THE PROPER FOCUS OF NURSING - A CRITIQUE OF THE CARING IDEOLOGY

Some nurse educators in the United Kingdom are following the lead of N orth American theorists by asserting that caring ''is'' the core of nu rsing. This paper offers a focused critique of the caring ideology, th rough an examination of: (a) the views of a founding figure in the ''c aring'' movement, and (b) a proposal for the integration of a ''caring curriculum'' within Project 2000. An overview of the ''caring'' liter ature prefaces an examination of Watson's notion of a ''science of car ing''. Finally, Kirby and Slevin's recent proposals for a ''curriculum of care'' are examined in terms of their necessity and practicality.