Nursing science in the global community.

Knowledge development and research are generally embedded in cultural values and perspectives. This article examines the development of knowledge in nursing in a global context and addresses the degree to which Western values and the social environment in the United States shape nursing theory development. Three perspectives illustrate the influence of US values and contextual factors. Questions are raised about the relevance of knowledge to other cultural or national contexts. Recommendations are made for nursing inquiry that makes knowledge more applicable to the global community.