Art and Science in Nursing

Paper Summary:

Since its very inception, there has been a conflict within the nursing profession about its status as to whether it is a science or an art. This is due to the fact that the profession of nursing includes within its tradition both scientific and artistic aspects. The paper shows that on the one hand, nursing viewed as a science implies objectivity and distance, while on the other hand it can be seen as an art form which implies subjectivity and detachment. There has been considerable debate about these two apparently opposing points of view, as well as attempts to find areas of consensus between the two parallels. This paper argues, however, that this division is artificial in that both art and science form an integral function of the nursing experience and should rather be seen as complementary to one another.

From the Paper:

"In the final analysis, nursing as a unique discipline can therefore be defined as both an art and a science. One aspect without the other would deny the very essence of what it means to be a nurse. The artistic side of nursing is an integral aspect that is closely linked with scientific knowledge to create a unique healing art form. Therefore, the art-science dichotomy in nursing is, in my opinion, a false division which has caused unnecessary theoretical uncertainty within the profession over the years."

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