Running head: PATTERNS OF KNOWING ESSAY

Patterns of Knowing Essay

Angela Long
Coppin State University
Helene Fuld School of Nursing
Masters in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner Program
Theoretical Foundations for the Practice of Nursing
Nurs 620
Dr. Arlene Johnson
January 10, 2013

PATTERNS OF KNOWING ESSAY

Patterns of Knowing Essay

Client Situation
Many of the children that come into the ER where I work have asthma, and many parents
are non-compliant with their care and with their medication. Many parents are aware of the
childs triggers but still continue to expose the child to the triggers. Some common triggers for
asthma exacerbation are colds, change in weather, pets such as cats and dogs, carpet, smoking or
being around someone that smokes.
A child is brought into the ER by ambulance, EMS states patient seen by primary care
doctor today and primary care doctor states mother smokes in house and child has not had
flovent or albuterol in three months. When placing pulse ox on child O2 is 88%, ems is called
immediately. This child has had multiple hospitalizations for asthma exacerbation and two PICU
admissions.
Intervention
First intervention is to assess for signs of respiratory distress and airway clearance.
Immediately placing patient on pulse ox and oxygen until MD and RT enter room. An IV is
placed and steroids are given, three back to back duo nebs are started. The child is stabilized and
admitted. The most important part of the admission is asthma education. Social worker should
be called to consult to follow up with this family to make sure mother obtains medications and
keeps all appointments. An asthma action plan is started and mother is taught how to give
medications properly and how to manage her child safely.
Patterns of Knowing
The four patterns of knowing are empirics, aesthetics, personal knowledge and ethics
(Knowledge In Nursing, 2013, p. 7). Empirics or the science of nursing are easily explained in

PATTERNS OF KNOWING ESSAY

my scenario. Based on scientific nursing research, asthma exacerbation is treated with IV

steroids and neb treatments. The nurse is easily able to assess the situation and apply the
evidence based knowledge or science of nursing. The empirics go hand in hand with the
aesthetics which is the art of nursing (Knowledge In Nursing, 2013, p. 7). According to Carper,
the individual nurse uses her creativity and style in providing nursing care that is effective and
satisfying (Carper, 1978, p. 17). The Caper article also states that the end result can be achieve
by different means (Carper, 1978, p. 17). Ethics or morals can play an important role in how the
patient is cared for. The patients care and treatment can raise questions about moral dilemmas or
ethical obligations such as with the scenario mother who chose not to administer medication
needed or follow up with regular doctor when appointments were made causing the child to have
multiple hospitalizations
Most Challenging Pattern
The most challenging pattern of knowing is personal knowledge. It is the most difficult
to master and to teach (Carper, 1978, p. 18). Personal knowledge controls the relationship
between the nurse and the patient. The personal knowledge can dictate how a patient reacts to
the nurse and to treatment. As a nurse you must always place your personal feelings aside and
deal with each situation professional, try to make a connection with the patient. Making a
connection helps with giving care and education more smoothly. According to Carper, all
patterns in knowing need to be used together and none of them alone should be considered
sufficient (Carper, 1978, p. 22).

PATTERNS OF KNOWING ESSAY

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References

Alligood, M. R., & Tomey, A. M. (2010). Nursing theorists and their work (7th Ed.). Maryland
Heights, Missouri: Mosby Elsevier.
Carper, B. A. (1978). Fundamental patterns of knowing in nursing. Aspen Systems Corporation,
13-23.
Knowledge in nursing [PowerPoint slides]. (2013,). Retrieved from Coppin State University,
Blackboard website: www.bb.coppin.edu