untitled

the time when the nurse mulls over, analyzes, sorts
out, compares, contrasts, relates, interprets, gives a
name to, and categorizes” (Paterson & Zderad,
1976, p. 79). Patterns and themes are reflective of
and rigorously validated by the authentic experi-
ence (Figure 11–5).

Nurse Complementarily
Synthesizing Known Others

At this point the nurse personifies what has been
described by Dr. Paterson and Dr. Zderad as a
“noetic locus,” a “knowing place” (1976, p. 43).
According to this concept, the greatest gift a human
being can have is the ability to relate to others, to
wonder, search, and imagine about experience, and
to create out of what has become known. Seeing
themselves as “knowing places” inspires nurses to
continue to develop and expand their community

of world thinkers through their educative and prac-

tical experiences, which then become a part of their

angular view. This self-expansion, through the in-

ternalization of what others have come to know,

dynamically interrelates with the nurse’s human ca-

pacity to be conscious of her own lived experiences.

Through this interrelationship, the subjective and

objective world of nursing can be reflected upon by

each nurse, who is aware of and values herself as a

“knowing place” (Figure 11–6).

Succession Within the Nurse from

the Many to the Paradoxical One

This is the birth of the new from the existing pat-

terns, themes, and categories. It is in this phase that

the nurse “comes up with a conception or abstrac-

tion that is inclusive of and beyond the multiplici-

ties and contradictions” (Paterson & Zderad, 1976,

132 SECTION II Evolution of Nursing Theory: Essential Influences

Discrepancies

interprets

relates

Structure

contrasts

compares

Model

elements

evaluation

Alternative

Concepts from

written literature

mulls over

Mental and

written

information

Standing outside the phenomenon, the nurse

examines it through analysis

and comes to know

nurse conscious of herself

FIGURE 11–5 Nurses knowing the other scientifically.Adapted from illustration in Briggs, J., & Peat, D. (1989). Turbulent Mirror (p. 176).
New York: Harper & Row.