This white paper examines philosophical inquiry into nursing's metaparadigm, exploring the four interconnected concepts of person, health, environment, and nursing. Through analysis of humanistic nursing theory, Parse's Theory of Human Becoming, and Watson's Theory of Human Caring, the paper demonstrates how philosophical foundations shape holistic patient care. The inquiry reveals nursing as a discipline bridging theoretical knowledge with compassionate, person-centered practice that addresses patients' physical, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions.
The nursing metaparadigm consists of four main concepts: person, health, environment, and nursing. It is an important framework in nursing theory and practice that can be better understood through philosophical inquiry. Philosophical inquiry into this metaparadigm helps to show nursing as a discipline that is directed by two trains of thought—theory on one hand and practical application on the other. This white paper examines the philosophical approach to the nursing metaparadigm to show how its core concepts are interconnected and what they mean for nursing practice.
The concept of the person in nursing is based on the philosophy of humanism, which views the individual holistically with unique physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs. Paterson and Zderad’s humanistic nursing theory is one example of the philosophy of this concept: it emphasizes the individuality of each patient and calls for personalized care tailored to meet their specific needs (Smith & Parker, 2015). This approach is different from the traditional biomedical model, which often calls for nurses to approach patients as mere recipients of care, i.e., to treat symptoms rather than the whole person. This concept philosophically focuses on the importance of personal identity and personal experience in nursing care.
Health is a tricky concept to define, as Smith and Parker (2015) point out, but it is usually understood in relation to person-centered care. Philosophically speaking, Parse’s Theory of Human Becoming provides a perspective where health is seen as a process of becoming and changing in the face of life’s experiences (Parse, 2007). This view prompts nurses to see health as a state that is always in development—never static.
When talking about environment, it is helpful to recall Nightingale’s work, which highlighted the impact of clean, well-ventilated, and quiet environments on patient recovery (Smith & Parker, 2015). Philosophically, environment is what influences a person’s health. It is something that calls nurses to view the patient’s life as context with care and consideration.
The concept of nursing is philosophically grounded in the ethics of care. It involves a commitment to empathy, respect, and the dignity of the person receiving care. According to Watson’s Theory of Human Caring, nursing is defined by caring transactions that transcend physical treatment and embrace the mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of the patient’s experience (Watson, 2008).
The philosophical inquiry into the nursing metaparadigm shows that, philosophically, the concept of person is central, with health being an individual and holistic experience influenced by the environment. Nursing acts as a bridge, connecting these concepts through empathetic, ethical, and evidence-based care.
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