Nursing as a Science and an Art

Nursing as a Science and an Art

Introduction

A significant debate in the theoretical frameworks of nursing is whether the discipline is considered an art or a science. Nursing focuses on the concept of care, which implies relational understanding and communication with patients. Meanwhile, a considerable time of the job is consumed on task-oriented, methodical approaches which are based on research and medicine. Therefore, the challenge arises in maintaining commitment through the moral and philosophical aspects of caring amid providing medical treatment, which must adhere to strict regulations. Nursing as an art and science combines theory and research with a commitment to offering care in the process of nurse-patient interaction.

Nursing as a Science

Reasons why nursing can be called a science include the fact that nursing uses scientific knowledge. It’s also characterized by extensive use of technology and evidence-based practice. Nurses use research and critical thinking in their work, which makes it a science.

Nursing is a science because the fundamentals of nursing practice consist of using scientific information of human beings in mutual process with their environment in order to provide for the well-being of patients. The discipline uses medical knowledge about the human health process which is based on theoretical frameworks. There are differing perspectives on whether nursing is a basic or applied science. As an applied science, nursing uses a combination of concepts from various disciplines without a recognizable focus on specific theoretical perspective or methodology (Barrett, 2017). Therefore, it can be argued that nursing is essentially a science due to its sophisticated approach to gathering knowledge and applying it for the purpose of ensuring the well-being of people using established theories and methodologies.

Nursing as a science consists of a delicate balance of skill, awareness, and efficiency. Modern nursing models call for the transition of scientific discoveries into medical practice and relevant supporting technology. A competent nurse requires a considerable amount of academic and clinical knowledge and skills which are reflected through critical thinking, decision-making, and evidence-based practice (Palos, 2014). To maintain clinical competency, nurses are taught the importance of engaging in the process of research and discovery. Maintaining the knowledge of current scientific research in a variety of disciplines relating to practice, from medical advances to efficient management, allows supporting the fundamental tenet of nursing: commitment to lifelong learning.

One of the most persuasive arguments for nursing being a science is the use of evidence-based practice. Evidence in healthcare originates from scientific research and meticulously developed into clinical practice. This ensures that each decision made regarding diagnosing and treating a patient are efficient and contribute to the delivery of care. Evidence-based practice consists of compiling information from multiple research studies that credible based on a number of criteria. Furthermore, the process of developing methodology consists of gathering input from both patients and practitioners. Although nurses often rely on established frameworks, it is encouraged to incorporate medical models into clinical practice, which requires an understanding of research methods (Dunphy, Windland-Brown, Porter & Thomas, 2015).

Effective nurses have to do more than follow a set of tasks. It is a profession that requires a sharp intuition to recognize the meaning and empathize with patients in order to advocate for their needs. Comprehensively, the process of delivering care as a patient transition from sickness to health is artful in every sense of the word. Art can be considered both a product and a process. In nursing, the product is the health of a recovered patient. Meanwhile, the process is an intricate method of care that is greatly dependent on a reciprocal relationship with a patient where information is shared and treatment is provided. Florence Nightingale, responsible for pioneering nursing theory and practice, has indicated that the discipline is more than the administration of medicine but the art of providing comprehensive care to each unique patient (Henry, 2017).

The art of nursing often refers to the exemplification of compassion, concern, commitment, and communication, amongst many other non-technical skills. Patients and families tremendously value these qualities, sometimes above the science aspect of nursing, which they may not recognize. In the transition of health systems towards patient-centered care, the art perspective has become a central component of nursing competency (Palos, 2014). Demonstrating empathetic qualities and practicing effective communica