The development of methods of nursing inquiry appropriate to the study of the theory, Nursing as Caring, is in a formative stage. We understand to a considerable extent the limitations of existing modes of inquiry, and have a growing sense of what will be required of a new methodology. Nursing scholars are working to develop methods to illuminate the fullness of nursing. Examples of that work which has encouraged our efforts include that by Parker (1993), Swanson-Kauffman (1986), Parse (1990), and Ray (Wallace, 1992). The work of these scholars demonstrates that the development of nursing ways of inquiry is important and that a search has begun. As we have come to understand the concept of human science, our understanding of nursing has been enriched. Like most of our contemporaries in nursing, we were trained in the often-unarticulated assumptions of natural science. And we have traveled the road familiar to many nursing scholars, the road of expertise in objectification and quantification. Along that road, we began to notice the trivialization of cherished nursing ideas like presence, touch, relationship, knowing, and caring. Resisting the temptation to abandon the journey, we each persevered in a commitment to nursing as something which mattered, something involving intimate, personal, caring relationships. Discovering, inventing, and creating a new methodology is an important dream and we are committed to continuing this aspect of theory development. Nursing as Caring is a transformational model for all arenas. Nursing practice, nursing service organization, nursing education, and nursing inquiry require a full understanding of nursing as nurturing persons living caring and growing in caring, and these underlying assumptions: * Persons are caring by virtue of their humanness. * Persons are caring, moment to moment. * Persons are whole or complete in the moment. * Personhood is a process of living grounded in caring. * Personhood is enhanced through participating in nurturing relationships with caring others. * Nursing is both a discipline and profession. With these transformations, the fullness of nursing will be realized and we will grow in our understanding of self and other as caring persons connected in oneness. REFERENCES