Theoretical Foundation of a Comprehensive Understanding of Nurses Remaining in the Profession

The chapter provides selected concepts drawn from phenomenological philosophy and philosophical anthropology, laying a theoretical foundation, or ground, beneath a comprehensive understanding of what is of significance for nurses to remain in everyday nursing practice. The comprehensive understanding is described in the previous chapter (see Table 2.1 ). This chapter delves into selected concepts used to substantiate a perspective on a life view. A view of life may represent a horizon of identity for nurses and be embedded in their self-understanding related to everyday nursing practice, thus being of significance for remaining in the profession. The chapter’s attention is concentrated on three selected concepts concerning basic conditions of life: thoughts of creation, relationality, and love. These concepts have been chosen because they are perceived as particularly relevant in an analysis of life. In addition, the attention is concentrated on two selected concepts concerning man and the capacity to take a position toward life: human beings and community.