New student? What's that? You're worried about your finals!

For a new student nurse, mention of your finals, as in, exams - seems a world-away. After a paroxysmal attack of fear (and motivation!), time resolves. "It's fine. I can relax. We're good!"

Especially so in the pre-Project 2000 days (Swaby, 2021), when nurse education was conducted in more local schools of nursing. You could be forgiven for feeling reassured that there's plenty of time; if your first step was to work as a nursing assistant (or cadet) prior to starting as a student.

Then all of a sudden, you can point to many wornout shoes. You've been busy; helped run a ward, a caseload, a team, and raised a family. And, while the NHS, nursing, society, and much else besides have continued their relentless pace of change, change and more change.

You blink,* look again and you're starting what will be your final 3-year period of nurse registration. What this will bring: who knows?

Kelly Swaby (2021) Did Project 2000 fulfil the intention set out by nursing’s leadership to create
a profession of highly educated practitioners. Thesis.
https://pure.hud.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/70492399/Swaby_THESIS.pdf

*'Blink' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4f0p5KqdU9U

Argumentation - Journal: Informal Logic

Early evening (UK) yesterday, I joined a further webinar on argumentation. Through the speaker, and discussion, I was led to a journal

INFORMAL LOGIC

It is in informal logic that I see a role for Hodges' model. The model's structure providing a universal foundation of knowledge domains to be applied in practice. The bonus of this journal, is its being open access, a search revealed the following paper:

Mark Weinstein. Towards a Research Agenda for Informal Logic and Critical Thinking. XII.3, Fall 1990.
https://ojs.uwindsor.ca/index.php/informal_logic/article/view/2609

'This paper recommends that the recent concern with informal logic and critical thinking be redirected from its general philosophical focus and towards a greater appreciation of the particulars of practice in the various domains of human understanding. The redirection recommended is prompted by the central role that critical thinking and informal logic can be seen to play in meaningful educational reform, especially at the undergraduate level.' 

'Critical thinking, similarly, should be redirected from concerns typical of philosophers and towards issues and approaches more representative of critical thinking both within and across the wide range of disciplines represented by the course of undergraduate studies.' p.121.

'The sense that there is an internal relationship between arguments, argumentation and domains of knowledge persists despite attempts to show relevant and useful notions of critical thinking that are generally available for instruction and neutral in respect of the disciplines. The resolution of the issues generated by these competing views, requires that reflective practitioners of the disciplines, students of the history of ideas, methodologists and specialists in teaching increasingly engage in the task of generating and organizing the data upon which an informed and adequate notion of critical thinking across the disciplines must be based.' p.125.

I believe that the structure of Hodges' model provides a basis for Weinstein's ordinary argumentation and stylized argumentation.

For me (at present) ordinary argumentation, is 'open' argumentation. That is, without differentiation in (using) Hodges' model. I might (well, I would) have Hodges' model in mind, but choose not to apply it. As per the paper, stylized argumentation is using Hodges' model and doing so in a multidisciplinary manner - within my discipline. 

The problem and challenge for nurses and other health professionals is the need, if:

• person/patient-centred;
• integrated;
• and holistic - having regard for parity of esteem (mind - body)

- not to stray, extend the disciplinary scope, while working within one's professional scope.

In highly effective multidiscioplinary teams that touch on being transdisciplinary (hybrid?), can experienced team members have insight into the stylized argumentation of their colleagues?

Ack. ​Argumentation network of the AMERICAS - https://www.argnet.org/ethics-of-arg.html

Previously: 'critical thinking'

Saving 'a' School of Nursing ... Cardiff, et al. (2025 ...)?

Individual

|

      INTERPERSONAL    :     SCIENCES               

HUMANISTIC  --------------------------------------  MECHANISTIC      

 SOCIOLOGY  :    POLITICAL 

|

Group

Nursing has provided many models and theories and (even as some have scoffed), we could be on the cusp of new things; with the ideal model - for reflection, reflective practice, and critical thinking. Surely this is worthy of ongoing undergraduate and post-graduate study? What message does closing a SoN send to: the public; other universities, colleges and schools; to students (and alumni) selecting subjects for study; to highlighting the mental health impacts on campus for students, faculty and researchers; other disciplines; the policy makers (APPGs ...);~ other nations? You know: students and families know -  #MentalHealthMatters! Ethics too - with the need for self-care, sustainable services, recognition of ALL the literacies. Nursing isn't Philosophy (and others..) with dept.s globally also under threat, but you can find it there - in uniform and civilian dress with all the -isms to be negotiated. Nursing has moved on from its past, but still calls on giving of self, a certain character, self-awareness. ... Closure!? And, just as it was getting all transdisciplinary! You've exposed here the literal primacy of an individual's 'health career' : how this is impacted by life chances.^

If you hadn't noticed, the robots & AI are coming.  Ah! But of course, you do know that's were the £££ is. Indeed they are already here. Nursing is an art and science, but in terms of data, the future workforce requirements are stark. We need to act today - 4 tomorrow! Each nation needs its own nurses. Here is a way to contribute to global health; (there must be a way to achieve equity). Parity of esteem too: health is mental AND physical. This misses the continuum that touches so many curricula from the SELF to PLANETARY health. How will we pursue (confirm?): Models of Care & Nursing Theory still has a place? Nursing & Nurses can deliver much a-Cross curricula, and as collaborators in research. Nursing can contribute so much to the community of lifelong learning. No! No! Nursing is much more than bio-psycho-social. It is BIOPSYCHOSOCIOPOLITICAL: - pardon the irony, but thank you for the evidence. Nursing has much to offer in education, EdTech, informatics, living in the 21st Century.

What about history?   What would Betsi and Florence say? What about the future health of society: improved nutrition, air quality, climate change, emergency preparedness and the true Nat. Health & Care Services? Especially, as so much is incomplete:  consider - Social care, Community Care, Older Adults - demographic change, Prevention and Health Education, Public Health & Public Mental Health. A measure of a culture - society isn't merely how it looks after the sick and disabled, it is also (must be) how it educates its populace. 'Teach your children well.'* ^Nursing knows (really) that it is not merely a case of the social determinants of health. It is all - political, economic, education ...

Does this mean Project 2K is a mistake? Was Project 2K a waste of time, effort and resources?  What of the students to date: the fees, COVID ..? What was promised to this Profession - these Professionals? Or is this LIFO at work? How do Nursing's leaders respond - in light of the frequency Nursing is poorly, or not represented at the 'table'?~ Nursing is dynamic, not only shoe leather and mental gymnastics, but the demands placed on curricula, call for a curriculum design, planning, development and evaluation resource. Nursing can help inform the National Care Services, and provide part of an incredible career pathway. - wither a Duty of Care - Social Responsibility? Sorry, what are the reserves? Saving for a lunar campus, no doubt? Well, healthcare will be needed in space too.

Will you switch off the lights, or will the nurse have to return with the keys to 24/7/365 care?

*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQOaUnSmJr8

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Nursing_Society (resurrected?)