This esteemed text for graduate-level nursing students focuses on the science and philosophy of nursing knowledge development, with a special emphasis on theory as a tool in developing practice-relevant knowledge. It is distinguished by its focus on practical applications of theory for scholarly, evidence-based approaches. The second edition features important updates and a reorganization of information to better highlight the roles of theory and the major philosophical perspectives in knowledge development. It also introduces two new chapters: The DNP Project: Translating Research Into Knowledge for Practice, and Generating Knowledge in Practice. Summary Points and Questions for Reflection at the end of each chapter help to reinforce knowledge.
The text offers a comprehensive overview of the philosophy and history of science, the structures of nursing knowledge, and a path for knowledge development. It is unique in its reach beyond the traditional views about theory in nursing. It advocates equipping practitioners as well as other nurses with the tools to make theory more relevant to their own practice and to inspire confidence to be active participants in building knowledge for nursing. The text will help students become aware of their own philosophical and theoretical ideas and knowledge embedded in their practice and to learn strategies for developing theory-based knowledge—strategies that are practice relevant and practice based.