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Personal knowing is essential to the development of knowledge central to the practice of nursing. Personal knowing as a process of research within practice is conceptually developed through definition, components, attributes, and examples. Although personal knowing, i.e., discovery of self-and-other arrived at through reflection, synthesis of perceptions, and connecting with what is known, has been identified as a fundamental way of knowing for nursing (Carper, 1978), the process has not previously been systematically developed or tied in with the theoretical, syntactical, and practice structures of nursing. In this article, an increased emphasis on personal knowing within the research and practice domains of nursing is proposed, and implications and questions are raised regarding implementation.
Along with empirics, esthetics, and ethics, Carper more than a decade ago identified personal knowing as a fundamental pattern of knowing in nursing (Carper, 1978). Yet, in 1990, little evidence of further development of the concept exists. Evolution of the concept for research and practice is essential in order for this pattern of knowing to be considered fundamental to nursing. This article represents an attempt to illuminate the concept through definition, components, attributes, and examples. In addition, personal knowing is discussed within the context of theoretical, syntactical, and practice structures of nursing and implications and questions for elevating personal knowing to its rightful place in the domain of nursing knowledge are proposed.
Personal knowing - discovery of self-and-other arrived at through reflection, synthesis of perceptions, and connecting with what is known - is essential to nursing. Personal knowing is demanded of a professional focusing on interpersonal processes while blending artistic and scientific components within practice. Any encounter with a person or event is an opportunity for personal knowing, provided the person has attempted to eliminate preconceived notions and has cultivated a receptive attending. Receptive attending requires openness, heightened awareness, and a questioning frame of mind (Sarosi, 1986).
Although references to the idea of personal knowing are frequent in the nursing literature, systematic concept development or definition is unavailable. The process of reflection and synthesis integral to personal knowing is consistent with "use of self," a concept that appears in nursing literature (Newman, 1979; Sarosi, 1986; Watson, 1985b). Newman (1979) suggests that the most sensitive research instrument for advancing nursing knowledge may...