Exploring the uses of virtues in woman‐centred care: A quest, synthesis and reflection

Kuipers, Yvonne J.

Abstract

Woman‐centred care is a philosophy authentic to the midwifery profession, scaffolding and preceding the capacity and utility of woman‐centred care in daily practice. Through providing guidance on the philosophical capacities—the virtues—the practical capacity and utility of woman‐centred care becomes more clear and more tangible. This paper discusses the virtues of woman centred care in midwifery practice. Eighteen virtues, described by Comte‐Sponville, serve as a philosophical lens to explore and understand how each specific virtue integrates into the woman‐centred care concept or vice versa, herewith becoming woman‐centred care virtuous acts. The virtues are politeness, fidelity, prudence, temperance, courage, justice, generosity, compassion, mercy, gratitude, humility, simplicity, tolerance, purity, gentleness, good faith, humour and love. Exploring these virtues provides a manageable view of the complexity of woman‐centred care. In this paper, first each virtue is discussed in relation to the body of knowledge of woman‐centred care in midwifery. Thereafter, a sketch of pragmatism is provided through translating the virtues into practical recommendations for the professional socialization and transformation of becoming, being and doing woman‐centred care.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 5, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Feb 21, 2022
• Publication Date: 2022-04
• Deposit Date: Feb 25, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 22, 2023
• Journal: Nursing Philosophy
• Print ISSN: 1466-7681
• Electronic ISSN: 1466-769X
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 23
• Issue: 2
• Article Number: e12380
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/nup.12380
• Keywords: ethics of care, midwifery, philosophy, theory-practice, virtues, woman-centred care
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2848132