What is philosophy? Philosophy is what a thinker has to say about a certain phenomenon, according to his or her own thought process, provides logic, and comes to a conclusion regarding a certain subject. Just like many great thinkers have come up with philosophies related to humanity, psychology, and the arts, similarly, three renowned names have emerged with theories regarding ‘nursing’. Their names are Nightingale, Watson, and Benner, each with a different view on nursing. These theories are called philosophies and are applied to today’s nursing practices.
Each theory is based on morality, and nursing itself is considered a ‘moral endeavor’. None of the theories can be equivalent, or better than the other; the one that is preferred more will be employed, but judgments cannot be based on the value of the theories put forth (Pilkington, F., 2003).
In the year 1946, Nightingale came up with a philosophy in her book ‘What it is and What it is Not’, pertaining to what nursing is. She stated that nursing is more related to health than to illness. She gave a theoretical perspective of patients’ links to surroundings, which were based on pure air, pure water, effective drainage, cleanliness and light, rather than on medications. Nightingale gave emphasis to the environment of the patient, for their well-being, and this philosophy is encouraged and executed widely in today’s nursing world. Apart from pure air and water, she stressed the importance of a good diet, rest, peace, and maximum care on the part of nurses, for the quick recovery of patients (Alligood & Marriner-Tomey, 2006).
Watson came up with a theory related to nursing in 1979, in ‘Nursing: The Philosophy and Science of Caring’. She gave importance to the human-to-human relationships in the field of nursing. She used the term ‘transpersonal caring’, for the changing phases the patient and nurse go through together, for the well-being of the patient. She stated that there has to be a connection between the nurse and the patient, and harmony between the body, mind, and soul has to exist for optimal health. If there is disharmony between these elements, and consequently between the nurse and the patient, then illness persists. Watson’s philosophy of nursing has been employed in numerous psychiatric-mental health nursing applications, as well as in rheumatoid arthritis cases (Alligood & Marriner-Tomey, 2006).
Benner’s philosophy of nursing involves personal knowledge of nursing practices, and pertains to how well a nurse may perform with practice. Importance to the care given by nurses was also stressed, and she researched nurses from their inception till the time they became experts. Benner’s philosophy has been employed in the innovations that are taking place in today’s nursing and is helpful in the execution of those changes.
The three theories contrast with each other; Nightingale stresses on material things, as important to nursing practices, whereas Watson and Benner lay importance on human relationships and resources as being more eminent for success. On one hand, material resources such as the elements of the environment are significant in nursing and affect the health of patients, while on the other, human behavior, and perfection of nursing practice with time progression has been emphasized. All three philosophies are effective in their own ways, and are being followed by the nurses of today, according to institutional preferences.
References
Alligood, M.R & Marriner-Tomey, A. (2006) Nursing Theory Utilizations & Application 3rd Ed. Publisher Elsevier Health Science. Web.
Pilkington, F. Book Reviews and New Media. Nursing Science Quarterly, Vol. 16, No. 1, 93-94 (2003). Web.