The text offers a comprehensive overview of the philosophy and history of science, the structures of nursing knowledge, and a path for knowledge development. It is unique in its reach beyond the traditional views about theory in nursing. It advocates equipping practitioners as well as other nurses with the tools to make theory more relevant to their own practice and to inspire confidence to be active participants in building knowledge for nursing. The text will help students become aware of their own philosophical and theoretical ideas and knowledge embedded in their practice and to learn strategies for developing theory-based knowledge—strategies that are practice relevant and practice based. NEW TO THE SECOND EDITION: KEY FEATURES: