Nursing Philosophy: Rethinking Nurses' Moral Dilemma and Self-cultivation from the Perspectives of Foucauldian Notions

Purpose: This article discusses nurses' moral dilemma and self-cultivation from the Foucauldian viewpoint. Methods: The philosophical inquiry approach is utilized to analyze the nurses' moral distress. Analyses are based on Foucauldian perspectives. Results: Foucault's codes of conduct comprising the mode of subjection and telos are discussed to explain nurses' moral dilemma. The dual process of caring is also discussed. Conclusion: From dilemmatic experience, nurses practice self-formation or self-cultivation to become more virtuous, well-balanced, or integrated people. Such characteristics form the essence of nursing practice.