title: Fuzzy thinking.
abstract: Philosophical analysis is increasingly applied to nursing issues. Whereas pre-analytical discussions might be sloppy, analysis should bring rigour. This paper explores some mistakes and misconceptions concerning nurse-related reasonings. It uses, as a running theme, a recent paper in the Journal of Advanced Nursing by Rolfe. The mistakes and misleadings to be found in the paper are not uncommon; so the paper's correction quest aims more widely than single author critique. The mistakes and misconceptions could initially appear abstract and without practical outcome; in order to avoid the threatened appearance, a nursing case study is presented, displaying some undesirable consequences for a nurse who is misled by her reading. It is hoped that this paper shows how some accuracy may be well leading.
authors.affiliation: The Open University, Milton Keynes, England.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cave
mesh_terms: D015982:Bias; D017143:Fuzzy Logic; D006801:Humans; D009736:Nursing Process; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing; D011361:Professional Competence; D013850:Thinking