Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / This dissertation documents the attempt to address one of the major problems in nursing education i.e. the existing gap between the educational philosophy of nursing and nursing education practices, by means of an action research project during the period 1991-1996. The research in this dissertation is recorded in three phases. Phase One elaborates on the biographical and professional background of the researcher and the reasons why action research was selected for the purpose of this particular project Since action research provides opportunities for teachers to change and transform their own teaching practices, it was obviously the best choice for the research. The emphasis was on collaboration and participation and the researcher was morally bound to consider and observe all internal and external factors which influence and limit her own teaching practice, in order to initiate change and transformation in teaching. In order to define and contextualize the problem and to describe the situation in which this particular problem has been identified, the role of the statutory body, the South African Nursing Council which governs the profession and basic professional nursing education were explored. The problem is formulated as the existing gap between the educational philosophy on which existing nursing and nursing education practices are theoretically grounded and the way in which both nursing and nursing education practices appear in reality. Phase One also deals with the historical and philosophical foundations and development of nursing and nursing education. In an attempt to describe the researchers's teaching practice appropriately, as a social practice, it was essential to consider not only the professional and social boundaries of nursing education, but also the current situation regarding national education, the existing health system and all factors related to education and health. The dissertation then draws the attention to the essential features and historical context of a progressive and critical pedagogy, as a foundation for action research. In this regard it was especially the contributions of Dewey, Habermas, Freire, Giroux and McLaren, which guided the research to approach nursing education from a critical perspective. Phase Two deals with the research methodology. For this particular research project John Elliotts's Action Research Framework for Self-Evaluation in Schools was used. Within this framework of Elliott the dissertation then describes the research methodology of this particular project: Ideal and Reality in Nursing Education and Nursing Practices in South Africa: An Action Research Approach. The rationale and the development of the project is first described, whereafter action research is discussed as a process which enables nursing .practitioners and tutors to become empowered and to initiate change and establish transformation within their own practices. A major part of the dissertation is dedicated to the project in action with two groups of participants during two action research cycles. Finally Phase Three of this dissertation draws the attention to the conclusions based on the outcomes of the project. with the emphasis on the urgent need for change and transformation within the nursing profession in order to lessen the extensive gap between nursing theory and nursing practices. The existing gap between the philosophy on which nursing practices are based and how existing nursing practices appear in reality, seems to be the major cause of the prevailing discontent in the nursing profession.