Book and Media Review

BOOK AND MEDIA REVIEW Column Editor: Gail M. Kieckhefer, PhD, ARNP Truth in Nursing Inquiry. Editors: June F. Kikuchi, Helen Simmons, and Donna Romyn. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 1996, $20US, softcover, 172 pp. A component of my undergraduate nursing degree was a subject entitled ‘‘Contemporary Nursing.’’ When the tutor announced that the assessment item would be an essay on the topic—What is truth?—the room immediately filled with the sound of groaning. Indeed, the editors of Truth in Nursing Inquiry (as well as my own experiences) suggest that the notion of truth is in the same league as death or abortion when it comes to generating strong emotions. This book consists of a collection of essays written by nurses with impressive credentials, and its cover presentation is in the same style as Kikuchi’s previous two volumes—Developing a Philosophy of Nursing and Philosophic Inquiry in Nursing. In the prologue, the editors challenge the reader to determine the adequacy of his or her particular conceptions of truth. Divided into three parts, the aim of the book is to present a collection of works that illustrate the different conceptions of truth found in nursing inquiry. In so doing, the editors wish to stimulate discussion and, ultimately, offer an opportunity for philosophical discussion about truth to be taken out of the ‘‘too-hard’’ basket. Part one consists of three essays that address the different kinds of truth in nursing inquiry. Robyn Holden’s essay is engaging and clearly written. Discussing the philosophy of Plato, among others, Holden provides a history of rationalism and empiricism that would be useful for anyone wanting to explore these schools of thought and knowledge development from the ground up. Also, within this section, Joy Johnson clearly argues that prescriptive truths are necessary but not sufficient for nursing art. This debate is contrasted to the views that there is no relationship between prescriptive

Journal of Pediatric Nursing, Vol 15, No 3 (June), 2000

truths and nursing art, and that prescriptive truths are necessary and sufficient for nursing art. Part two concerns measures of truth in nursing inquiry and consists of five essays. Lynn Rew’s essay is particularly interesting because of its inclusion of ‘‘alternative’’ philosophies and healing approaches from Eastern sources. Shirley Cloutier Laffrey’s short essay emphasizes the interconnectedness of the individual with community and culture and promotes a broad view of nursing as being one that has the ability to view the individual while not losing sight of the unity of the whole. Part three is focused on expressions of truth in nursing inquiry and is composed of three excellent essays on very topical subjects. Margarete Sandalowski writes on the subject of truth in storytelling. Jean Watson tackles most elegantly the topic of poeticizing as truth in nursing inquiry, while Donna Romyn discusses the epistemology and methodologies of feminist research. I found the essays within this book thought provoking, engaging, relevant, and filled with gems of information that clarify rather than confound. They invited reflection, informed my present thinking, and offered possible directions for future reading and learning. They are well written and easy to follow and use accessible language to explain difficult concepts. Each is well referenced. Nursing students spanning the entire undergraduate and postgraduate continuum, as well as nurse educators, will find much of interest in this book.

Amanda Haller RN, BN Grad Dip Women’s Studies, MRCNA PhD Candidate The Flinders University of South Australia and the Women’s & Children’s Hospital Adelaide, South Australia

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