We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Evidence-based practice and the instrumentalist mistake.
- Authors
Graverholt, Birgitte; Nortvedt, Monica Wammen; Reiersgaard, Anders; Jamtvedt, Gro
- Abstract
Background: In 1972, the Norwegian philosopher Hans Skjervheim wrote a characteristic philosophical essay called «The instrumentalistic mistake». This text aimed at what Skjervheim thought of as a fundamental problem in the science of pedagogy. Skjervheim's core objection is that Pedagogy is overlooking the essential distinction between practical versus pragmatical actions, in professional settings where both are present. Skjervheim's point has reached attention beyond the field of education and pedagogy. In Norway, a parallel is drawn to the sciences of health and Skjervheim's point is used in the critique of evidence-based practice. Aims: This article aims to shed light upon the three terms practical, pragmatical and the instrumentalistic mistake and the relevance of them in a nursing context. Methods: This conceptualising of terms forms the basis for a discussion about whether evidence-based nursing will lead to commitments of instrumentalistic mistakes. Findings: Skjervheim's concept was considered relevant in the context of nursing. The practice of nursing involves fundamentally different actions, which may be illustrated by Skjervheims's point. We found that the model of evidence-based practice holds practical as well as pragmatical aspects of nursing. Conclusion: Both Skjervheim's text The instrumentalistic mistake' and other important concepts in this essay are applicable to a nursing context. Furthermore, the critique claiming that evidence-based nursing implies commitments of instrumentalistic mistakes is rejected.
- Subjects
NORWAY; MEDICAL errors; PHILOSOPHY of nursing; NURSING models; RESPONSIBILITY; EVIDENCE-based nursing
- Publication
Norwegian Journal of Clinical Nursing / Sykepleien Forskning, 2011, Issue 3, p246
- ISSN
1890-2936
- Publication type
Article