Do you agree and disagree with Pesut & Johnson's assertion that "philosophical inquiry has yet to be positioned as contributing substantially to the field of nursing's inquiry. Why or why not?
Philosophical Inquiry in Nursing
After reading the article by Pesut and Johnson, I do agree that philosophical inquiry has yet to contribute substantially to the field of nursing. While agreeing with Pesut and Johnson, I believe that philosophy and theory needs to be more clearly defined as they relate to nursing. Philosophy has been defined as a love for wisdom. Nurses love wisdom and are in search for it. However the thoughts and ideas displayed by nurses if brought forth in another discipline would be considered philosophical. But due to substantial amount of objectivity in nursing, the thoughts and ideas were considered theories. Philosophy seeks to understand what is good and right as does nursing. Edwards (2001) characterization of the three strands of philosophical inquiry: philosophical presuppositions; philosophical problems; and scholarship (Pesut & Johnson, 2008) allow individuals to see how various aspects of nursing are threaded throughout philosophy. Philosophy seeks to challenge and refine knowledge gathered through scientific means. Therefore regardless of the scientific background and reliability of certain nursing knowledge the inquiry of philosophy seeks to answer the question ‘is this method good and right for the patient'. Furthermore, Florence Nightingale’s ideas of sanitation and implementation thereof was considered a theory but it possesses the characteristics of the tools of philosophical inquiry. In an effort to eradicate cholera, Nightingale made an assumption that clean water and cleanliness of the hospital would help. Then through her intellectual processing, she made a judgment and began to show reasoning behind her idea. The tool of wonder led to the practice of her initial assumptions about sanitation. Although philosophy has a stance in nursing, it has not taken a solid position that distinguishes certain ideas and thoughts clearly as nursing philosophy. After reading this article the evidence of philosophical inquiry is present but not always referred to as such.
Pesut, B. & Johnson, J. (2008). Reinstating the ‘Queen’: understanding philosophical inquiry in
nursing. Journal of Advanced Nursing 61(1), 115-121.
nursing. Journal of Advanced Nursing 61(1), 115-121.
Do you think that ignoring philosophy in nursing "puts nursing at risk"? Why or why not?
Philosophy is the love for wisdom. I believe that if nursing ignores philosophy it will put nursing at risk. Philosophy provides nursing with the basis to ask questions and steadily evolve. It allows nursing the opportuntiy to build upon its foundation and steadily search for knowledge. Therefore it is important to allow philosophy to have its inquiry into nursing. By allowing philosophy to have its inquiry into nursing this provides nursing with a broader basis upon which nursing can continue to develop as a profession.
What can the historical roots of nursing add to the scientific advancement of the profession?
In order for a profession to successfully advance it must be built on a solid foundation and utilize that foundation as stability. Nursing is rooted in the foundational teachings of Florence Nightingale. Nightingale's aim of nursing education is based on caring and serving society. Nightingale went on to develop a framework that involved caring for the poor, ill, and health education (Sapountzi-Krepia, 2004). Therefore the historical roots can add to the ideas, frameworks, and theories upon which nursing was first established. The roots also provide nursing with an opportunity to delve more into philosophy and establish a philosophical inquiry into nursing. The establishment of philosophical inquiry calls for the need to ask questions. Therefore historical roots provide the basis for which questions about nursing are to be asked. Only by asking questions and searching for answers will nursing advance scientifically.
Sapountzi-Krepia, D. (2004). Nursing: Forming the future through the richness of the past. ICUS Nurs
Web, 19, 1-3.
