This book collects together 12 previously unpublished conference and seminar presentations which cover a broad range of topics, including evidence-based practice, reflective practice, practice development, nurse education, nursing scholarship and a variety of philosophical issues applied to nursing. The common theme uniting all of these contributions is the assertion that the research-based technical-rational approach to nursing and other health care disciplines is failing our patients, our students and our profession.

In a series of closely argued papers, the book challenges some of the taken-for-granted assumptions that underpin modern evidence-based nursing practice, research and education. It proposes a philosophy of nursing that unites practitioners, academics, teachers and researchers in a person-centred human science of nursing that directly addresses the needs of each individual patient.

This book will be of interest to final year undergraduates, Masters and doctoral students, practising nurses undertaking further study, nurse academics and researchers, as well as anyone who is searching for a better way of ‘doing’ nursing.