Patterns of knowing as a method of assessment and intervention for children exposed to family-member homicide

The patterns of knowing identified by Carper in 1978, specifically empirics, aesthetics, ethics, and personal knowing, continue to be applied to the expanding role of nursing. Sociopolitical knowing and unknowing add important dimensions, as well. Knowing is an individual process and a metamorphosis of interplay among theory, research, and practice. These patterns of knowing are inherently applicable to any specialty within the profession of nursing. As nursing specialties such as forensic nursing emerge, the patterns of knowing can provide a foundational approach to comprehensive assessment and intervention for victims of interpersonal violence. As an example, forensic nurses confronted with children who have witnessed family-member homicide can use all of the patterns of knowing for comprehensive nursing assessment and intervention.