School of Nursing - UT Health Science Center San Antonio

Fall 2008

NURS 6225 - Philosophy of Nursing Science

This course resides in the Department of Family Nursing Care

Course packet / additional materials will be located on E-Reserves or in the copy box.

FACULTY
Margaret Brackley, PhD, RN, FAAN, FNP-BC/PMHCNS-BC/PMHNP-BC 
E-mail: brackley@uthscsa.edu
Phone: (210) 567- 3809
Office: 2.362
Office Hours: TBA
Family Nursing Care Department                                        		Gail Williams, PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC
E-mail: williamsg@uthscsa.edu
Phone: (210) 567- 3811
Office: 2.358
Office Hours: TBA
Family Nursing Care Department

COURSE DESCRIPTION
The focus of this course is on articulating the difference in models of knowing, and on analyzing the role of science and the role of scientists in society. Emphasis is on the process of analysis, the ability to present the pros and cons of current and anticipated philosophical ethical issues influencing specific clinical situations, and on development and use of technologies in health care.

CREDIT AND TIME ALLOCATION
Two (2) semester hours (2 hours seminar)

PREREQUISITES
Study of advanced professional issues, roles, socialization.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
  1. Evaluate the interface of nursing’s ways of knowing and the development/implementation of nursing science.
  2. Analyze scientific approaches to development of nursing knowledge within the context of major philosophical paradigms.
  3. Analyze the congruence between philosophical paradigmatic views of nursing and personal philosophy of nursing/nursing science.
  4. Contrast philosophical paradigms accepted in nursing with those of other health disciplines.
  5. Formulate a philosophical argument regarding science in a clinical practice setting.
  6. Examine personal philosophy of science, nursing science, and the clinical scientist role.
  7. Evaluate relevant theory, practice and research.
  8. Examine the relationship among theory, practice and research.

CLINICAL OBJECTIVES

Competence: Critical analysis of philosophical underpinnings of various theoretical and methodological approaches to research problems areas. Development of a logical rationale.

Skill: Write logical argument-including at least 2 sided argument, grounds on both sides, analysis grounds and outcome and justify approach. Write personal philosophy of nursing science.

CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION / GRADES
25% - Class Participation
25% - Oral Presentations
50% - Scholarly Papers
100% - Total
 A = 90-100%
B = 80-89%
C = 70-79%
D = 60-69%
F = Below 60%

The student should prepare for extensive class discussion. This is a seminar. To prepare, all assignments should be thoroughly read and a list of questions for the class developed. Articles should be selected in your specialty that augment your readings and add to the class discussion. Each member of the class is responsible for learning. Below you will find a list of the top 5 journals doctoral students read (Gay, Edgil & Rozmos, 1989) plus others that will be of interest from the faculty's experience.

Nursing Research

Scholarly Inquiry for Nursing Practice

Nursing Outlook

Nursing Science Quarterly

Nursing and Health Care

Image: Journal of Nursing Scholarship

Research in Nursing and Health

Advances in Nursing Science

Western Journal of Nursing Research

Nursing Philosophy

SUGGESTION FOR BEFORE UNDERTAKING WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS: Read the APA Manual. This manual is designed to foster scholarly writing for publication. Be sure to read the section on Guidelines to Reduce Bias in Language and Ethics of Scientific Publication. Be aware of the Regents Rules' on plagiarism and use of non-original work. Intellectual property will be taken seriously in this course.

PURPOSE: The purpose for these assignments is to develop an explicit philosophy of nursing science, which is congruent with one's personal philosophy of nursing care, through the application of philosophical thinking to a practice and/or research issue. To consider alternative views to explain the phenomena. To develop the ability to present an argument in both written and verbal formats.

CONTENT: To achieve the purpose of these assignments the student will prepare for, present and stimulate a dialogue concerning a selected topic or issue, addressing the topic/issue for each class in terms of: A written scholarly 5-7 page paper will accompany each assignment.

Paper 1. Your personal grounded conception of nursing (your personal philosophy of nursing science)
    I. Discuss your personal conception of nursing grounded in your practice, research and education
        a. Describe an exemplar of your nursing practice that exquisitely captures the essence of your philosophy.
        b. Include definitions of nurse, person, health, and environment.
        c. Discuss the relationship between the four concepts (how do nurses accomplish their work in regard to
            health with persons and in what environments using your exemplar).
        d. Discuss your personal view of how nursing differs from other health care scientific disciplines.

Paper 2. Congruence with extant philosophical paradigm
    I. Address congruence between personal philosophy (first paper) and extant paradigmatic/philosophical
       views of nursing, humans, health, and environment and their relationships.
        a. Compare and contrast totality and simultaneity paradigms or alternative conceptualization of
            nursing paradigms.
        b. Compare and contrast your personal definitions and views about relationships between concepts
            with paradigmatic views.
        c. Discuss which paradigmatic view your personal conceptualizations fit most closely with providing
            rationale.
        d. Discuss the role of human being in the study, the role of the researcher and the product of research
            (Values/beliefs/assumptions) of the selected paradigmatic view.

Paper 3. Develop and write a logical argument, including at least a two-sided argument, that support and refute the relationship between paradigmatic views of nursing science, scientific world views and your philosophic perspective of nursing you have developed.
    I. Compare and contrast currently accepted scientific world views
        a. Discuss the relationship between the broader scientific world view and your selected nursing
            paradigm.
        b. Discuss the epistemological and ontological congruence between your world view, nursing's world
            view, and the scientific world view.
        c. Use examples from studies done in your area to support your arguments.
        d. Discuss the philosophical implications of using your selected world view to do the type of clinical
            research you envision with your population.

SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY
Students are expected to be above reproach in all scholastic activities. Students who engage in scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and dismissal from the university. "Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, and submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts." Regents Rules and Regulations, Part One, Chapter VI, Section 3, Subsection 3.2, Subdivision 3.22.

American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accommodations
Any student seeking ADA Accommodations under the American with Disabilities Act should contact the Associate Dean for Students within the first week of the semester so that appropriate accommodations may be arranged. A Request for Accommodations (Form 100) must be completed. These forms are available in the Office for Students Room: 1.118-16

REQUIRED TEXT / REFERENCE

Before class begins by August 27, 2008, the student will read:

American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication manual of the american psychological association. (5th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Gaarder, Jostein & Moller, P. (2007). Sophie's world: A novel about the history of philosophy.  New York, NY: Berkley Books.

Polifroni, E.C. & Welch, M. (1998). Perspectives on philosophy of science in nursing: An historical and contemporary anthology. (1st ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.

Rodgers, B.L. (2005). Developing nursing knowledge: Philosophical traditions and influences. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.

RECOMMENDED (OPTIONAL) TEXT / REFERENCE

none

CONTENT OUTLINE
  1. Clinical Nurse Scientist Role.
  2. Origin of philosophic views of science.
  3. Natural science philosophy.
  4. Human science philosophy.
  5. Nursing philosophical paradigms
    1. Relationships between philosophical paradigms and:
      1. Knowledge discovery
      2. Theory
      3. Values/Ethics
  6. Nursing ways of knowing
    1. Empirics
    2. Ethics
    3. Aesthetics
    4. Personal
  7. Reasoned thought
  8. Classical logical theory
  9. Praxis
  10. Philosophical issues related to the development of the clinical nurse scientist role.

CALENDAR - First Week Only
Please check the Fall 2008 Schedules for recent updates on Class Dates & Room.
Date Topic / Assignment Due
August 27, 2008 Come prepared to discuss - Gaardner, Jostein (2007) Sophie's world: A novel about the history of philosophy. New York, NY: Berkley Books