Nursing Epistemology Journal of Nursing

More Than Evidence: How Experience and Reflection Shape My Epistemological Stance in Nursing

Tags: empirical knowledge ethical principles in nursing Nurse Education nursing epistemology Patient-centered care

This paper explores the author's personal epistemological stance in nursing, emphasizing the integration of both empirical evidence and experiential knowledge gained through clinical practice. Drawing on Barbara Carper’s four patterns of knowing, empirical, personal, ethical, and aesthetic, the author highlights how meaningful nursing care requires more than scientific knowledge; it also demands relational understanding, critical reflection, and empathy. A fictional case study is used to illustrate how these ways of knowing intersect in real-life decision-making, particularly when caring for marginalized patients. The paper ultimately argues for a holistic, patient-centered approach to nursing that honours both objective data and the lived experiences of patients.