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suggests the possibility of certainty. The only thing about which we can be certain in health care practice is that uncertainty will always be present -except, perhaps, when we have the benefit of hindsight.Guilty but good? Perhaps. Guilty of good intentions? Almost certainly. However, the truth of that old adage 'the road to evil is paved with good intentions' remains a stark reminder that compassion without right reason (phronesis) is no virtue at all.

Nurses who have not reflected on the moral issues involved with rational suicide may be unprepared psychologically and professionally when working with patients who may be contemplating such actions.

Nurses have long attempted to secure a unique identity for the profession. Many scholars are now promoting an interdisciplinary framework for nursing practice. Fawcett is convinced that interdisciplinary practice poses a danger for nursing to lose its identity and that interdisciplinary practice cannot be successful if members of each discipline do not understand the conceptual models, practice, and research of their own discipline. Dr. Janie Butts and Dr. Karen Rich interviewed Dr. Jacqueline Fawcett about her views related to discipline-specific knowledge and nursing's future. The authors conclude that Fawcett's scientific foundation gives nursing the solidarity and power necessary to determine the unique internal goods of its practice.

The philosophy of science course is critical content for doctoral students.