Abstract
D.Cur.
Science practice in nursing is a meta-practical activity which aims in the first place
at a specific aspect of reality.The science practitioner in nursing reaches a better
understanding of the nursing practice through description and explanation. From
a contextual-functional approach it is the aim of science practice in nursing to
provide the nursing practice with action-orientated prescriptions. Secondly, specific values and assumptions form an integral part of science practice. A definite connection exists between the empirical reality and the assumptions (transcendental aspect). The process of science practice requires a conceptual framework or model. The aim of the research is to describe a model for science practice for nursing from a transcendental-empirical point of view. In order to reach this aim nursing was explored on first (reality), second (science methodology) and third (philosophy) order, with a description of the relationship between these three orders. The conditions for science practice in nursing were set in accordance with this relationship, and a model for science practice was consequently described. Science practice cannot be generalised since the object of study comprises characteristics which make specific demands on science practice. The
inter-personal relations consistency, the purposefuland intentional character, context
and value consistency, as well as the dynamic multi- dimentional character of nursing interaction are basic characteristics of the nursing practice and they have to be acknowledqed in science practice. in nursing. The nursing practitioner constitutes the nursing practice. The practitioner forms so-called pre-scientific interpretations about the nursing practice which the science practitioner must keep in mind. The research methodologist focuses primarily on the decisions relating to the research design. With the steps of decision-making in the research process the science practitioner has to justify himself regarding the so-called determinants of research. The assumptions which are selected from the third order for science practice form one of the so-called determinants of research and has to be in line with the basic characteristics of the nursing practice. These assumptions, to a greater or lesser extent, influence the decision-making steps. Research can focus on first order phenomena (nursing reality) or second order phenomena (constructs of research).