This book presents a pragmatic approach to the philosophy of nursing science that underpins evidence-based practice (EBP) including research methodology. The book explains the foundational philosophical principles underpinning scientific enquiry written in an accessible manner, to enable readers to grasp the key arguments of scientific enquiry, its philosophical background, and why it is essential for nurses to have a good understanding of science, research methods, and how it underpins modern nursing research and EBP.For a highly science based health discipline it is a paradox that most modern nursing students have a limited grasp of the foundational principles of scientific philosophy. Indeed, many will not have explored these ideas since high school, as they are not covered in any depth in modern university nursing programs. The author is a passionate advocate for scientific enquiry, and seeks to address this deficit and give nursing students and practicing nurses the tools to present clear scientific arguments to support practice, and detect poorly constructed, pseudo-scientific or simply bad scientific practices.The author explores the concept of nursing as a practice profession, explaining why nurses need a solid grounding in the philosophy of science to inform their practice. The subject matter is treated succinctly, with expansive discussion of more challenging concepts, but always with a practical emphasis in the context of EBP. The author considers the nursing profession in terms of modern scientific enquiry and praxis, explaining the key scientific concepts and principles that underpin contemporary evidence-based health care and exploring the practical applications of the philosophy of science for both practicing nurses and nursing students.
