Knowledge Needed to be a Nurse

Nursing: Art and Science

Nursing has historically been seen as the art of caring. This art focuses on the humanistic and empathetic components, emphasizing the importance of understanding and responding to individual patient needs, emotions, and experiences. The art of nursing is reflected in the ability to build positive connections with patients, showing compassion, using empathy, and developing one’s understanding. It often involves intuition and creativity in practice, and sometimes requires one to go beyond the structured protocols to meet patient needs (Smith, 2020).

At the same time, the development of nursing as a science has aided in the profession's commitment to evidence-based practice. The scientific aspect of nursing involves the scientific study of health, illness, and healthcare interventions. It includes the use of clinical judgment based on research, data, experiments, and standardized procedures. This scientific approach is based on the scientific method and has been used to achieve developments in medical technology, research methodologies, and the expansion of theoretical knowledge in nursing. As a science, nursing contributes to healthcare through research, developing new knowledge, and applying scientific principles to clinical practice (Smith, 2020).

Nursing knowledge comprises several components that contribute to the profession's body of expertise. These components include theory, clinical skills, evidence-based practice, ethics, and professional skills. Theory involves understanding various nursing theories and models that guide practice (Pesut & Johnson, 2008). This knowledge supports nursing practice, education, and research. It also contributes the gaining of clinical skills, which are needed for assessing patients, delivering treatments, and providing quality care. Evidence-based practice, ethics, and other professional skills are all part of the art and science of nursing as well, and help to flesh out the body of nursing knowledge that professional nurses need (Rodgers, 2005).