Theoretical Foundations of Nursing

Vocabulary flashcards covering historical eras, philosophies of science, rationalism, empiricism, reasoning approaches, and emergent philosophical views in nursing.

Florence Nightingale

Pioneer who envisioned nurses as a body of educated women at a time when women were neither educated nor employed in public service.

World’s Fair in Chicago (1893)

The first national gathering of nurses, which took place in 1893.

American Journal of Nursing (AJN)

The first national organ of communication for nurses, established in October 1900.

Curriculum Era

A historical era addressing what nurses need to learn to be a nurse; a standardized curriculum was established in the mid 1930s.

Research Era

A mid-century historical era where more nurse leaders embraced higher education and arrived at a common understanding of the scientific age.

Graduate Education Era

A historical era in which Master’s degree programs in nursing emerged and the development of nursing knowledge was a major force.

Theory Era

A historical era starting from the 1970s marked by the proliferation of Nursing Doctoral Programs, introduction of new programs, and theory development.

Discipline

Specific to academe, referring to a branch of education, a department of learning, or a domain of knowledge.

Profession

Refers to a specialized field of practice, founded upon the theoretical structure of the science or knowledge of that discipline and accompanying practice abilities.

Rationalism

A view in Western philosophy that regards reason as the chief source and test of knowledge, emphasizing a priori reasoning.

René Descartes

The first of the modern rationalists (1596-1650) who held that knowledge of eternal truths could be attained by reason alone without needing experience ("I think, therefore I am").

A Priori Reasoning

Reasoning that utilizes deductive logic by reasoning from cause to effect or from a generalization to a particular instance, independent of experience.

Empiricism

The theory that human knowledge comes predominantly from experiences gathered through the five senses rather than being inherited.

John Locke

Philosopher (1632–1704) who provided the most elaborate and influential presentation of empiricism, holding that all knowledge comes from sensation or reflection.

A Posteriori

Concepts, beliefs, or propositions that are knowable or applied only on the basis of experience.

Positivism

A term first used by Comte that emerged as the dominant view of modern science; modern logical positivists held that empirical research and logical analysis produce scientific knowledge.

Deductive Approach

An approach where a social phenomenon is observed, a theory is developed to explain why it occurred, and the theory is tested through research to be accepted, rejected, or revised.

Inductive Approach

An approach where a social phenomenon is observed, data is collected on possible reasons and trends, and a theory is developed from this data to explain the phenomenon.

Deductive Reasoning

Reasoning that starts with generalities and moves to specifics.

Inductive Reasoning

Reasoning that starts with specifics and moves to generalities.

Paul Michael Foucault

Philosopher (1973) who analyzed the epistemology of human sciences, asserting that empirical knowledge is arranged in patterns and human knowledge and existence are profoundly historical.

Alfred Schutz

Philosopher (1967) whose main area of concern was how people grasp the consciousness of others within the "lifeworld," where social reality is created under social and cultural factors.

Edmund Husserl

Principal founder of phenomenology (1859 to 1938) who insisted that phenomenology is a science of consciousness rather than empirical things.

Phenomenology

A 20th-century philosophical movement and philosophy of experience whose primary objective is the direct investigation and description of phenomena as consciously experienced, free from unexamined preconceptions.