School of Thoughts in Nursing
Philosophy considers how different aspects are related. In nursing, philosophy is used to determine the association between intervention or treatment ideas and theories. Some of the philosophical schools of thoughts utilized in the nursing field include the received view, perceived view, and postmodernism. Philosophical thinking in the field of nursing stems from the need to solve clinical problems that nurses are faced with daily at the workplace. In most cases, these problems are multidimensional and complex and require the use of controlled clinical trials or extensive research to solve them. The perceived view is based on a set of assumptions that rely on the need to provide through observations and research.
In nursing, the perceived view dictates that theories used to explain concepts are neither right nor wrong. The perceived view relies on observational studies to generate theories that can be used to solve other nursing problems. Observation in the perceived view is key and is considered value-laden. It requires the application of one’s senses. It is considered accurate but not precise in resolving all aspects of a problem, especially when dealing with multidimensional issues. In the perceived view, aspects might be detailed but not necessarily measurable (Thompson, 2016). The researcher is considered part of the process of seeking an understanding of the issue.
This school of thought was selected because it offers a clear understanding of the existence of concepts such as evidence-based studies in nursing. This school of thought explains the changes that have occurred in the nursing field from a received view approach to a perceived view approach. While the received view is based on a set of ideas that are rarely challenged, as such suggesting that the decision of the idea has been made final, the perceived view allows for continued alteration of theories based on new evidence. In nursing, the perceived view bases the theoretical nursing constructions on alternative approaches that accept values, history, subjectivity, different realities, while at the same time retaining scientific knowledge through an evidence-based practice approach. The perceived review aims to treat the individual with the illness depending on their background health status, the presentation of their illness, and other individualized factors rather than addressing the diagnosis of the disease (Warelow, 2013). This approach offers a commitment to the patients as individuals.
Most nursing theories rely on Nightingale as a figurehead. Her environmental theory offers nurses the belief that nursing could improve a patient’s environment as a way of improving the patient’s health outcomes. By looking at an individual as a whole, the perceive view enables nurses to utilized past theories and concepts, their skills, experiences, and the research they have conducted in making a critical decision about each patient’s treatment plan (Warelow, 2013). Nola Pender viewed cognitive variables like situational influences and their interaction with behavioral characteristics as factors that need to be consider while promoting health among patients. Considering that behavior is dependent on an individual’s surrounding, combining concepts of Nightingale’s theory, Pender’s theory, nursing skills, and experiences, with the assessment conducted on patients can lead to successful management of patients (Hosseini, Torab, Taghdisi, & Vardanjani, 2013). This school of thought offers a better understanding on the practices in the nursing field today as compared to other views.
Nursing is an evolving field. The perceived view incorporates both the approaches used in the past with current methods in solving nursing problems. The perceived view promotes the use of a holistic approach to care practices based on the nurses’ perceptions, research, and patients’ preferences as a way of proving lasting solutions to diseases.
References
Hosseini, M., Torab, T. A., Taghdisi, M. H., & Vardanjani, S. A. (2013). Study on Situational Influences Perceived in Nursing Discipline on Health Promotion: A Qualitative Study. ISRN Nursing, Article ID 218034. Retrieved from https://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn/2013/218034/.
Thompson, C. J. (2016). Philosophy & Science Terms and Concepts. Retrieved from Nursing Theory and Philosophy: Terms & Concepts Guide!: https://nursingeducationexpert.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/NursingPhilTheoryGuide-.pdf
Warelow, P. J. (2013). Changing Philosophies: A Paradigmatic Nursing Shift from Nightingale. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 36-45. Retrieved from http://www.ajan.com.au/vol31/issue1/5warelow.pdf.