To build a master education based on a disciplinary perspective of clinical caring science

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Arne Rehnsfeldt

Western Norway University, Norway

: J Nurs Patient Care

Abstract

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Statement of the problem: Clinical caring science as a scientific discipline is based on an internal scientific logic that binds together the “mother discipline” caring science as a systematic science, with clinical caring science as both a systematic –and applied science. A systematic science determines the ontological, -theoretical, conceptual and epistemological grounds for the science. The internal logic between caring science and clinical caring science decides the correspondence between the value-base (ethos), concepts and theories in the mother discipline, and concepts and phenomena related to clinical praxis in clinical caring science. Clinical caring science as an applied science means to apply the theory base of caring science in praxis. The theory of science thinking is that of finish scholars Katie Eriksson and Unni Lindström who say that caring science is defined by its ontology (ethos). The epistemology as a hermeneutic methodology must be in in congruence with the ethos in order to understand the essence of what in deepest sense defines caring, as for an example that suffering is a part of life and that suffering contains a health potential. Hermeneutics as the methodological ground is applied both in qualitative and quantitative research. Also a concept order is applied with ethos, -core, basic –and praxis concepts. The purpose is to describe how a master education in clinical health –and caring science is built up and permeated by the scientific discipline. Conclusion and significance: As caring is seen as the ontological ground for nursing, also other professions than nurses can participate in the master. Another rationale for this is that the master is disciplinary based and not professional based, and the discipline can be shared by many caring/nursing professions.

Biography

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Arne Rehnsfeldt is professor and leader of the master in clinical –health and caring science at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL) in Norway. His area of research is long-term caring in life-decisive boundary life events. He sees that it is very important to have a master education related to a scientific discipline as this contributes to develop the disciplinary thinking.