosophical hermeneutics for nursing practice research.
• To analyze how hermeneutic philosophy can inform research methodologies.
• To discuss the application of experimental design within a hermeneutic framework for nursing.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and conceptual analysis of philosophical hermeneutics.
• Examination of interpretive research traditions (e.g., grounded theory).
• Discussion of the role of experimental design in hermeneutic inquiry.

Main Results:

• Philosophical hermeneutics highlights the historical context and systemic implications for nursing.
• Hermeneutic philosophy offers valuable perspectives for interpretive nursing research methods.
• The study discusses the potential, and limitations, of experimental designs in addressing hermeneutic questions.

Conclusions:

• Nursing research needs to confront its entanglement with the broader healthcare system.
• Hermeneutic philosophy provides critical tools for understanding nursing's historical and systemic context.
• Integrating hermeneutic perspectives can enhance the depth and relevance of nursing practice research.