Abstract
This chapter aims to show the potential of theory to facilitate a critical
contribution to decision makers on health care issues. The starting point
is the work of a report on how medium cycle health care education
programs could deliver future-proof, relevant competences to future
health care in Denmark. The authors of this chapter were involved
in this report upon request from the unions of Danish health care professionals. In this chapter the underlying critical sociological and
pedagogical theories are made explicit. The authors deconstruct naturalized
conceptions of how health care professionals think about themselves,
and argue that it is optional to go beyond naturalized assumptions
of health and care. Rather than reacting to specific competences defined
by others, it is shown how critical theories can facilitate a pro-active
view, and give examples on how everyday and political constructions
suppress nursing, physiotherapy etc. Critical theories have the potential
to enhance a critical attitude among health care professionals. Public
healthcare cannot afford to let students work solely with applied sciences
meant for simple implementation. Health care is a complex and
dynamic business requiring skilled professionals at all levels – also when
it comes to contributing to influential decisionmaking
processes.
contribution to decision makers on health care issues. The starting point
is the work of a report on how medium cycle health care education
programs could deliver future-proof, relevant competences to future
health care in Denmark. The authors of this chapter were involved
in this report upon request from the unions of Danish health care professionals. In this chapter the underlying critical sociological and
pedagogical theories are made explicit. The authors deconstruct naturalized
conceptions of how health care professionals think about themselves,
and argue that it is optional to go beyond naturalized assumptions
of health and care. Rather than reacting to specific competences defined
by others, it is shown how critical theories can facilitate a pro-active
view, and give examples on how everyday and political constructions
suppress nursing, physiotherapy etc. Critical theories have the potential
to enhance a critical attitude among health care professionals. Public
healthcare cannot afford to let students work solely with applied sciences
meant for simple implementation. Health care is a complex and
dynamic business requiring skilled professionals at all levels – also when
it comes to contributing to influential decisionmaking
processes.
| Original language | Danish |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Kritiske perspektiver i helsefagene : Utdanning, yrkespraksis og forskning |
| Editors | Marte Feiring, Truls I. Juritzen, Ingrid Ruud Knutsen, Kristian Larsen |
| Number of pages | 28 |
| Volume | 1 |
| Place of Publication | Oslo |
| Publisher | Cappelen Damm |
| Publication date | Aug 2017 |
| Edition | 1 |
| Pages | 21-48 |
| Chapter | 1 |
| ISBN (Print) | 978-82-02-55031-9-PDF |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 978-82-02-55031-8-PDF |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Aug 2017 |