Shaping Nursing with Philosophical Approaches - Coursework Example

?Critical research and individualism Introduction: The field of nursing science comprises of a wide array of experiences encountered by nurses duringthe course of their practice. It is, hence, imperative for them to understand, analyze, and critically assess the implications of such experiences on their patients as well as on the society as a whole. The realm of nursing practice entails the fundamental principle of patient care and ensuring overall family health which involves and yet not limited to, various issues that require an urgent and effective response to emotional stimuli, aggression, and/or agitation. The field of nursing research helps in integrating the various aspects of patient care including biological, social, emotional, as well as scientific and philosophical that have a direct and far-reaching impact on the provision of healthcare. The recent developments in the field of nursing science play a key role in influencing and shaping the discipline of nursing through a range of philosophical approaches. This essay aims to assess the various philosophical underpinnings of this profession, the implications of nursing theories in practice, and a critical analysis of various competing theories of scientific method, particularly the critical theory and the concept of individualism. Critical social theory: The critical social theory has been recently gaining increasing significance in the field of nursing science due to its philosophical approach towards understanding of science. The concept of individual liberty is somewhat restricted in contemporary society due to a range of socio-political restrictions. Such restrictive policies which are rampant across all sections of the society tend to have various negative implications on individuals due to its dominant presence as an integral element of the societal structure resulting in oppression of individual expression. The critical analysis of a given situation helps in highlighting the issue of oppression and the socially constructed borders on human freedom. The critical social theory helps in understanding the manner in which the dominant social values affect and influence the profession of nursing and subsequently the health and welfare of the society at large (Munhall, 2011). The critical social theory is hence involved in transforming existing social orders with a view to influence and coax a positive change in the social norms and hence the power relations to enable greater freedom and promote the greater social and moral values of equality, freedom, and justice (Hitchcock, Schubert, and Thomas, 2003). The field of nursing, being a 'practice science', is essentially involved in pursuing the primary goal of nursing inquiry and knowledge development in order to enable informed decision making and application of the same in practice in ways which are both - socially relevant as well as scientifically sound (Browne, 2000). This theory plays a key role in elucidating the relationship between theory and practice. It insists that the relationship between nursing theory and practice is reflexive in nature thus implying that 'theory feeds into practice, and practice informs theory' (Daly, Speedy, and Jackson, 2009: 116). According to Mill, Allen, and Morrow (2001) critical theory has the ability to "provide the broad philosophical foundation required by the discipline of nursing" (p. 112). The potential contributions of critical social theory in the field of nursing as well as its philosophical implications are fundamental to the field of nursing and healthcare delivery in general. The application of critical social theory has been widely recommended by various nursing theorists for specific research, as a guide to nursing research and to use as a framework for developing the discipline. According to Habermas (1968 qtd. in Browne, 2000) "critically oriented science should produce emancipatory knowledge that promotes social change and a more just society" (Browne, 2000: 40). Individualism: Individualism is one of the most basic foundations on which various cultures particularly in the western world are based. The provision of healthcare in the western world is focused on various issues such as disease processes, pharmacology etc. According to this perspective, the concept of individual physical health is viewed differently from other aspects of health (Doane and Varcoe, 2005). For instance, all individuals admitted for or receiving care are concerned regarding their personal health and well-being, since they enter the healthcare system as an ethical individualist. It is on account of this reason that various lawsuits have been filed over the years against the healthcare system for their failure to acknowledge the individual rights of the patient. In the western healthcare system, patients are entitled to individual legal rights which can be enforced by them in case of failure on the part of the healthcare system such as violation of their legal right to consent; refusal to provide treatment and care to the patient; the legal right of confidentiality; the right to refuse donation of organs; the right of children to receive medical attention irrespective of the wishes / approval of their parents etc among others (Husted and Husted, 2007). The concept of individualism or anti-collectivism was a dominant philosophy in the nineteenth century Britain and began gaining greater significance by the turn of the twentieth century. According to this ideology, the key factors such as morals and ethics of an individual and their rights are of critical concern for the society, and must take precedence over the 'collective' i.e. family, organizations, the society, and even the state. This theory states that individuals alone have natural moral rights since organizations are merely an extension of the 'individual'. Hence the concept of individualism refers to a society wherein the social phenomenon can be positively transformed by promoting the appreciation of individual roles and functions within the existing social structure (Mason and Whitehead, 2003). However, despite the apparent benefits of the application of the concept of individualism and its various positive implications on the development of the society as well as on the practice of nursing, it is often argued by critics that the philosophical underpinnings of the significance of the greater good in the western society acts as a paradox to the concept of individualism. Intellectuals, critics, and researchers have argued that individualism has led the western society to become too individualistic resulting in a gross neglect of caring for the greater good and fading of moral and ethical concerns of caring for others before self (Johnston and Scholler-Jaquish, 2007; Howkins and Thornton, 2002). According to a study conducted by Hofstede (2001), it was observed that a majority of the western world including countries like the USA, Britain, Australia, and Canada ranked highest in individualism (qtd in Music, 2011). The basic values such as kindness and generosity are, hence, becoming obsolete in the contemporary society. This belief is a direct consequence of the apparent clash between two conflicting ideologies – that of individualism vs. collectivism. Regardless of the differences between the two conflicting ideologies the worldview of the field of nursing is inevitably embedded with the concept of individualism. Individualism enables the promotion of positive notions such as freedom, self-autonomy, security, as well as personal rights and entitlement provided by law. The implementation and integration of such values in the profession of nursing enables the nurses to offer effective healthcare services across all sections of the society without any bias or prejudicial treatment, thus, ensuring the greater good of the community at large. The peaceful co-existence of the collective as well as personal good of the society can be ensured by enhancing the capability and understanding among the nurses and promoting professionalism in the field of nursing and healthcare. Such efforts would undeniably result in the improvement of the social framework of the societies we live in, encourage and enable empowerment of both – the nurses as well as the patients; and improve the health condition of the communities. References Browne, A.J. (2000). The potential contribution of critical social theory to nursing science, Canadian journal of nursing research. 32 (2): p. 35-55. Daly, J., Speedy, S., & Jackson, D. (2009). Contexts of nursing: An introduction. Elseiver Australia, p. 115-117. Doane, G. H., & Varcoe, C. (2005). Family nursing as relational inquiry: Developing health-promoting practice. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Publication, p. 24-26. Hitchcock, J. E., Schubert, P. E., & Thomas, S. A. (2003). Community health nursing: Caring in action. San Francisco, CA: Cengage Learning Publication, p. 381-382. Howkins, E., & Thornton, C. (2002). Managing and leading innovation in health care: Six steps to effective management series. Elseiver Health Sciences. Husted, J. H., & Husted, G. L. (2007). Ethical decision making in nursing and health care: The symphonological approach. New York, NY: Springer Publishing, p. 92-94. Johnston, N. E., & Scholler-Jaquish, A. (2007). Meaning in suffering: Caring practices in the health professions. University of Wisconsin Press. Mason, T., & Whitehead, E. (2003). Thinking nursing. Berkshire, England: McGraw Hill International, p. 294-296. Mill, J. E., Allen, M. N., & Morrow, R. A. (2001). Critical theory: Critical methodology to disciplinary foundations in nursing. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research, vol. 33 (2): p. 109-127. Music, G. (2011). Nurturing natures: Attachment and children's emotional, socio-cultural, and brain development. New York, NY: Taylor & Francis Publication, p. 76-78. Munhall, P. L. (2011). Nursing research. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers. Read More