RT Article
T1 Courage and nursing practice: A theoretical analysis
JF Nursing ethics
VO 17
IS 5
SP 551
OP 565
A1 Lindh, Inga-Britt
A1 Barbosa da Silva, António
A1 Berg, Agneta
A1 Severinsson, Elisabeth
LA English
PB Sage
YR 2010
UL https://www.ixtheo.de/Record/1779448481
AB This article aims to deepen the understanding of courage through a theoretical analysis of classical philosophers’ work and a review of published and unpublished empirical research on courage in nursing. The authors sought answers to questions regarding how courage is understood from a philosophical viewpoint and how it is expressed in nursing actions. Four aspects were identified as relevant to a deeper understanding of courage in nursing practice: courage as an ontological concept, a moral virtue, a property of an ethical act, and a creative capacity. The literature review shed light on the complexity of the concept of courage and revealed some lack of clarity in its use. Consequently, if courage is to be used consciously to influence nurses’ ethical actions it seems important to recognize its specific features. The results suggest it is imperative to foster courage among nurses and student nurses to prepare them for ethical, creative action and further the development of professional nursing practices.
K1 Philosophical Analysis
K1 nursing practice
K1 Moral Virtue
K1 Literature Review
K1 creative act
K1 Courage
DO 10.1177/0969733010369475