Nursing: Art, Science, and Caring

• Nursing is both an art and a science
• Nursing combines scientific knowledge, compassion, and respect for human dignity
• Nurses use science in practice with patients to provide high-quality and effective healthcare
• Nursing is hard work but with many personal and professional rewards

Nursing as an Art

• Based on caring and dignity
• Acknowledges the dynamic processes of:
  • Spirituality
  • Healing
  • Empathy
  • Mutual respect
• Incorporates healing through:
  • Compassion
  • Helping
  • Competence
  • Being present
  • Tolerance
  • Acceptance
  • Nurturing

Nursing as a Science

• Based on critical thinking
• Requires clinical decision-making
• Relies on evidence to guide practice
• Uses strategies to provide optimal outcomes

Caring

• Caring and nursing are very connected
• Nursing would not exist without caring
• Caring is sharing deep and genuine concern about the welfare of another person
• Caring involves connection, recognition, and involvement between the nurse and client
• The purpose of nursing is to know and nurture individuals living and growing in caring
• Respect for people as individuals makes up the nursing as caring theory

The Six C's of Caring in Nursing

• Compassion: Awareness of one's relationship to others, sharing their joys, sorrows, pain, and accomplishments; also participation in the experience of another.
• Competence: Having the "knowledge, judgment, skills, energy, experience and motivation required to respond adequately to the demands of one's professional responsibilities"
• Confidence: Comfort with self, client, and others that allows building trust
• Conscience: Morals, ethics, including a developed sense of right and wrong
• Commitment: The choice to act according to your desires and duties, resulting in investment
• Comportment: Appropriate attitude, style, dress, and language with a caring presence

Caring for Self

• Caring for self means nurturing oneself and maintaining behaviors that promote healthy living and overall well-being
• Examples of caring for yourself:
  • Having a healthy lifestyle, with food/nutrition, recreation, and exercise
  • Mind and body therapies like guided imagery, yoga, and meditation
• Self-care focuses on care of the self; each person has strengths and weaknesses
• Self-care is any deliberate activity to provide for physical, mental, and spiritual well-being
• It reduces stress and replenishes the capacity to have empathy and compassion
• Self-care improves the quality of care.
• The ANA Code of Ethics says nurses should extend the same duties to themselves
• Promote health and safety
• Preserve wholeness of character and integrity
• Maintain competence
• Continue personal and professional growth

Communication

• Communication is the basic element of interactions that allows people to establish, maintain and improve contacts
• Nursing involves communicative intervention and is based on effective communication
• Communication comes from 'communis', a Greek word for 'to make common'
• Communication is sending and receiving information, feelings and attitudes to have understanding and produce a response
• Communication can influence others so the desired effect is achieved
• Communication is exchanging of ideas, facts, feelings in ways that gains a 'common understanding' of meaning, to send a message

The Communication Process

• Main components:
  • Sender (source)
  • Message (content)
  • Channel(s) (medium)
  • Receiver (audience)
  • Feedback (effect)

Communication Process Steps

• Sender: The communicator formulates the message with their knowledge, skills, etc.
• Message: The information or behavior (words, pictures, signs)
• Channels: The route to communication, face-to-face, mass media, social media, etc.
• Receiver: People receiving the message; they decode, interpret, and give feedback
• Response/Feedback: It is the flow of information from receiver to sender, the reaction to the message

Mode of Communication

• Verbal communication is the traditional way of communication by mouth
• Language is the main way of communications, as well as written words
• Non-verbal communication consists of communication other than words
• Examples: facial expression, gestures, touch, voice tone

Therapeutic Communication

• Techniques prioritize the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of patients
• Support and information is provided while maintaining boundaries
• Open-ended questions, repeating information, or use of silence can be used to allow patients time to solve problems

Teaching

• A system of activities meant to produce learning
• The nursing process is intentionally designed to produce specific learning
• The teaching-learning process involves dynamic interaction between teacher and learner

Nursing intertwines art and science, blending compassion with evidence-based practices. It values spirituality, healing, empathy, and mutual respect to promote patient well-being. Caring is the essence of nursing, fostering genuine concern and optimal patient outcomes through connection and involvement.