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

Draper, Peter

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
• 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