Looking back to the future in nursing science development from 1952--2002: A historical perspectiv

The purpose of this study was to understand the development of nursing as a science from a historical perspective through the reflected appraisals of Hildegard Peplau, based on her book, Interpersonal Relations in Nursing. The study explored the attitudes, beliefs, feelings, and emotions of selected past and contemporary nurse scientists from 1952 to 2002 through archival sources, relevant nursing literature of the time frame studied, and oral history accounts. As the nursing profession reflects on its history, it can learn from the past experiences of the 20th century and apply new knowledge of nursing science to the healthcare system of the 21st century.;The focus of the study was on the evolution of nursing science, specifically what nurses said, what they thought, what they did, and how they influenced the development of nursing as a science. Ten primary themes were identified that related to facilitative, restrictive, and opposing goals of nurse scientists, that either promoted growth of nursing science or hindered it. During an oral history recording, Sr. Callista Roy, a noted nurse theorist, answered questions relating to nursing theory development that explored the influences of the Cartesian Split, the prevailing paradigm, and feminism on nursing science evolution.;This study concluded that a focus on facilitative goals enhanced the development of nursing as a science, through different ways of knowing and exploration. However, when restrictive or opposing goals were the main focus, nursing science development was hindered, blocking the path towards its full potential as a science.;As nursing science looks back to the future, progress can be noted. In 1968 Dickoff and James encouraged nurses to develop theory, based on practice beyond the procedure manual. In 2002 Roy believed that nursing theory stood nurses on firm ground during interdisciplinary discourse, as a result of theory development. In the future, nurse theorists predict that nursing science will continue to build, refine, and critique nursing theories as an integrated system of diverse ways of knowing, to benefit the nursing profession and the society that it serves.