Abstract
It is obvious from literature within the nursing discipline that nursing is related to moral or moral-philosophical related ideas which are other-oriented. The socio-cultural process of change in modern society implies that more self-oriented ideas have been found to be significant. The overall aim of this article is to highlight self-oriented moral or moral-philosophical related ideas as an important part of the nursing discipline. This is achieved by (a) exploring self-realization as a significant self-oriented moral or moral-philosophical related idea based on a philosophical anthropological perspective, (b) demonstrating how moral or moral-philosophical related ideas are expressed by nurses, (c) discussing the relevance of self-realization for the nursing discipline, and (d) pointing out possible consequences for the future development of the discipline of nursing. This theoretical study draws empirical examples from interviews. Data consisted of interviews with 13 nurses with varying work experience within the primary and secondary somatic and psychiatric health service, from inside as well as outside institutions. The empirical study was approved by the Norwegian Social Science Data Services. Information was given and consent was obtained from the study participants. Findings are presented in two themes: (a) other-oriented ideas and (b) self-oriented ideas. More concretely, the findings show that nurses hope to make life as good as possible for the patient and they have a wish to improve themselves as human beings, to become better persons. The relevance of self-realization for the nursing discipline is discussed along two lines, first, by connecting nurses' self-understanding to a horizon of identity and second, by considering what self-realization could offer. It is of ultimate concern for the nursing discipline to highlight self-realization connected to the positive view of freedom understood as an exercise-concept. Further identifying and articulating the contribution of self-realization to nurses and nursing practice is of particular importance.
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