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Plato's Allegory of the Cave to Nursing Practice

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Plato's Allegory of the Cave to Nursing Practice

Firstly, I agree that the historical account, as per Plato's allegory, can occasionally be

applied to nursing work. In the reversal of the cave image, the convicts can only view the images

of objects flung onto the cave wall, and they perceive these images as the authentic reality of life.

Similarly, hospitals, patients, and their families often do not have adequate knowledge of the

diseases and treatments available to them. As nurses, they play a crucial role that requires them

to overcome challenges and overcome obstacles, both literally and figuratively.

Secondly, the philosophical dichotomy of 'phenomenon' and 'essence,' or 'appearances'

and ‘reality,' can be useful in understanding different modalities of treatments in nursing.

Treatments can often look unappetizing and even painful in the eyes of patients. For instance,

from one perspective, patients may perceive injections, surgeries, or certain medications as

painful, dangerous, or even deadly (Mitchell, 2019). But, in truth, these treatments are often

necessary to restore the patient’s health and ensure their wellbeing. Thus, as per our nursing

profession, it is our duty to advocate for the cause and necessity of such treatments, which make

a standalone difference between reality and the facade. This way, we protect the patient from the

first prejudices that may arise due to their perceptions of the doctor's appearance, which in turn

fosters their trust in the treatment process.

Incorporating superstition can enhance the explanation of the cave story. Similarly, the

prisoners in the cave do not know there is a better life when people do not have the right beliefs

on various issues about health and sickness. These impressions can persist as illusions on the

cave's walls, preventing people from understanding their true health status. As novice nurses on

the floor, we often encounter various myths and superstitions held by patients.
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Reference

Mitchell, D. (2019). The myth of the cave and the experience of illness. Journal of Evaluation in

Clinical Practice, 25(6), 1003-1009.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jep.13175