Shirley Bach, professor of nursing education and head of the School of Nursing and Midwifery, recently presented her inaugural lecture entitled 'Where angels fear to tread'.
This lecture is now available to watch online.
The development of nursing as an academic discipline is a debateable issue. For a subject to be defined as a discipline, several different aspects need to be present; a set of values and beliefs, specific knowledge domains, traditions, methods of enquiry and a scholarly community. Nursing has, in recent years, attempted to define its unique characteristics that are not related to traditional academic disciplines, or borrowed from biology, psychology and sociology, and to be considered as an academic discipline its own right. Yet, nursing is also considered to be a profession. Deemed to be vocational, practice orientated, supported by professional bodies and regulations with specialised education or training, it is a profession that shares a collectivity that is service-orientated and focused on maintaining optimum health and quality of life.
In this lecture, Professor Bach explored the position of nursing as an academic discipline. She considered a specific development in the theoretical maturity of nursing knowledge and discussed the concept of caring.
Ever in the public eye, nurses are often perceived as caring angels. This lecture explored the angelic phenomenon of caring and discover if nurses rush in where even angels fear to tread.
See also Professor Shirley Bach's staff profile.
