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The ideal and the real: some thoughts on theoretical developments in British nursing

Draper, Peter

Authors

Peter Draper



Abstract

Two types of nursing theory are described: the realistic, whose purpose is to account for the complex reality of nursing; and the idealistic, whose purpose is to describe an idealised world of nursing as it ‘ought to be’.

It is argued that British nurses have overemphasised the importance of idealistic theory, and that this has retarded the development of our understanding of the real world of nursing.

I recommend that the hermeneutical approach, as described by Gadamer (1989) might provide a base from which the balance might be redressed.

Citation

Draper, P. (1991). The ideal and the real: some thoughts on theoretical developments in British nursing. Nurse education today, 11(4), 292-294. https://doi.org/10.1016/0260-6917%2891%2990092-o

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Mar 20, 1991
Online Publication Date Apr 8, 2004
Publication Date 1991-08
Journal Nurse Education Today
Print ISSN 0260-6917
Electronic ISSN 1532-2793
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 11
Issue 4
Pages 292-294
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/0260-6917%2891%2990092-o
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/400222
Publisher URL https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/026069179190092O?via%3Dihub