This paper examines the dual nature of nursing as both an art and a science, drawing on definitions from the American Nurses' Association and foundational nursing literature. It explores how evidence-based practice has legitimized nursing as a profession while preserving its core values of compassion, caring, and respect. The paper addresses nursing's ontological roots, its historical relationship with gender and subservience, and its therapeutic distinction from medicine. It also considers nursing through relational and systems perspectives, emphasizing the profession's expanding roles in public health, education, administration, and policy. Together, these dimensions reveal nursing as a dynamic, multidisciplinary, and ethically grounded profession.
Nursing is frequently defined as both "art" and "science" (Potter, Perry, Stockert & Hall, 2013). The art component of nursing is best expressed in the subtle nuances of the delivery of care, including attitudes and behaviors toward patients. As an art, nursing entails a broad vision of health, health care, and healing. As a science, nursing includes a compendium of knowledge — including scholarly literature — that informs judicious practice. Nursing is also a multidisciplinary science, drawing from a number of different realms of study both within and outside of the medical professions. Combining art and science, nursing is a dynamic and complex process.
The American Nurses' Association (2013) defines nursing as "the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations." This definition can be enhanced by a conceptualization of the nurse as a public health promoter, a role best achieved via involvement in education, policy, and health care administration. Defining nursing with clarity has "coincided with the emergence of unprecedented change in the management of health care," which is why redefining nursing remains an essential part of the evolution of the practice (McMahon, Pearson & Pearson, 1998, p. vii).
No definition of nursing would be complete without including the words "compassion," "caring," and "respect" (Potter, Perry, Stockert & Hall, 2013). Regardless of the specific role fulfilled by the nurse, these three primary qualities remain salient. Nurses working in a variety of professional contexts exhibit compassion, caring, and respect for the end-users of the health care system, including patients, family members, and the community as an aggregate entity. The patient is and remains the "center" of nursing practice even when the nurse no longer works directly with patients on a daily basis (Potter, Perry, Stockert & Hall, 2013, p. 1).
Moreover, nurses demonstrate care and respect for their colleagues and for the profession as a whole. This is why a nurse remains a nurse when working in education or policy development. Nursing is as much about transforming and improving the health care system as it is about providing bedside care or performing medical procedures.
The emergence of evidence-based practice has transformed the nature of the nursing profession and continues to do so. Evidence-based practice has legitimized nursing by ensuring that nurses follow protocols rooted in empirical research. Most nurses will engage in research design of their own to promote the ideals of the profession and to discover new methods of helping patients. Nursing involves a high degree of both critical thinking and creative thinking, especially when applying evidence to practice. Applying evidence to practice entails analyzing a large body of knowledge and adapting that knowledge to individual patient situations.
Interpreting scientific knowledge is only part of the input into critical thought that defines the nurse's role. In addition to scientific knowledge, the nurse must also trust the wisdom that comes from clinical experience.
"Nursing's gendered origins and professional growth"
"Nursing's deeper purpose as care distinct from cure"
"Nursing defined through professional relationships and ethics"
Defining nursing has become less challenging due to the evolution of the profession, its establishment as a legitimate science, and its multifaceted role in the provision of health care. As the health care system contends with issues such as budgetary constraints, nursing's place in the system becomes more robust as many nurses serve in positions of power and administration. Leaders in their institutions and communities, nurses are entrusted with the role of anticipating dangers to personal or public health and preventing illness.
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