Nursing science has experienced paradigm adjustments in the past. Thus, it is surprising to think that we may be on the verge of a paradigm shift. Many thought we might really have mature science making important scientific progress. For many nursing scientists, the last few years have been a period of normal science during which great progress was made to solve complex problems. Critically, nursing science links research to practice science provides the evidence for care that is designed to promote the most optimal health outcomes for all persons. Moreover, nursing science is not limited to a particular setting it takes place and is being used in hospitals, homes, communities, schools, and all other places where humans live and interact with each other and the environment in ways that affect health. Nursing science, in fact, has many phenomena of interest, including: wellness promotion in diverse communities, management of illness conditions and troubling symptoms, development and implementation of technology to address health problems and improve health outcomes, mechanisms to improve understanding of the biology or psychology or social factors that underlie disease or disease- or treatment-related complications, and end-of-life comfort and care. We will also affirm our understanding that nursing’s paradigm consists of person, health, environment, and nursing and that there are many theories used within nursing’s paradigm to solve problems important to the discipline and problems focused on improving health outcomes for all individuals and specifically for those to whom we (nurses) provide care. For the sake of this editorial, we will affirm our general acceptance of Kuhn’s argument about scientific revolutions. Now, we could argue about the validity of Kuhn’s work, and we could argue about the nature of nursing’s scientific paradigm or even if we have one. Again, according to Kuhn, paradigm shifts occur when a new paradigm is needed because there are new scientific problems that cannot be addressed with the existing paradigm. In short, a paradigm shift occurs when the dominant paradigm under which the “normal science” of a discipline functions ceases to be compatible with new phenomena, thus requiring a new theory or paradigm. According to Kuhn, a paradigm shift is a fundamental change in the basic concepts and experimental practices of a scientific discipline. That is, a paradigm directs scientists to study particular problems, ask particular questions, study those problems and questions in particular ways, interpret the results of studies within disciplinary theories, and continue to build and develop theoretical knowledge to define the discipline and field. Kuhn (1962) noted that a discipline’s paradigm focuses on the “problems” and solutions for scientists within that discipline. Although often used to describe a type of thought or behavior, as originally used in 1962 by Thomas Kuhn and as many of us learned during our doctoral training, a paradigm is a set of concepts and practices that define a scientific discipline at a particular point in time. Let’s start at the beginning.įirst, let us be clear about what we mean by a paradigm. At the same time, we also have interest and commitment to the goals of inclusive nursing science that improves health for all. Paradigm shifts are often not easy, but here’s the thing…after more than 25 years as nurse scientists, the current potential modification of our scientific paradigm has left us somewhat confused and worried.
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