Nursing & Healthcare Science for ANP

Focusing on ways of knowing in nursing, the pattern that I am most comfortable using is the empirical pattern. In nursing, I like empirical knowledge because it allows one to conduct research, gain evidence, and provide quality care (Averill & Clements, 2007). In other words, one must search for knowledge, apply the general law, and find factual evidence. I am also comfortable with this pattern since it involves the use of professional practice which is influenced by developing proposals. I understand that nursing is a field that needs empirical research or the act of conducting experiments and test to come up with a true and a justifiable conclusion about a specific issue.

Another reason why I like the empirical pattern as the way of knowing is that in nursing, I have learned that clinicians must engage in evidence-based research (Averill & Clements, 2007). The purpose of using evidence-based research is to provide effective and efficient care.  To gain this evidence-based knowledge, one must employ the empirical pattern. Note that empirical pattern will enable one to engage in observation, and determine the outcome measures (Averill & Clements, 2007). Therefore, I like this pattern as it gives the chance to observe, employ both inductive and deductive patterns, and address a situation by moving beyond the traditional scientific paradigm.

            On the different patterns of knowing, ethical knowing is not my area of strength. This is because, in nursing, nurses encounter ethical dilemmas, and they find it challenging to figure out what to do. They end up suffering from moral distress and carry a moral burden. I have weaknesses in making an ethical decision, and therefore in providing care, I prefer empirical knowing since it is associated with evidence but not ethical knowledge which entails the best course of action to take in certain situations (Averill & Clements, 2007).  My point is in nursing; I apply the acceptable behaviors through conducting empirical research. I have weaknesses in making a moral judgment and apply justness and rightness. Instead, I have strengths in focusing on credibility, which does not crash with differing human responses, but it relies on dynamic interactions. Even if the empirical knowledge comes from a different objective view, nurses make a conclusion by selecting the correct answer.

In my worldview, the different ways of knowing and their uses reflect that nursing practice can be understood through multidimensional perspectives (Averill & Clements, 2007).  This means that students can develop knowledge using diverse methods as long other the knowledge gained will bring innovative applications, and reduce health disparities. I also believe that all patterns of knowing can be applied in the nursing practice. This is because, for nurses to provide effective and efficient services, they need scientific research, moral knowledge, personal knowledge, and aesthetics (Averill & Clements, 2007). Another thing is nursing is a field where students come from diverse backgrounds.  Therefore, all students should be allowed to seek skills and truth, apply their own way of thinking, solve complex problems using their own experiences, and own perceptions. In general, the different ways of knowing in the field of nursing indicates that students can derive knowledge from different sources, but it is important to concentrate on a single pattern (Averill & Clements, 2007). In the end, all pattern will be applied in the nursing learning, and as a result, there will be holistic learning where it will be easier to solve the problems that arise in health and social environment. I believe that these patterns provide knowledge which is used to improve social wellbeing. Note that the different patterns reflect the philosophy of life or the act of solving social problems. When students choose a specific pattern of knowing and studies human health and ways to improve health using a different perspective, the changing world will not bring confusion (Averill & Clements, 2007).  This is because problem solvers are well informed since they have multiple ways of knowing.

 

 

Reference

 

Averill, J. B., & Clements, P. T. (2007). Patterns of knowing as a foundation for action-sensitive

pedagogy. Qualitative Health Research, 17(3), 386-399.