Worldviews are beliefs and assumptions used by a particular culture to interpret their experiences. Received, perceived, and postmodernism philosophical underpinnings have guided the practice of nursing since its inception (McEwen & Wills, 2019). Received view is mainly quantitative, and nursing as a science employs principles of objective observation, quantifying variables, statistical analysis, and experimentation (McEwen & Wills, 2019). For instance, nurses learn physiology and anatomy, established disciplines, and the medical model to inform care.
Philosophers supporting the perceived worldview place an important role of lived experiences, human interpretation, and interrelatedness in the nursing science. There is a deeper connection between an individual’s experiences, values, and perspectives, and each individual has their unique experiences with many interpretation of reality (Honey et al., 2020). An example of nursing behavior is using a patient’s lived experiences to give hope to others.
Postmodernism regards the importance of scientific methods, and also accommodates different interpretation of reality. The philosophical underpinning has been dominant in the modern times, allowing for integration of quantitative and qualitative methodologies to improve nursing practice (McEwen & Wills, 2019). An example in nursing is critique of both qualitative and quantitative research articles as part of evidence-based practice in care of patients.
Personally, the perceived view aligns with my worldview because I understand the uniqueness of every person. The philosophical underpinning allows patients to interpret their situations differently and take control of their health better, as opposed to following one stringent truth regarding their health. Furthermore, I believe that there is no one truth. Therefore, allowing the use of lived experience can influence care of patients and health outcomes of individuals.
References
Honey, A., Boydell, K. M., Coniglio, F., Do, T. T., Dunn, L., Gill, K., & Tooth, B. (2020). Lived experience research as a resource for recovery: A mixed methods study. BMC Psychiatry, 20(1), 1-13.
McEwen, M., & Wills, E. M. (2019). Theoretical basis for nursing (5th edition). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.