AIM: This paper is a report of a principle-based concept analysis of recognition in the context of nurse-patient interactions.BACKGROUND: Recognition is a concept employed in practice and research. Since nursing is patient-centred and care is problem-driven, the specificity and accuracy of recognition may have an impact on how nurses label patient phenomena, interventions initiated and patient outcomes.DATA SOURCES: The data set included 98 English language articles published from 1997 to 2008 and retrieved through Medline and CINAHL searches.METHODS: Principle-based concept analysis was used to examine the state of the science according to major perspectives of the philosophy of science. Conceptual components were integrated into a theoretical definition and the process of recognition was conceptually modelled.FINDINGS: The scientific literature dealing with recognition in the context of nurse-patient interactions relies on implied meaning. Recognition is a process marked by an awareness of evidence coupled with the formulation of a conceptual label summarizing the identified pattern of patient phenomena. Contextual features of the nurse, patient and organization are relevant during nurse-patient interactions, resulting in pivotal points in nursing care. These pivotal points are the moments of recognition when the nurse consciously applies a summary label to interpreted evidence. Outcomes of recognition include a choice to act or not to act, each option carrying significant outcomes for nurses, patients, and at times, organizations.CONCLUSION: A working definition was produced that will serve as a foundation for future concept-driven research to advance the concept toward greater precision and usefulness in nursing science.
Child, Preschool Concept Formation