The question of whether nursing should be categorized as an art or a science is a major point of contention within the theoretical frameworks of the profession. The idea of care is at the center of nursing, and this includes developing a relational awareness of patients and communicating with them. The profession requires a significant portion of one's time to be spent on task-oriented and systematic techniques that are founded on research and medicine. As a result, one of the difficulties that develop is keeping one's commitment to the ethical and philosophical aspects of care while at the same time giving medical therapy that must follow stringent rules.

Defining of Nursing

The practice of nursing is a branch of medicine that focuses on providing individuals, families, and communities with the level of care necessary for them to attain, maintain, or regain their optimum level of health and quality of life. The following nursing organizations give definitions, even though the nursing practice differs depending on the country and the specialty: Caring for individuals of all ages, families, groups, and communities independently and cooperatively is what nursing entails (. It addresses issues about the promotion of health, the avoidance of illness, as well as care for the sick, the handicapped, and the dying. Important responsibilities of nurses include participating in the formulation of health policies, conducting research, advocating for safe working conditions, and promoting workplace safety.

According to the Royal College of Nursing Research Society, nursing is "the application of clinical judgment in the provision of care to enable people to improve, maintain, or recover health, cope with health problems, and achieve the best possible quality of life, regardless of disease or disability, until death." This definition applies to nursing from the time a person is diagnosed with a disease or disability until the time they pass away.

According to the American Nurses Association, nursing as the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities; the prevention of illness and injury; the alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human responses; and health care advocacy for individuals, families, communities, and populations.

Nursing as Science

As a method of knowledge acquisition, science lays the groundwork for the development of nursing practice, which is essential to continue catering to the requirements of human health. The nursing metaparadigm ideas of health, person, environment, and nurse are used to illustrate this perspective. Individuals' subjective experiences and the meaning they place on these occurrences have an impact on professional practice. This is because empirical knowledge influences professional practice not only through a common understanding of scientific-methodical evaluations and observations but also through these factors.

The whole of nursing science contributes to the formation of the evidence foundation necessary for the practice arm of the profession, which is essential for enhancing both the quality of healthcare and the results for patients. The evidence-based approach considers not only the preferences of individual patients but also the knowledge and expertise of registered nurses. It is the competence of nurses that is usually unrecognized, and the only way to find this expertise is to get a deeper understanding of the art of nursing.

The whole of nursing science contributes to the formation of the evidence foundation necessary for the practice arm of the profession, which is essential for enhancing both the quality of healthcare and the results for patients. The evidence-based approach considers not only the preferences of individual patients but also the knowledge and expertise of registered nurses. It is the competence of nurses that is usually unrecognized, and the only way to find this expertise is to get a deeper understanding of the art of nursing. As a result, one might say that nursing is fundamentally a science because of the sophisticated approach it takes to acquiring information and using it to protect the health and safety of its patients by making use of well-established theories and procedures.

Nursing as Art

It is possible to trace the beginnings of nursing back to occupational norms linked with childbearing and homemaking. It has been said that the ability of a nurse to be compassionate, caring, and communicative as the profession develops is the essence of the art of nursing. Investigating a patient's illness or the motivation for seeking therapy is one of how nurses deliver holistic care. It gives a framework for nurses to learn about the physical, mental, and emotional needs of their patients, which is a tremendous benefit. These behaviors assist nurses in developing interpersonal ties with patients, which is necessary for delivering high-quality care that is focused on the patient's needs.

A person's life experiences are the best way to get an understanding of the diverse concept of caring. Watson in 1979 offered the following definition of caring: "maintaining humanistic ideals of trust, developing relationships, and maintaining hope." Genuine connections with patients are made possible because of the distinctive role of nurses, which requires them to be present around the clock. Communication is considered an art form since it requires not just verbal but also nonverbal interaction, in addition to careful listening. To provide the highest level of care to their patients, nurses must be proficient in both the instrumental and emotional aspects of communication. When used together, the art and science of nursing practice provide a comprehensive strategy for enhancing the quality of care provided to patients and their families.

The Art of Nursing and the COVID-19 Pandemic

During COVID-19, nurses streamlined the nursing process to provide excellent care to patients. The nurses were aware that patients craved the comfort of human connections throughout their time in the hospital. In the closing moments of their lives, nurses held the hands of their patients and comforted and grieved the patients' family members. They took the effort to offer contact with families and to make it easier for them to do so.

Conclusion

The profession of nursing combines elements of art and science. The practice of nursing can be explained by science, but art may be better able to handle issues such as interpersonal connections, empathetic communication, concentrated care, and compassion. Even while the science and art of nursing practice work together to form a coherent whole, the artistic side of nursing has undergone significant conceptual shifts in recent years. New evidence from the scientific community suggests that the practice of nursing has beneficial effects, both physically and mentally, on the healing process.