Science is concerned with causality, seeking to understand reality through observation, verification, and experience. In this sense, hypothesis testing, and experimentation are considered scientific methods. Philosophy is concerned with the purpose of human life, the nature of being and reality, theory, and the limits of knowledge, using intuition, introspection, and reasoning as examples of philosophical methodologies. Science and philosophy share the same objective, which is to increase knowledge. Thus, the science of any discipline is linked to its philosophy, which provides the basis for understanding and developing theories for science.1
The science of nursing is defined as substantive knowledge, specific to the discipline, which focuses on the human-universe-health process articulated in nursing structures and theories. The philosophy of science in nursing helps to establish the meaning of science through understanding and evaluating nursing concepts, theories, laws, and goals as they relate to care practice. Thus, the development of nursing knowledge reflects the interface between science and research in nursing, with the aim of improving nursing practice 1,2.
In the path of asserting itself as a science, the research carried out in nursing, at the beginning of its scientific development, was predominantly quantitative studies, greatly influenced by the positivist paradigm, in logical empiricism, following a trend already consolidated by Medicine. However, these studies, by themselves, did not reflect the human, subjective and unique aspects that permeate the different contexts of care, still leaving gaps to be answered.
In this sense, the importance of Postgraduate programs disseminated in different universities in the world is highlighted, contributing to the development of knowledge of the science and philosophy of Nursing, which need to respond to social demands towards quality care and resoluteness.
In this perspective, and in view of the context of current discussions, in addition to the importance of strengthening our science in Nursing research by proposing innovative and entrepreneurial solutions for care, we are faced, especially in Latin American countries, with social issues that urge the strengthening of research that pay attention to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proposed by the United Nations for the promotion of health and mental health, in a region with still many social vulnerabilities.
Considering the nurse as a leader in health promotion, graduate programs play an important role in proposing research with social impact, in light of the SDGs, proposing interventions that promote the health of this Latin American population that , despite the great inequalities, is surrounded by great natural and cultural wealth that can be allied to this proposition, and that will allow the graduate programs in nursing in these countries to respond to the call for planetary health.
Thus, thinking that science has to respond to a certain reality, which in Latin America is permeated by inequalities, poverty, corruption, deforestation, and ineffective public policies, but also by natural and cultural wealth, for nursing researchers the challenge in the production of knowledge and new technologies that meet the SDGs and that promote local and planetary health is great, understanding that the environment is intrinsically connected and intertwined with the promotion and maintenance of health.
It is understood, in this sense, that it is essential that the PPG also have a political action in the face of the current reality, so that our research can present to society and to the rulers data based on evidence towards paths that we can follow to be successful in the sustainable development of our population.
References
- McEwen M, Wills EM. Bases teóricas de enfermagem. 4nd ed. Porto Alegre: Artmed; 2016. p. 590.
- Barret EAM. What is nursing Science? Nursing Science Quarterly. 2002; 15(1):51-60. https://doi.org/10.1177/08943184020150010
Carolina Giordani da Silva1
