Why is nursing considered both a science and an art

Why is nursing considered both a science and an art

As long as man has existed there has been nursing or care-giving . The practice has come a long way from its early beginnings but the professional Nurse ' did not truly come into being until Florence Nightingale and her followers first stepped out onto the Crimean field of conflict in the late nineteenth century . There she summarized the principles of nursing in her book , Notes on Nursing ' In this , amongst other things she detailed the necessity for adequate ventilation cleanliness , both personal and

in the surroundings , coupled with the need for a good diet for both patient and nurse . Balanced with these she wrote of the need for compassion , petty management (the detailing of how things are done in one 's absence ) and the general observation of the sick . She stressed that this book was not a Bible but a Help ' for the treatment of others

Today these ideals have been expanded and a typical academic course includes : anatomy and physiology , pharmacology and medication administration , psychology , ethics , nursing theory and legal issues Along with this , extensive training in the actual provision of nursing care is required

It is this , then , that forms the basis for a Nursing Care Plan which is essential for the well-being of a patient

For an efficient development of this process to be made , subjective and objective data must be collated . Subjectively the nurse must be aware of the patient 's perceptions , anxieties and points of view as opposed to the objectivity in clinical evaluation of a patient 's state . In other words the need for a bedside manner is as important to a nurse as the treatment supplied

Fitzpatrick (1983 ) perceives nursing as : `facilitating the developmental process towards health , thereby helping clients to more fully develop their human potential (p . 296

Compassion , caring and the development of rapport with a patient and his /her family is paramount to a nurse 's vocational skills . It is these that give meaning to the concept of the Healing Touch ' which enhances the life and environment of the person under care . This , in its true meaning , is an art . However , to achieve this effectively , a comprehensive knowledge of science is required . To bring about a satisfactory therapeutic change , a suitable collaboration of art and science must be made

The Art and Science of Nursing can be summed up by the acronym WHRTEA ' - a very scientific name ! It stands for

Warmth , Hope , Rapport , Trust , Empathy , Acceptance

Warmth in the way you treat the person . True expressions of respect interest and care will provide an approachable response from the patient

Hope gives meaning to a patient 's realistic future and also provides sustenance for the friends and relatives

Rapport is the connection between nurse and patient based on mutual trust

Trust is the essential ingredient for successful nursing techniques . A sound knowledge of the scientific methods for administrating the prescribed drugs and necessary procedural methodologies is vital in gaining the clients...