Since the Second World War, literature related to nursing has continuously acknowledged the role of wisdom in ensuring effective and contemporary practice. Wisdom has particularly been emphasized in guiding clinical practices in most institutions. It has proved beneficial in enhancing the care that the patients receive and has shaped the professional identity of many practitioners. Wisdom can also impact other aspects relating to patient care, such as improving caregivers’ communications, increasing collaborations among various stakeholders, helping nurses manage stress, guiding leadership and management, and helping decision-makers follow ethics while faced with dilemmas. Numerous studies, such as Barnawi (2019), Carroll (2023), Haggerty & Grace (2008), and Matney et al. (2015, 2016), explore the role of wisdom in healthcare, underscoring various diverse perspectives which shall be analyzed in this study. The paper will also look at the historical journey of wisdom and how it has been valued by nurses across the centuries, and will juxtapose modern nursing literature with historical Christian perspectives.
Barnawi (2019): Concept Analysis of Nursing Wisdom
The article Concept Analysis of Nursing Wisdom by Barnawi (2019) looks at various perspectives related to nursing and provides guidelines on how they can be applied in professional practice. The author outlines four major dimensions into which nursing wisdom can be explored. The four dimensions include moral and ethical aspects, management and leadership in nursing, experiences for clinical nurses, and nursing education (Barnawi, 2019). Moral and ethical responsibilities emphasize the importance of ethical decision-making, integrity, and compassion in clinical practice. Secondly, the article recognizes nursing management and leadership as an integral part of wisdom in nursing management. Barnawi (2019) shows that personal values are essential in dealing with daily ethical, management, and leadership challenges. Through the nurses’ clinical leadership wisdom, they can appropriately handle their patients.
Another critical aspect for nurses related to wisdom is their application of knowledge, skills, and intuition in clinical settings. For instance, nurses are expected to know the background of a patient’s disease, make accurate diagnoses, and come up with the necessary interventions to make the patient better. According to this article, wisdom within the clinical setting should also entail evidence-based decision-making, experimental wisdom for the nurses, and creating an enabling environment where the nurses can handle diverse patient needs. Lastly, nursing education is proposed in this article as a critical dimension of wisdom that emphasizes lifelong learning, reflective practices, and mentorship. Indeed, clinical wisdom is used as a pedagogical framework in nursing education to show the scope and skills needed to succeed in the role (Barnawi, 2019). In sum, this article shows that wisdom is critical in nursing, helping empower individuals and develop actual knowledge in nursing.
Carrol (2023): Wisdom in Nursing Practice
This article explores the concept of wisdom across various domains related to nursing practice. According to Carrol (2023), wisdom comprises awareness, judgment, and diligent interactions with important people, ideas, and solutions. The author shows that the scope of wisdom extends beyond solving regular problems to include being thoughtful and thus being able to navigate nursing practice, its education, leadership, and research aspects. To make her point well understood, Carroll draws various examples where nursing literature interacts with the theme of wisdom. For instance, she looks at insights from Weidenbach, which emphasizes the importance of integrating wisdom into nursing, saying it needs to be used beyond mere academic learning. This integration of wisdom enables nurses to overcome barriers and respond effectively to the profession’s demands, helps them ground their nursing knowledge, gives them objectives and a sense of direction, and brings future-oriented actions. The article also looks at sentiments from Benner, who states that wisdom in the nursing profession comes from astute judgment, commonly referred to as the arts, which can’t be reduced from propositional statements but is demonstrated by actions.
This article by Carrol (2023), like the one by Barnawi (2019), looks at the role of wisdom in nursing education. Attaining wisdom in nursing education is viewed as the goal for intellectual development. It is made to be achieved through a well-developed curriculum in the modern profession. Some aspects focused on in education include making the learning nurses gain a solid knowledge base, be great critical thinkers, have good problem-solving abilities, and have a sense of duty and purpose. This article looks at previous studies that explore the connection between wisdom and nursing theoretical frameworks, finding that nursing theories such as nursing care theory and Imogene King’s theory of goal attainment have aspects of wisdom (Carroll, 2023). These nursing theories seek to ensure that nurses embody wisdom in their practice to enable them to achieve their career goals and enhance patient outcomes.
Haggerty and Grace’s (2008): Clinical Wisdom: The Essential Foundation of ‘Good’ Nursing Care
This paper conceptualizes clinical wisdom as a more specific variant of general wisdom by examining how general wisdom principles and aspects are found in nursing practice. The authors define clinical wisdom as facilitating good actions and decision-making for patients (Haggerty & Grace, 2008). The authors reveal the key elements of wisdom derived from diverse perspectives such as psychology and philosophy. The authors posit that wisdom should never exist without moral commitment and balancing intrapersonal, interpersonal, and extrapersonal needs to achieve common goals and interests. The authors show that these aspects of moral obligations set wisdom in nursing practice apart from practical intelligence. In addition to the moral-based principles of wisdom, Haggerty and Grace (2008) argue that wisdom is also based on an individual’s experience. By combining tacit knowledge with moral obligations, nurses can effectively balance self-oriented interests, interpersonal goals, and the environment.
The article explores wisdom in nursing practice from a philosophical point of view, derived from the Greek words philo (loving) and Sophia (wisdom), thus literally meaning the love of wisdom. They explore famous philosophers such as Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle, who showed that practical wisdom enables men to differentiate between what is suitable and advantageous for themselves and the general public. The article reveals that virtue is a critical component of wisdom, with authors such as Aristotle stating that what differentiates practical wisdom from wisdom per se are the virtues of an individual. The authors show that historically, nursing practice used practical wisdom to put the patient in the best condition for nature to act upon him (Haggerty & Grace, 2008). This article reveals that by cultivating clinical wisdom among nurses, health institutions can enhance the quality of care provided, promote ethical decision-making, and foster effective leadership in the field.
Matney et al. (2015): Toward an Understanding of Wisdom in Nursing
This study starts by introducing the concept of nursing wisdom in the field of practice and its significance, showing that currently, there is no well-defined knowledge of this theme in the nursing practice field. The article introduces how the scope and standards of nursing practice first added the concept of wisdom in practice and how, today, the data, information, knowledge, and wisdom framework are generally accepted as the foundational model in nursing practice. Like Haggerty and Grace (2008), Matney et al. (2015) explore nursing from various disciplines such as philosophy, psychology, and education. Classical philosophical definitions from Plato and Aristotle, le as well as contemporary clinical practices, found important studies into personal and general wild, which help in bringing a holistic understanding of the concept. This article examines the current nursing theory and how it relates to wisdom. They state that the purpose of this theory is to describe, prescribe, predict, and explain various aspects related to the patient’s condition. They propose three levels of nursing theories: metatheory, grand theory, and mid-range theories (Matney et al., 2015). To understand these theories, nurses are expected to have a great degree of wisdom that requires asking philosophical and methodological questions.
The article provides a brief overview of philosophy, especially on matters related to wisdom. Matney et al. (2015) quote Plato’s definition of wisdom, the knowledge of the good between all that exists, and Aristotle’s definition, which is that wisdom is the knowledge of the first causes and principles of all things. According to Aristotle and, as shown in this study, wisdom entails five states of mind that include episteme, which is scientific knowledge, theoretics, the theorical knowledge of the truth, and techne, meaning technical skills (Matney et al., 2015). Other aspects of wisdom by Aristotle include phronesis, which is the practical wisdom enabling good actions, and Sophia, which means the truth towards a practical end (Matney et al., 2015). All these five aspects of wisdom can be integrated into the nursing practice, built upon scientific knowledge episteme and based on practical theories and theoretics, integrated with the latest technology techne. As previously discussed, nursing upholds morality and ethics phronesis based on care founded on Sophia’s fundamental truths. This article suggests that further research needs to be done to define wisdom in the context of clinical practice in a better manner.
Matney et al. (2016): Nurses’ Wisdom in Action in the Emergency Department
This study also begins by asserting that the experience of wisdom in nursing practice is poorly defined and that nurses need to better understand what wisdom means. The research aims to figure out how emergency department nurses understand this concept of wisdom and apply it in nursing practice. The research questions in this study seek to know what wisdom means to emergency department nurses, general processes for practicing wisely, the key concepts in the process, and how these processes relate to each other. To understand this, Marney et al. (2016) examined the clinical nurses’ actions, perceptions, decision-making processes, and human interaction dynamics. The study utilized open-ended interview questions in which they gave various experiences as nurses.
The results showed that nurses were expected to display expertise and wisdom in decision-making when a patient entered a room. Some participants stated that wisdom can be gained from reading books, while others argued for drawing from personal experiences. Technical process wisdom categories identified from this study included information-gathering abilities, the ability to assess the patient, the ability to assess the patient’s history, and how to obtain pertinent information (Matney et al., 2016). Others included processing information, identifying the knowledge, explicit knowledge, critical thinking, decision-making capabilities, linkages between judgments and interventions, and evaluation processes. However, non-technical categories of wisdom were also identified in this article, and these included emotional intelligence, self-awareness, how to manage stressful situations, self-regulation, empathy, assertiveness, confidence, and collaboration (Matney et al., 2016). In sum, this article reveals the importance of technical and affective attributes to nursing practice, especially when managing emergencies. The authors propose several research questions which could be studied further. These include the relationship between cognition and emotion in nursing, how to measure the wisdom categories identified, and the optimal set of wisdom categories.
In modern nursing literature, wisdom is often conceptualized as a combination of technical aspects such as expertise, technical efficiency, and affective attributes. The nurses are expected to reveal expert-level thinking abilities, be critical thinkers, and make clinical decisions based on evidence-based structures. Moreover, a modern nurse must show empathy, compassion, and emotional intelligence, which create a therapeutic relationship with the patient, fostering holistic care. Conversely, wisdom in the Christian ages was viewed as a gift from God, bestowed by God in the form of enlightenment and discernment (Yong, 2021). Rooted in biblical teachings, wisdom is found in the scriptures and religious teachings and cannot be understood without the grace of God. In nursing practice, wisdom is found in the books and can be understood through professional experience. However, both schools of thought are guided by the principles of humility, compassion, and love.
The nursing literature framework recognizes ethical considerations as critical elements for the practice of the profession. The nurses are guided by ethical principles such as beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, and justice, which help them navigate the complex work environment. Nurses must have intrapersonal, interpersonal, and extrapersonal needs to achieve common goals and interests (Haggerty & Grace, 2008). Thus, nursing wisdom must entail making moral decisions, advocating for patient’s rights, and upholding ethical values. Similarly, wisdom during the Christian ages has been guided by moral principles, albeit in different circumstances. Christians are called to uphold values such as forgiveness, servant leadership, and compassion, an aspect that was widely advocated for by Lutherans (Hilllerbrand, 2024). Thus, the nursing framework and Christians throughout the ages have also found ethics to be an essential component of their practice that is directly linked to wisdom.
While both the contemporary nursing literature and Christian beliefs across the ages acknowledge the importance of holistic care, the manner and the nature of the execution of this goal are different. Christians believe that suffering should be attended to in the best manner and that the rest should be handled by nature and God. On the other hand, contemporary literature practices since World War II often ignore the aspect of spiritual powers, prioritizing evidence-based practices more. Additionally, modern literature on wisdom in nursing and wisdom through the Christian ages emphasizes the importance of servant leadership and compassion when dealing with others (Waddington, 2017). Therefore, it is clear from both schools of thought that wisdom is a complex phenomenon only achieved through gifts, dedicated practice, or continuous learning.
The five reviewed literature articles show that advanced practice nurses should prioritize providing holistic care, including physical treatment, connecting with the patient, and controlling emotional and social components. The nurses must have technical wisdom for assessing patients, processing information, knowledge identification, decision-making, and non-technical capabilities such as emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and assertiveness (Matney et al., 2016). Advanced leadership nurses are also expected to assume leadership roles to advocate for their families, patients, and communities. Other essential implications drawn from the studies are the need to uphold ethics, the importance of collaborative practice, continued learning and growth as a nurse, and using evidence-based practice.
Historical analysis of the concept also has significant implications for the nurses as it first reveals that most nursing principles followed today draw their roots from historical philosophical and psychological concepts. The teachings of compassion, love, care, wisdom, and knowledge taught by Jesus, Aristotle, Plato, Socrates, and others significantly impact the nursing theory adopted today. For instance, nurses are impacted by the fact that historically, nursing practices sought to put the patient in the best condition possible for nature to act upon them (Haggerty & Grace, 2008). Although current practices do not state this directly, they still follow evidence-based practices to ensure that the patient is cared for in the best possible manner; thus, the trend has impacted current advanced nursing practice.
Based on the knowledge I have gained from the five modern literature articles reviewed and Christian teaching across the ages, I now know the importance of providing holistic care to my patients. Holistic would mean not just addressing their personal needs but also being committed to their emotional, social, and emotional well-being. The literature emphasizes the importance of further research being conducted on various studies, thus emphasizing continuous growth in the quality of the care provided to the nurses. As a nurse, I have also recognized the importance of integrating wisdom in everything I do, from professional care to collaborating with colleagues.
Contemporary insights and historical wisdom, both religious and philosophical, provide great insights that can be used in advanced nursing practice, as has been shown. The studies show that wisdom is essential for nurses to uphold morality, manage leadership functions, conduct clinical operations, and continue with their learning and development. The research also shows that healthcare institutions can use philosophy, the love for wisdom, and psychology to enhance the quality of care provided. The wisdom is also proved by empirical research to be helpful for emergency nurses, having both technical and non-technical benefits. Modern literature advocates for the aspects of empathy, compassion, and emotional intelligence found in Christian teachings across the ages. As a nursing practitioner, the insights derived from the sources and looking at historical developments can enable me to provide better care to patients.
Barnawi, N. A. (2019). Concept Analysis of Nursing Wisdom. Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research, 23(1), 17179-17188.
Carroll, K. (2023). Wisdom in Nursing Practice. Nursing Science Quarterly, 36(2), 132–133.
Haggerty, L. A., & Grace, P. (2008). Clinical wisdom: The essential foundation of “good” nursing care. Journal of Professional Nursing, 24(4), 235–240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2007.06.010
Hilllerbrand, H. (2024, February 14). Martin Luther. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved February 19, 2024, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Martin-Luther
Matney, S., Avant, K., & Staggers, N. (2015). Toward an understanding of wisdom in nursing. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.3912/ojin.vol21no01ppt02
Matney, S. A., Staggers, N., & Clark, L. (2016). Nurses’ wisdom in action in the emergency department. Global Qualitative Nursing Research, pp. 3, 1–10, https://doi.org/10.1177/2333393616650081
Waddington, J. (2017). Calvin’s Theology: Nearly all the wisdom we possess. https://www.placefortruth.org/blog/calvins-theology-nearly-all-wisdom-we-possess
Yong, S. (2021). Rule of love and rule of faith in Augustine’s Hermeneutics: A complex dialectic of the twofold rules. Veritas: Jurnal teologi Dan Pelayanan, 20(2), 207–218. https://doi.org/10.36421/veritas.v20i2.499