Nursing as an Art,

Science &
Profession

By

B. Sunil S De Silva
RN, BScN, MScN (Res)

Dpt. of Health Sciences,

The Open University of Sri Lanka.
Objectives
• Discuss what is art & science of
nursing.

• Explain the general criteria for

professions.

• Discuss the importance of

nursing associations.

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 Nursing as an ‘Art’
• Oldest of the art & youngest of the
sciences.
• Originally nursing was only considered as
‘art’.
– Called ‘born nurses’ (natural / untaught).
• Art improved by practice.
• Need little education as nurses only carry
out doctors orders.

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 Nursing as a ‘Science’
• Gradually, as the body of scientific knowledge
grew, nurses aware of the basic principles for
practice.

• These principles summarized as ‘procedures’

but never tested.

• Nursing borrowed its ‘science’ from other

disciplines.

• What was unique to nursing? – Leeds to

develop nursing theories by nursing scholars.

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The Art & Science of Nursing
• Nursing scholars has already proved
the art & science of nursing.

– The art has long been accepted.

– The science has been recognized

recently.

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Nursing as a Profession
• Do you think nursing is a
profession?

• Should nursing be considered

as a profession?

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General Criteria for Profession
• A body of knowledge on which skills &
services are based.
• Deliver unique service to other humans.
• Colleges & University based education.
• Control of standards for practice.
• Responsibility & accountability of members
their own actions.
• Career commitment by members.
• Independent function.
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A Body of Knowledge
• Knowledge from other disciplines.

• Develop own body of knowledge & its

own theories.

• Both used for the practice of nursing.

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Unique Service to other Humans
• Virginia Henderson’s Definition of
Nursing was confirmed this status.

• Person-centered practice.

• Nursing delivers a unique service to the

society.

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University Based Education
• Present trend of promoting University
based education internationally as well
as locally.

• BScN will be the basic qualification to

enter to Nursing Profession.

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Control of Standards for Practice
• A ‘standard’ is an authoritative or
criterion to judge ‘Quality of practice’
• Developed by Professional Nursing
Organizations. E.g.; certified / licensed /
registered.
• To get ‘licensed’ or ‘registered’ as a
nurse, they need to meet the standards
of professional organization.
E.g.; ANA, CNA, ICN.
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Responsibility & Accountability
• Accountability means assuming
responsibility for your actions & accepting
the end results of your behaviour.
• A code of ethics essentials to a profession
• Need to accountable;
– Patient
– Health care colleagues
– Hospital or your field
– Yourself.
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Career Commitment
• A Career is major life work, a long-term
commitment, involves long term
planning and requires long training or
education.
• Is nursing a career?
– More women.
– No intention of continuing work or
education.

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Independent Function
• Dependent
– Carried out the orders of the doctors

• Independent
– Nurse initiates a/c own knowledge & skills

• Collaborative
– Activities performed either jointly or a
result of joint decision.

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Additional Criteria

• An active and solid professional

organization.

• Recognized social worth and

contribution.

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• Can we conclude that nursing
is a profession?

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 The End

Nursing as an Art,
Science and Profession

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