The unrecognized paradigm shift in nursing: Implications, problems, and possibilities

An important paradigm (or worldview) shift is occurring in science that affects the nature of nursing education, practice, and research. The shift from positivism to postmodernism and now to neomodernism has received little attention in US nursing and as such may forestall many opportunities related to such change. The nature of this paradigm shift and its effects on selected aspects of nursing education, practice, and research are described, and related implications, problems, and possibilities are explored. Neomodernism is discussed as one future for nursing that encompasses aspects of both positivism and postmodernism but yet goes beyond these to include important metanarratives as traditional values and beliefs of nursing. The work of Laudan and Lakatos are explored as supportive of this neomodernist approach.