Geographical thinking in nursing inquiry, part one: locations, contents, meanings

Abstract

Spatial thought is undergoing somewhat of a renaissance in nursing. Building on a long disciplinary tradition of conceptualizing and studying 'nursing environment', the past twenty years has witnessing the establishment and refinement of explicitly geographical nursing research. This article - part one in a series of two - reviews the perspectives taken to date, ranging from historical precedent in classical nursing theory through to positivistic spatial science, political economy, and social constructivism in contemporary inquiry. This discussion sets up part two, which considers the potential of non-representational theory for framing future studies.

Transfusing our lifeblood: Reframing research impact through inter-disciplinary collaboration between health geography and nurse education

“…A loose chronology of the scholarly intersections between geography and nursing might identify three 'waves' of enquiry (see Andrews, 2016): 1. The 'nursing environment' as a meta-concept in nursing theory; 2.…”

“…This important text made early observations on sanitary and housing circumstances in nineteenth century European cities, on the conditions, variation, arrangements, agencies and interactions in patients' rooms, and suggested how they might be managed to benefit health and care (Selanders, 1998;Andrews, 2003Andrews, , 2016). Nightingale's Notes lays contextual issues as a cornerstone in the earliest foundations of modern nursing.…”

“…Nightingale's Notes lays contextual issues as a cornerstone in the earliest foundations of modern nursing. Like most nurses after her she understood that nursing incorporates a fundamental responsibility for the places where patients reside (Andrews, 2016).…”

“…Fast forward eighty years and the idea of 'nursing environment' re-surfaced within burgeoning mid twentieth century scholarship as a core concept of nursing theory (theories of nursing) (Thorne et al, 1998;Andrews and Moon, 2005b;Andrews, 2016). In particular, nurse theorists pondered and debated what constituted nursing environment.…”

“…Here, environment could be imagined more fluidly, for example, as movement exchanges of energy, matter and knowledge (Roy, 1976;Rogers, 1980;Parse, 1981). All three of these approaches to 'nursing environment' were part of a zeitgeist for grand theories that would help justify, secure and build nursing as a legitimate profession and discipline, distinct and somewhat independent from medicine (Andrews, 2016).…”