Foundations of Nursing Knowledge
This nursing theorist introduced four fundamental patterns of knowing in 1978.
Who is Barbara Carper?
Thorne warns that uncritical reliance on personal knowing may legitimize these as professional knowledge.
What are individual beliefs or opinions?
Thorne describes nursing as having this enduring responsibility to society involving advocacy, equity, and respect for patients.
What is a social mandate?
Thorne says nursing must balance personal knowing with this.
What is science or evidence?
Along with empirics, ethics, and aesthetics, this way of knowing focuses on self-awareness and authentic nurse–patient relationships.
What is personal knowing?
Using personal beliefs instead of research evidence can lead to this problem.
What is unsafe or poor nursing practice?
These values are shared by nurses as a profession, not based on individual beliefs.
What are shared professional values?
Thorne argues that nursing philosophy must stay connected to this area of practice involving standing up for what is just.
What is advocacy?
This pattern of knowing emphasizes scientific evidence, research, and measurable outcomes.
What is empirical knowing?
Thorne argues that personal knowing was never intended to justify this over shared disciplinary knowledge.
What are personal biases?
Nurses may personally disagree with a practice but still support patient access to it, such as this Canadian example Thorne uses.
What is Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD)?
According to Thorne, nurses must balance science with this principle when providing care.
What is individualized, person-centred care?
This way of knowing helps nurses decide what is right and wrong in care.
What is ethical knowing?
Thorne warns that personal knowing should not replace this.
What is evidence-based practice?
This allows nurses to opt out of care that conflicts with personal beliefs.
What is conscientious objection?
Personal knowing is safest when used within these broader frameworks.
What are nursing theories and/or frameworks?
This way of knowing involves understanding the meaning of a patient’s experience.
What is aesthetic knowing?
When personal knowing becomes dominant without balance, Thorne says nursing risks losing this.
What is its epistemological core or shared values or shared professional knowledge?
Thorne argues that without shared values, nursing risks being influenced by these forces instead of its mission.
What are political and religious ideologies or personal beliefs?
Without shared values, nursing risks being influenced by these instead of patient care.
What are personal, political, or religious beliefs?