(ii) What sort of field is 'nursing'?

Mathematics without Apologies:
Portrait of a Problematic Vocation

Harris quickly differentiates between pure and applied - practical mathematics. Nursing can claim mathematical tenure in being a constant. A constantly problematic vocation for governments worldwide. Temporarily recognised for its criticality, in terms of the population's dependence on nursing by the COVID pandemic. The global nursing workforce while often a political football in its host country, is in intensive care amid demographic change and policy imperatives. 

Neither maths/mathematics, numeracy, nor arithmetic are indexed in:

Curriculum Development In Nursing Education (4th. Edition).

If present, such detail might suggest a concept-based curricula approach, but the dichotomies of qualitative-quantitative and subjective-objective work to good effect; performing as per the axes of Hodges' model. Perhaps, there are nonetheless, more similarities between mathematics and nursing than an axial first-glance might suggest?

I've noted (if not lamented) the fall in prominence of nursing theory, models of care in nurse education and practice. Within the corpus of books the phrases are still common in terms of usage:

It seems that 'models of care' are not the sole preserve of nursing and health disciplines. These models are also defined by management consultancies*, care commissioners, economists, philosophers and policy makers. Hodges' model itself can be used to argue this is a legitimate activity, desirable and to be expected. 

An admittedly small sample, but here in NW England student nurses I encounter struggle to recall 'a' model, or theory that has caught their attention. With discussion, they realise they have been to this abstract place before. The attention on models and theory does not appear to match the focus afforded in North America. The political background of national health systems provision, the state of development of health services and systems and education make a huge difference between nursing academia globally, even as we strive to be one-family. 

Harris writes of the quest narrative in mathematics. There are problems solvers and the theory builders in mathematics. Tenured mathematicians seek the 'golden goose'. Hodges' model is the quest here: a golden goose in cognitive form that all can possess with requisite basic literacy and explanation. While as noted in (i) mathematics is a relaxed field (Preface, p.xi), it seems nursing theory is a (largely) deserted field. Ironically, seeking person-centredness, this is where Hodges' model begins - a necessarily conceptually deserted field that offers only structure but with the prospect of unconditional positive regard.

Harris, M. (2015) Mathematics without Apologies: Portrait of a Problematic Vocation. Princeton University Press.

*Reimagining the nursing workload: Finding time to close the workforce gap. https://mck.co/43tMB7v
via @McKinsey [A post may follow.]

See also: 'commissioning'

'nursing theory'