[The limits of it all. Critique of holistic concepts in nursing science]

Limits of the Whole. A critique of holistic concepts in nursing science. Nursing theories, almost without exception, are geared towards the so-called holistic paradigm in order to differentiate themselves from the deficits of a modern, functionally orientated medicine. This paper evaluates the holistic paradigm as a sound basis for nursing science. A comparison with developments in other scientific disciplines which have already moved away from holistic approaches shows that nursing science departs from these tendencies in allied disciplines. An empirical investigation of nurses' subjective theories about their patients shows that the holistic approach is also unsatisfactory for practical purposes. It is recommended to give up the holistic paradigm in nursing science.