The critique of Heideggerian hermeneutical nursing research

Within the past decade, over 25 research reports claiming to be based on He ideggerian interpretive phenomenology have been published in the nursing li terature. This article reviews this research focusing on two critical issue s. First, do the reports reflect a convergence of researcher understanding and participant narratives as called for by the Heideggerian tradition? Sec ond, do Heideggerian ideas inform and enrich the studies' findings? The rev iew reveals wide variations with regard to how these two issues are reflect ed in published reports. The author recommends that Heideggerian nurse rese archers (a) seek to create a new narrative literature that allows for flexi ble and creative presentation of interpretive findings, while demanding adh erence to sound interpretive scholarship, and (b) strengthen their partners hips with philosophers and other scholars so that ideas from Heideggerian i nterpretive phenomenology and other sources can not only guide their method s, but enrich their findings.