Philosophy of Science for Nursing Practice, Second Edition: Concepts and Application

Praise for the First Edition:

I have taught a philosophy of science course intermittently for about 20 years. Philosophy of Science for Nursing Practice is not only the most succinct, insightful, well-organized presentation of information I"ve yet seen, but drives thinking to where it ought to be.

Laura Cox Dzurec, PhD, PMHCNS-BC

Dean and Professor, Widener University School of Nursing

This appears to be the first book that focuses on the philosophy of science and its application to practice doctorates. The authors assume readers may not have a formal background in the philosophy of science, and write in a conversational tone with a minimum of difficult terminology. They discuss the current state of DNP education in a way that can foster discourse and debate.

Score: 97 Five Stars, Doody's Medical Reviews

Written for DNP and PhD nursing programs, this text, based on a unique, team-taught philosophy of science nursing courses, distills challenging content and delivers it in clear, highly accessible language for professors untrained in philosophy and their students. Authored by a nurse researcher/philosopher team who developed and taught this course for more than 7 years, the book provides a unique, integrated viewpoint that avoids esoteric and overly theoretical discussions and facilitates a clear connection between the philosophy of science and nursing science and practice. This second edition offers enhanced clarity and encompasses updates in philosophy of science interpretation, nursing practice and science, and a still-emerging practice epistemology. It is distinguished by its increased emphasis on DNP investigation that relies on a fundamental relationship with evidence-based practice, as well as the informational needs of the PhD student and the type of research the PhD graduate is expected to produce.

The bulk of the text focuses on basic principles and concepts of the philosophy of science in regard to the education of both DNP and PhD nursing students. The book discusses the concept of nursing as a "practice discipline" within historical and sociological contexts, and addresses the importance of philosophy of science knowledge within a practice discipline. It examines the controversial question of how much philosophy of science a doctoral student actually needs. The text concludes with a brief introduction to nursing science knowledge content that is an essential "bridge" to the philosophy of science content, and serves as a "next step" toward building a nursing epistemology.

NEW TO THE SECOND EDITION:

• Newly revised chapters deliver an enhanced clarity of information
• Updated content reflects current trends in contemporary doctoral nursing education
• Updated Questions for Reflection offer scholarly discourse
• New appendix offers a sample semester-based syllabus based on the second edition

KEY FEATURES:

• Provides concise, accessible information that makes clear connections to practical applications
• Written jointly by a philosopher and a nurse scholar who co-teach the course
• Facilitates student ability to see the real connection between philosophy and practice
• Offers a sharp focus on how philosophy of science content is essential to enhancing the understanding of evidence- and practice-based content

Michael D. Dahnke, PhD, is a philosopher and bioethicist. He received his PhD in philosophy from Temple University and a BA in liberal studies from Bowling Green State University. In his career, he has worked across many interdisciplinary fields: Healthcare Ethics, Nursing Ethics, Medical Humanities, Healthcare Administration, Philosophy of Science in Nursing Practice, and Cultural Issues in Healthcare. His early work was in Aesthetics. He is the author and co-author of four books: Film, Art, and Filmart: An Introduction to Aesthetics Through Film (2007); first author on Philosophy of Nursing Science for Nursing Practice: Concepts (2011), which received a five-star review from Doody's (less than 2% of all health profession books reviewed earn this distinction). The second edition of this book (2016) received 2nd place in the American Journal of Nursing's Book-of-the-Year Awards in the Research Category. He was also co-author of ME Smith Glasgow, HM Dreher, MD Dahnke, and J. Gyllenhammer's (2020) Legal and Ethical Issues in Nursing Education: An Essential Guide. He has taught students in health care fields including nursing (Bachelors, Masters, and Doctoral), physician assistant, behavioral health science, and health care administration, as well as undergraduates from all types of majors in his Introduction to Philosophy, Ethics, Logic, and Business Ethics courses. He has published (and sometimes mentored undergraduate students as first author) in Critical Care Nurse, Journal of Bioethical Enquiry, Emergency Nursing, Advances in Health Sciences Education, International Journal of Healthcare Management, Journal of Neonatal Nursing, Holistic Nursing Practice, Auslegung: A Journal of Philosophy, MedSurg Nursing, and Philosophy Now. Dr. Dahnke's most influential work has been examining some fewer known aspects of the Terri Schiavo case, publishing "What we learn (and don't learn) from the Terri Schiavo autopsy" in Functional Neurology, Rehabilitation, and Ergonomics and "Levinas and the face of Terri Schiavo: Bioethical and phenomenological reflections on a public spectacle and private tragedy" in Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics. He was previously Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Health Administration and Division of Graduate Nursing at Drexel University and Clinical Associate Professor in the School of Nursing and Health Professions at The College of New Rochelle. He is currently Adjunct Assistant Professor at the College of Staten Island (City University of New York -- CUNY) and teaches at Seton Hall University.

H. Michael Dreher, PHD, RN, FAAN, ANEF, has long been an innovator in nursing and healthcare professions, both nationally and internationally. He is currently Professor of Nursing and Interim Dean of Health Sciences at the College of Staten Island, City University of New York (CUNY). He was also recently the Acting Chair of the Department of Nursing, overseeing the DNP program. Previously, he was Assistant Vice President and Associate Provost at Medgar Evers College, CUNY, in Brooklyn. At Medgar, he launched a BS in Financial Economics, the first fully online undergraduate degree program at CUNY. He served as Associate Vice President for Healthcare Innovation and Special Projects at The College of New Rochelle from 2017 to 2019 and Dean of the School of Nursing and Healthcare Professions from 2014 to 2017. At Drexel, he co-created a 5-year Co-op BS in Nursing, which became the largest provider of baccalaureate-prepared nurses in Pennsylvania, and developed an MS in Nursing Innovation. As the founding Chair of the Doctoral Nursing Department, he also launched one of the first Doctor of Nursing Practice programs in the United States, which included the first mandatory study abroad program for doctoral students. He has served as Associate Editor of Holistic Nursing Practice, writing a column on "Innovation, Health, and Healing," Associate Editor of Clinical Scholars Review: The Journal of Doctoral Nursing Practice, and Column Editor for "Practice Evidence." He is recognized as a national and international scholar on the professional/ practice doctorate. In 2010, he was appointed as the only non-UK citizen to the UK Council on Graduate Education's 2011 Report on Professional Doctorates Review Panel. He is the co-author of six books, three of which have won the American Journal of Nursing Book-of-the-Year Award. His most recent book was by ME Smith Glasgow, HM Dreher, MD Dahnke, and J. Gyllenhammer (JD), Legal and Ethical Issues in Nursing Education: An Essential Guide, 2e (2021). He has been funded by the John A. Hartford Foundation, the Center for American Nurses, HRSA, and various other agencies. He was inducted as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing in 2012 and an Academy of Nursing Education Fellow in 2017. He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina, Widener University, and the University of Pennsylvania.