Introduction
Answering the question of whether nursing is a science or art has always been complex because this issue is usually perceived differently. However, the main argument for this paper will be that both perspectives on nursing usually intertwine because the main goal of this discipline is to achieve patient trust and to provide them with high-quality care regardless of the way nursing is perceived.
Nursing as Art
Ever since the establishment of nursing as a profession, it has been regularly described as art; however, the conceptual meaning of ‘nursing as art’ has been predominantly unclear. On the other hand, it has been accepted that the art of nursing was based on both metaphysical and empirical knowledge. From the perspective of empirical knowledge, nursing depends on science for guiding the treatment of patients with the implementation of evidence-based practice. Metaphysical knowledge is thought to be obtained through different experiences that only nurses have in their profession. A unique experience is the development of intuition, which is imperative for nurses to have because there are a variety of unclear situations that require professionals to be prepared to make decisions quickly and use their gut.
The perspective on nursing as art goes beyond the research data and also takes into consideration spiritual, cultural, and biopsychological needs to achieve effective practices of health promotion and disease prevention. This means that nurses are expected to have a creative approach to providing care since not all patients have the same needs. Unlike scientific knowledge, nursing as art does not usually rely on a systematic explanation that scientists reach; instead, it focuses on the feelings and experiences and what they mean for the potential practice. The abstract body of knowledge that presents the basis for nursing as art is instrumental for nurses to establish trusting relationships with patients during the process of care (Robinson, 2014). This knowledge is usually reliant upon nurses being attentive to patients’ needs, genuine in the expression of their emotions, and immersed in the practice along with people they serve. For some, being in the moment is considered the true presence in nursing, which makes nurses confident in practicing such skills as active listening and the encouragement of communication for the purpose of drawing the main attention to the values of patients and communities to which they belong.
When it comes to exploring nursing as an art, it is essential to talk about true presence as an integral part of being a nurse. When nurses practice true presence in their everyday work, they are better at describing and determining what patients consider being the most important for them. Through listening to what patients say, when they do not say, how they describe different things, as well as through noting the non-verbal signs that patients exhibit, nurses are able to make decisions on the most appropriate methods of care for patients (Marcus, 2014). With the use of information that nurses gather through interactions with patients, they can facilitate the improvement of care practices to enhance the quality of life. As mentioned by Robinson (2014), “this therapeutic use of self allows nurses to intuitively understand how to deliver effective and satisfying care with both creativity and style” (p. 45). Therefore, it can be concluded that similar to a painter who uses different paints and colors to produce a masterpiece nurses use different skills for covering a spectrum of patients’ needs.
Nursing as Science
The approach to nursing that suggests that the profession is rather a science than art has always been much easier to understand. Nursing as science is based on data that has been gathered from observations. Through embracing the patterns of scientific knowledge and how it applies to the practice of enhancing patients’ health, nurses are able to conduct better assessments, planning, implementation, and diagnosis. In its essence, science in nursing is an integral component that appears when researchers develop new theories for describing, predicting, explaining, and guiding the practice. When nurses have a firm understanding of the scientific rationale for their practice, they can choose the most effective course of action for different situations and different patients’ needs (Kemppainen, Tossavainen, & Turunen, 2013). Nursing as science needs to be continuously improved and approached from different angles to ensure that patients receive the best quality of care they need.
Science has a heavy influence on the shaping of the nursing practice. However, for the former to have a better influence, it should be more cohesive, effective, and easier for professionals to understand. Nurses have often reported that they experience difficulties in understanding an extensive body of research articles and critiquing them for finding important points in each of them (Kang, 2017). Therefore, rather than enhancing the nursing practice through meaningful contributions, some scientific works are confusing to practitioners who need useful advice on how to improve the quality of care they provide to patients.
Nursing: When Art and Science Combine
While it has been accepted that the nursing practice is deeply rooted in scientific evidence, without combining art and science to implement them in patient care, the ultimate goal of nurses becoming holistic advocates of their patients cannot be reached (Gustafson, 2015). This means that both science and art are essential components of the nursing profession that requires practitioners to withstand the pressure of stressful work environments and continue giving all that they have to enhance patients’ quality of life. It is evident that nurses do not have to give up the science-related part of nursing to practice art and vice versa. In this case, good science can produce answers to questions that good art asks; therefore, it is ineffective to separate the art and science-related components of nursing because both of them provide unique perspectives on how the discipline works. The intermingling of science and art within the discussion about science raises new questions, the exploration of which in the future can lead to the improvement of nursing as a whole.
Since the early conception of nursing as a discipline by Florence Nightingale, nursing has changed drastically, with advanced technologies and new developments in the sphere of education guiding the practice. Today, nurses are not only considered the providers of care but play major roles in the decision-making. Because of this, the art and science of nursing coincide. From the artistic standpoint, nursing implies the establishment of better communication patterns between nurses and their patients. From the scientific standpoint, nursing is concerned with making knowledgeable and accurate decisions to aid in the process of care. Therefore, the improvement of nursing as a whole will only be possible when professionals acknowledge both the science and the art components and combine them to reach the ultimate goal of improving patients’ health.
References
Gustafson, C. (2015). Barbara Dossey, PhD, RN: Developing a healing approach in nursing. Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal, 14(5), 72-77.
Kang, S-W. (2017). The use of body mechanics principle, clinical-practice fatigue, and practice satisfaction of nursing students. NursingPlus Open, 3, 6-10.
Kemppainen, V., Tossavainen, K., & Turunen, K. (2013). Nurses’ roles in health promotion practice: An integrative review. Health Promotion International, 28(4), 490-501.
Marcus, C. (2014). Strategies for improving the quality of verbal patient and family education: A review of the literature and creation of the EDUCATE model. Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, 2(1), 482-495.
Robinson, S. (2014). True presence: Practicing the art of nursing. Nursing, 44(4), 44-45.