Nursing: a Science or an Art - Essay Example

Nursing a Science or an Art? Nursing is a profession that is very involving. It calls for dedication, perseverance, self-sacrifice as well as observation. Some people consider nursing a calling. This is as a result of what it entails. Although nursing involves attending science classes in order to gather the information required for its practicability in the field, it is evident that it requires the provision of care in particular ways. From this assertion, I can deduce that nursing is both art and science. In connection with this affirmation, the paper aims at providing detailed information on to why nursing is both art and science. In providing this, the paper will also expound on some practical examples that link nursing to science as well as to art. Nursing as art The art of nursing is well defined by the humanness of the caregivers which is referred to as nurses. Nurses work in strenuous environment, an environment that calls for crop of emotions. However, the humanness of nurses bars them from expressing their anger in the patients who push them to the extreme ends. It is also evident that the condition of some patients does horrify, but the nurses with their humanness hold on and provide the necessary care to the patients. The humanness of nurses is part of what they learn in their curriculum. According to Smith and Parker (2010), the nursing curriculum obliges nurses to learn how think, feel, and behave like nurses. Traditionally, most people believe that nurses learn the art of nursing through attending schools, communicating with lecturers, and getting in contact with behavioral communication skills in the laboratories. However, “the right art of nursing is learned through the interaction of a nurse and the patient” (Smith & Parker, 2010). It is evident that laboratory works do not train nurses the art of nursing as expected. Thus, one can deduce that the heart of art of nursing is the interaction between a patient and the caregiver who is a nurse. In other words, it is the interaction with different patients that makes a nurse gathers nursing experience. Success of a nurse in a nursing career depends entirely on the relationship he, or she has with the patient. It is crucial for the nurse to have a close association with the patients in order to manage to provide care as dictated by the nursing profession. As a result of this, nurses are often obliged to build relationships with the patients. Some of the methods involved in the creation of patient-nurse relationship as depicted by Manchester (2009) is to make a follow up on the progress of the patient and offering services such as wound wash. Provision of such cares requires no implementation of scientific information; it is an art that is learned through interacting with patients. Nursing also involves management of traumatic patients. In most occasions, such patients require something more than medication. In other words, nurses providing care employ technical skill in addition to other learned skills in the management of patients. Traumatic patients require somebody to cheer them up so as to prevent their condition from worsening. Awareness is elemental in the nursing profession. It grants one the opportunity of what the patient needs and at what time. As a result of this assertion, one can deduce that a good nurse is supposed to be aware of the needs of patients as well as tell when a patient is in need of something. It is also the responsibility of the nurse to know when a patient can or cannot be able to handle some things. From the roles played by the nurse, one can also learn that the nurse is important than a doctor to a patient. Patients regard nurses as their caregiver, listeners, advocates, and in most occasions as their friends (Wolf, 2014). In some circumstances, nursing as a profession requires one to volunteer in offering services. In other words, it needs a nurse to provide adequate care to a patient regardless of pay. It also involves a nurse making an extra step towards helping a patient overcome a particular condition or challenge. The act of volunteering is often portrayed by nurses who agree to travel with patients regardless of the situation to healthcare. It is also evidenced by the involvement of nurses in working extra hours as well as working when they are required to be off duty. A good nurse is often defined by provision of adequate care to patients. Provision of sufficient care however is something that crops naturally from the perception a nurse has towards a patient. Since nursing is not selective, nursing, therefore, calls for handling all patients equally with a common goal. Nursing as a science Majority of people as outlined in the introduction believe that nursing is a science because of the elements and practices associated with it. Provision of sufficient care is often associated with the diagnosis of a particular disease. The correct diagnosis of the disease often relies on the laboratory work. It is as a result of the laboratory work that most people associate nursing with science. It is also evident that proper nursing involves provision of the right medication. On most occasions, the delivery of the medication includes the observance of scientific rules in order to enhance the healing process of a patient. For instance, it is evident that there are scientific terms that are employed in the provision of care to patients. Nurses observe some specific medical procedures in providing care to patients. For instance, it is evident that nurses acquaint themselves with information regarding the signs and symptoms of some specific diseases in order to comprehend what their patients are undergoing. The understanding of the signs and symptoms also enable nurses provide the right care and treatment to their patients (McCauley, 2014). Nursing also involves giving patients the right medication in the right doses to patients. However, information regarding the type of medication and quantities change frequently because of advancement in diseases as well as advancement in technology. In connection to this, it is evident that information regarding the care of patients is continuously updated. As a result of this, nurses are obliged to update their knowledge of policies, practices as well as procedures in order not to make any mistakes in providing care to patients. Nursing involves determining the right food to be consumed by patients correctly. For instance, it is evident that the feeding habit of diabetic patients needs to be controlled in order to prevent the advancement of the symptoms of the disease. For a nurse to understand the type of foods as well as the quantities of foods to be consumed by such patients, he or she must learn the information by consulting scientific materials (Wolf, 2014). The current world is manifested with diverse technological advancement. The progress in technology has resulted to the introduction of many different devices that are used in the health-centers. Unfortunately, majority of the introduced devices are significantly different from the equipment that was used in the past. It is also evident that procedures of handling equipment changes with the advancement in technology (Savel & Munro, 2014). Currently, unique equipment has been introduced in order to aid in the screening and diagnosing of emerging diseases such as Ebola. Thus, nurses are also obliged to equip themselves with knowledge regarding new technologies. In conclusion, nursing is both art and science. It involves the observance of scientific rules in the provision of the right medication in the right doses. It also involves usage of scientific equipment in the diagnosis of diseases. As art, nursing involves a nurse providing the necessary care to the patients regardless of the condition. It also involves the creation of a close relationship with patients through associating with them. References Manchester, A. (2009). The art and science of nursing. Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand, 15(11), 15-19. McCauley, P. H. (2014). Medicine: the science and art of compassionate care. Health Progress, 95(3), 4-7. Savel, R. H., & Munro, C. L. (2014). FROM ASCLEPIUS TO HIPPOCRATES: THE ART AND SCIENCE OF HEALING. American Journal Of Critical Care, 23(6), 437-439. doi:10.4037/ajcc2014993 Smith, M. C., & Parker, M. E. (2010). Nursing Theories & Nursing Practice. Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis Co. Wolf, Z. R. (2014). Exploring Rituals in Nursing : Joining Art and Science. New York, NY: Springer Pub. Co. Read More