護理哲學為討論與護理有關的哲學問題提供了一個論壇。這些討論可能集中于與護理的性質有關的問題以及與之密切相關的現(xiàn)象。例如，任何對什么是護理的理解都是以護士在護理時想要做什么為前提的。但是護理的目的是什么呢?它們是促進健康、預防疾病、促進福祉、增強自治、減輕痛苦，還是這些的某種組合?如何達到這些目的?護士需要什么樣的知識?實用的、理論的、美學的、道德的、政治的、直覺的還是其他的?

Nursing Philosophy provides a forum for discussion of philosophical issues related to nursing. These discussions might focus on questions relating to the nature of nursing and to the phenomena of key relevance to it. For example, any understanding of what nursing is presupposes some conception of just what nurses are trying to do when they nurse. But what are the ends of nursing? Are they to promote health, prevent disease, promote well-being, enhance autonomy, relieve suffering, or some combination of these? How are these ends to be met? What kind of knowledge is needed in order to nurse? Practical, theoretical, aesthetic, moral, political, 'intuitive' or some other?