Empiricism and Rationalism Importance in the Nursing Discipline

Nursing science is developed through empirical research and other methods of inquiry, such as
historical and philosophical inquiry. As nursing science evolved, it was characterized by two branching
philosophies of knowledge. These two perspectives are described using various terms, including
empiricist and interpretive, mechanistic, and holistic, quantitative, and qualitative, and deductive and
inductive forms of science. Understanding the nature of these philosophical stances makes it easier to
recognize what each form brings to nursing knowledge.

So, what is Empiricism, exactly? Empiricism is a philosophical view that holds experiences,
particularly sensory experiences, are the basis for knowledge of reality. According to empiricists, human
learning is based on our observations and senses; knowledge is not attainable without experience.
Accordingly, the positivist model's advantage is that it "describes the interrelationships" between the
constituent parts of observable occurrences. Empiricism consequently strives to explain the symptoms
or state of the patient and the causes which produced the condition, the goal is to "build explanatory
theory" and "situation-producing theory," according to Stevens Barnum. Through experimentation and
observation, this explanation is developed. Empiricism also has a big influence on nursing philosophy
and practice. Considering that it adds a functional or practical component to nursing theory. It has also
supported the academic development of nursing. Empiricism serves as a complement to nursing ethics,
which emphasizes patient care and dignity. By being aware of the patient's issues in a scientific context,
the nurse can improve patient care inside the medical facility. Nurses, for instance, learn through
observation and practice how to locate veins, inject intravenous fluids or medications, monitor vital
signs, give immunizations, and support doctors during medical procedures. Empiricism is a supplement
to nursing ethics, which places a strong emphasis on the care and dignity of patients. By being aware of
the patient's issues in a scientific context, the nurse can improve patient care inside the medical facility.
Nurses, for instance, learn through observation and practice how to locate veins, inject intravenous
fluids or medications, monitor vital signs, give immunizations, and support doctors during medical
procedures. When nurses acquire empirical knowledge, they are more likely to employ fact-based
strategies to address the needs of patients. According to the Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences,
the development of nursing knowledge through an empiricism approach is also appropriate because
nursing practice requires predictions and explanations, and empiricism has the capacity for an
explanation, which is necessary for clinical practice.

Knowing more about rationalism, we can observe that it uses reason as its main source and
standard for determining knowledge or truth. According to rationalism, knowledge can only be attained
by reason because truth in this situation is intellectual rather than sensory. Rationalism is therefore a
priori, indicating that we learn by reason as opposed to experience. Another thing to keep in mind is
that all clinical judgments are guided by rationalism, which is the pursuit of and attention to underlying
disease processes. For instance, in nursing, it is possible to deduce that a lack of social support (cause)
will result in hospital readmission (effect). Empiricism holds that all knowledge derives from sensory
experience and must be validated by it. Rationalism, in contrast to this theory, sees reason as a capacity
capable of grasping truths that, in both certainty and generality, are outside the realm of sensory
experience. In addition, the results of a study titled "Theory of Rational Action and its Characteristics in
Nursing Research" showed that rationalism is typically supported in nursing scientific productions as well
as in the dissemination of its applicability in predicting intentions and behavior in the context of health,
serving as an adjuvant strategy in favor of health promotion, disease prevention, and treatment.
 In a research conducted by Rababa and Bani-khair (2018) entitled Nurses’ Perception of Pain in
People with Dementia: A Philosophical Overview, the concept of pain perception has been greatly
influenced by both rationalism and empiricism. Both rationalist and empiricist thought have a profound
influence on the critical thinking process, which nurses use in their practice to understand their patients'
perceptions of pain. The nursing practice adheres to the empiricist idea that all knowledge should be
produced with a purpose and for the benefit of society. In terms of how people perceive pain,
empiricists believe that nurses are there to aid people through any kind of suffering, whether it be
mental, emotional, physical, or spiritual. The goal of nurses is to improve the human condition on all
levels. Both rationalists and empiricists have an influence on the critical thinking process that nurses use
in their profession to understand their patients' feelings of discomfort. Empiricism allows for the
scientific identification and observation of human occurrences related to healthy and pathological
psychological or physiological processes. On the other hand, rationalism starts by offering a methodical
justification (theory) for hospitalization. Hence, both empirical and rational understanding can
contribute to a positive improvement in nursing discipline and practice.

References:

Alnasseri, Yusra. (2018). An Overview of Empiricism and Its Contribution to Nursing

Epistemology. Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences. 6. 262-267.

McKenna, H., Pajnkihar, M., & Murphy, F. (2014). Fundamentals of Nursing Models, Theories
and Practice (2nd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.

Sousa, Mailson & Almeida, Taciana & Andrade, Smalyanna & Gouveia, Bernadete & Oliveira,
Simone. (2018). Theory of rational action and its characteristics in nursing research. Enfermeria Global.
17. 601-612. 10.6018/eglobal.17.3.305911.