This article discusses the central role of the Norwegian professor Kari Martinsen in the discourse of the nursing profession. The key question is: how have Martinsen’s critical and anti-modern beliefs become central to the nursing discourse? The article argues that this is determined by a transformation of some of Martinsen’s fundamental beliefs – her phenomenological perception of cognition.
The analysis is methodologically and epistemologically inspired by the French philosopher Michel Foucault’s archaeological studies.
Firstly it is explained in which direction Martinsen’s beliefs lie. Subsequently the transformation of her beliefs is shown. It is concluded that, on the one hand, the transformation is necessary in order to adapt Martinsen’s beliefs to the discourse but, on the other hand, that the transformation disarms the core of Martinsen’s message.