Nurses have sought to understand the art and science of nursing since the time of Florence Nightingale. Six fundamental ways of knowing underpin nursing science. These ways of knowing include: (a) personal, (b) empirical, (c) ethical, (d) aesthetics, (e) emancipatory, and (f) unknowing. Consider how these ways of knowing contribute to knowledge development by addressing the following.
- Which two ways of knowing have had the most influence on your understanding of nursing science?
- Which two ways of knowing have you not considered previously and how will these ways of knowing shape your future nursing practice?
- Provide an example of how nursing science encompassed the six ways of knowing to bridge a gap to improve a healthcare outcome.
