Expert Nurses' Perceptions of the Relevance of Carper's Patterns of Knowing to Junior Nurses

Abstract

This study explored with expert nurses in the UK how nursing wisdom can be developed in new and junior nurses. Carper's patterns of knowing and Benner's novice-to-expert continuum formed the theoretical framework. Employing a constructionist research methodology with participant engagement in co-construction of findings, data were collected via 2 separate cycles comprising 4 consecutive sessions followed by a nationally advertised miniconference. Empirical, ethical, personal, and esthetic knowing was considered evident in junior nurses. Junior nurses in the UK seem to lack a previously unrecognized domain of organizational knowing without which they cannot overcome hegemonic barriers to the successful development of nursing praxis.

Construction of nursing knowledge in commodified contexts: A discussion paper

“…However, an important difference exists in relation to patterns of knowing that extend beyond care relationships. The organizational pattern described by Terry et al () can play an important role in nurses' resistance, adaptation, or modification in these new management environments. Nurses can achieve sociopolitical and emancipatory patterns of knowing through the organizational pattern—that is, through knowing these new organizations and institutional systems.…”

“…In recent decades, commodified restructuring of public systems (among these, healthcare systems) has modified work relationships intensifying work, fragmenting the labor market, and focusing on productivity (Doogan, ; Hermann, ). The damaged work situation has been aggravated after the economic, political, and social recession in 2008 (Gyes & Szekér, ), especially among employees (Fabregas, ; Terry et al, ; Tremblay, Chênevert, & Hébert, ; Vaughan‐Whitehead, ). Commodification and liberalization in health sectors tend to deteriorate working conditions and rights, increasing the workload and salary differences, especially among nonphysicians and workers belonging to externalized services (Flecker & Hermann, ; Greer & Doellgast, ; Hermann, ).…”

“…However, through the conceptual framework suggested by Terry et al (), nurses could effectively confront the organization and resist these new work circumstances. The analysis and understanding of these commodified mechanisms can reveal to nurses the consequences of these working conditions, involving them in research and political participation at a systemic and organizational level.…”

“…Currently, seven patterns of knowing are defined that can be classified into two groups: basic patterns of knowing (empirics, personal, ethical, and aesthetics) and contextual patterns of knowing, which extend nursing beyond the care relationship (sociopolitical, emancipatory, and organizational). Each pattern could present different effects related to social and political conditions (Terry, Carr, & Curzio, ; White, ).…”

“…Recently, in 2016, Terry suggested the addition of a seventh pattern—organizational knowing. According to the author, sociopolitical and emancipatory pattern construction is linked to a practical experience component, called an organizational pattern, which enables nurses to understand hierarchies and mechanisms in health organizations (Terry et al, ). This process activates basic knowledge patterns simultaneously.…”