Unpacking Heideggerian phenomenology

This paper illuminates the thinking that underpinned Martin Heidegger's philosophy. Essentially Heidegger purported that we construct our reality from our own experiences and beliefs. For many researchers, however the difficulty in deciphering the complexities of German based language is a frequently cited reason for avoiding Heideggerian phenomenology. As a result this article examines facets of the language used by Heidegger, and furthermore offers discussion and examples to allow researchers to appreciate how this philosophy may translate into a methodological framework to be utilized in contemporary nursing research.