Reference no: EM133964371

Question: How do we know what we know? When writing about theory, it is important to consider knowledge, since knowledge development within a discipline occurs basically through the development of theories. Knowledge is defined as "familiarity, gained experience; the act or state of understanding; clear perception of facts or truth" (Merriam-Webster, n.d.). In addition, specialized knowledge defines the particular competence of a group, establishes a legitimate basis for the authority of the group, provides status and prestige, and facilitates the socialization of new members into the group.

Theorists have classified knowledge development in different ways.
Carper identified four patterns of knowing which include:
empirics: the science of nursing (describes, explains, and predicts phenomena of special concern to the discipline of nursing)
aesthetics: the art of nursing (perceives through empathy; expresses through creativity, designing and providing efficient nursing care)
personal knowledge: (knows the self; accepts others; engages in process of becoming)
ethics: the moral component (focuses on obligation, moral code, and responsibility)
Empirical research, whether quantitative or qualitative, provides the foundation for evidence-based practice. Just a few years ago, only quantitative research was regarded as being "real". Qualitative methods constituted the "poor stepchildren" of empirical investigation, and often were viewed as what researchers used when their research was not good enough to fit into quantitative patterns.

That is by no means the case today, as researchers have worked for several years to improve the quality of qualitative investigation. Today, qualitative methods may be preferable because they consider the needs and wishes of the patient, who is charged with taking on greater responsibility for his own care. Your reliable and affordable assignment help starts today!

Ethical knowledge is that which relates to moral issues and the need to make judgments in a given situation. This is a concept well known to active, practicing nurses, and it is one that many face on a daily basis.