In this episode, Ian describes some plausible distinctions between nursing and medicine and, thus, nursing science and medical science. Beginning with fundamental definitions and philosophical considerations, he contends that there may in fact be a distinct nursing science paradigm set apart from other disciplines in the sciences, but in order to conclude that we must first generate a consensus definition on what sets apart nursing from medicine in the first place. The construct of a 'nursing science' hinges entirely on the operational definition of what is Nursing, per se. In the end, this is an exceptionally complicated question Ian does not have an answer to, but is working to tease out a panoply of possibly viable interpretations. Enjoy.
