Theoretical Nursing:
Dilemmas
A Basic
or an
Applied Science?
JOHN R. PHILLIPS, RN; PHD* Nursing, like other sciences, has dilemmas created by the strong opposing views of its members. A current concern is the question: Is nursing a basic science or an applied science ? Such a question expresses the dualistic rather than the unitary nature of nursing science. Knowledge of the basis of the dilemma helps to clarify the dualistic perspective, and to posit the notion that nursing is a synthesis of basic and applied science. The first task is to clarify the meanings of basic and applied. Basic science has two distinctions: basic science in nursing and basic science of’ nursing (Jennings, 1986). Basic science in nursing involves use of knowledge from other sciences. Some nursing schools imbue students with knowledge from sciences such as chemistry, biology, and physics. We have practitioners, theorists, and researchers who foster use of knowledge from other sciences. Schools of
nursing. Many ot the concepts, theories, and practices do not specify a nursing theoretical base. On the other hand, the applied science of nursing emerges from the basic science of nursing whereby nursing knowledge is generated that is relevant for the practice of nursing. Theories and concepts derived from the basic science of nursing provide the hallmarks for its practice-its applied science.
nursing, particularly
applies science of nursing. It is this synthesis that mends the polarity between nursing theory and practice as it provides the bridge between nursing science and practice to create science-based nursing practice. It is a disservice to the profession when nurses view nursing as an applied science that just uses knowledge from other sciences for its
programs, advocate
some
graduate nursing
of such knowledge. This is evidenced through extensive course work and research primarily within the perspective of sciences other than nursing. This non-nursing knowledge base along with the knowledge generated through its use serve as the basic science in nursing. The advocates for a basic science of nursing adhere to the belief that nursing knowledge is use
generated from a nursing perspective, especially through the use of nursing models and theories. This is not to say that knowledge generated by other sciences is not used. It does mean that such knowledge is transposed into a nursing perspective and nursing research is done to verify its appropriateness for nursing science. As can be seen, there are two differen. views of nursing as a basic science. There are also two distinctions for applied science: applied science in nursing and applied science of nursing. The applied science in
nursing simply means the use of knowledge from other sciences, which has been systematized into a basic science for practice in *
There is another dimension of the basic-
applied science dilemma. Consider the notion that both views can be synthesized into what is already known as nursing science. This synthesis enables nurses to go beyond the boundaries imposed by the dualism of basic or applied science to a higher level of conceptualization. The higher level of conceptualization leads to new ideas and ways to practice, which facilitate further research to discover new knowledge. This synthesis refers to basic and
practice. This view portrays nurses as scientific handmaidens in the generation of knowledge. On the contrary, nurses who believe in the synthesis of basic and applied science of nursing perceive themselves and will be perceived by others as scientists, scholars, and practitioners in their own right, who are responsible for the creation of nursing science. They are the discoverers of knowledge that can be applied creatively to the care of human beings-the art of nursing. The synthesis of a basic science and applied science of nursing is necessary to shape the future reality of nursing. To rise above the basic-applied science dilemma in this way opens new vistas for creatively conceptualizing nursing knowledge that will guide practice.
New York University. New York, NY.
References B. M. (1986). Nursing science: More promise than threat. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 11, 505511.
Jennings,
144
Downloaded from nsq.sagepub.com at MEMORIAL UNIV OF NEWFOUNDLAND on April 4, 2015
Dilemmas
A Basic
or an
Applied Science?
JOHN R. PHILLIPS, RN; PHD* Nursing, like other sciences, has dilemmas created by the strong opposing views of its members. A current concern is the question: Is nursing a basic science or an applied science ? Such a question expresses the dualistic rather than the unitary nature of nursing science. Knowledge of the basis of the dilemma helps to clarify the dualistic perspective, and to posit the notion that nursing is a synthesis of basic and applied science. The first task is to clarify the meanings of basic and applied. Basic science has two distinctions: basic science in nursing and basic science of’ nursing (Jennings, 1986). Basic science in nursing involves use of knowledge from other sciences. Some nursing schools imbue students with knowledge from sciences such as chemistry, biology, and physics. We have practitioners, theorists, and researchers who foster use of knowledge from other sciences. Schools of
nursing. Many ot the concepts, theories, and practices do not specify a nursing theoretical base. On the other hand, the applied science of nursing emerges from the basic science of nursing whereby nursing knowledge is generated that is relevant for the practice of nursing. Theories and concepts derived from the basic science of nursing provide the hallmarks for its practice-its applied science.
nursing, particularly
applies science of nursing. It is this synthesis that mends the polarity between nursing theory and practice as it provides the bridge between nursing science and practice to create science-based nursing practice. It is a disservice to the profession when nurses view nursing as an applied science that just uses knowledge from other sciences for its
programs, advocate
some
graduate nursing
of such knowledge. This is evidenced through extensive course work and research primarily within the perspective of sciences other than nursing. This non-nursing knowledge base along with the knowledge generated through its use serve as the basic science in nursing. The advocates for a basic science of nursing adhere to the belief that nursing knowledge is use
generated from a nursing perspective, especially through the use of nursing models and theories. This is not to say that knowledge generated by other sciences is not used. It does mean that such knowledge is transposed into a nursing perspective and nursing research is done to verify its appropriateness for nursing science. As can be seen, there are two differen. views of nursing as a basic science. There are also two distinctions for applied science: applied science in nursing and applied science of nursing. The applied science in
nursing simply means the use of knowledge from other sciences, which has been systematized into a basic science for practice in *
There is another dimension of the basic-
applied science dilemma. Consider the notion that both views can be synthesized into what is already known as nursing science. This synthesis enables nurses to go beyond the boundaries imposed by the dualism of basic or applied science to a higher level of conceptualization. The higher level of conceptualization leads to new ideas and ways to practice, which facilitate further research to discover new knowledge. This synthesis refers to basic and
practice. This view portrays nurses as scientific handmaidens in the generation of knowledge. On the contrary, nurses who believe in the synthesis of basic and applied science of nursing perceive themselves and will be perceived by others as scientists, scholars, and practitioners in their own right, who are responsible for the creation of nursing science. They are the discoverers of knowledge that can be applied creatively to the care of human beings-the art of nursing. The synthesis of a basic science and applied science of nursing is necessary to shape the future reality of nursing. To rise above the basic-applied science dilemma in this way opens new vistas for creatively conceptualizing nursing knowledge that will guide practice.
New York University. New York, NY.
References B. M. (1986). Nursing science: More promise than threat. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 11, 505511.
Jennings,
144
Downloaded from nsq.sagepub.com at MEMORIAL UNIV OF NEWFOUNDLAND on April 4, 2015
