Dialectical Analysis Concerning the Rational Aspect of the Art of Nursing

Abstract

It is often claimed that nursing is both a science and an art. Science, it is argued, involves a rational process in which empirical findings are used to determine what is the case. Art, on the other hand, is associated with creative and intuitive activities. The author steps back from this position and examines the question of whether the art of nursing is properly conceived as involving a rational aspect. The study upon which this paper is based involved the analysis of a discourse contained in the work of 43 nurse scholars, published between 1860 and 1992. A philosophical approach is used to examine two contrary positions regarding the place of the rational aspect in relation to the art of nursing. The analysis attempts to expand the discourse by delineating questions and concerns that, as yet, have not been fully considered.

A dialectical analysis of an art of dental hygiene practice

“…A further assumption in this paper is its moderate realist perspective, consistent with the works of Johnson (4–8) on which this paper is based, and the works of Kikuchi (9, 16, 17) and the philosopher Adler. The perspective of realism holds that ‘reality exists outside and independent of the mind and is knowable’ (17, p. 98).…”

“…I suggest that this other way of knowing for practice informs the art of dental hygiene and that at its highest level constitutes artful dental hygiene practice, or the pursuit of perfection or excellence in dental hygiene practice. Johnson suggests a broad definition of nursing art as ‘a developable ability that perfects a nurse’s practice and is possessed only by a nurse’ (6, p. 170). She has further suggested ‘Nursing art, then, is what enables a person to nurse in an excellent manner’ (8, p. 37).…”

“…I will describe patterns of art in the nursing literature, consider whether these exist in dental hygiene and whether this is an appropriate approach to take. The perspective for this analysis is provided by the works of Joy L. Johnson on the art of nursing (4–8) and indirectly her mentor Dr June Kikuchi, who in turn was influenced by the philosopher Mortimer Adler.…”

Nursing's Contribution to the Quality of Life of Family Caregivers of Alzheimer Patients

“…(4) se preguntan ¿cómo se llega a conocer lo artístico? Para entender lo artístico se requiere sincronía transformativa de movimientos y la respuesta puede estar en los planteamientos de Johnson (14,15). Lo primero que se identifica es que el arte de enfermería requiere de la habilidad de comprender los significados en las relaciones o encuentros con el paciente.…”

Cultural history and aesthetics of nursing care

“…Other researchers (25) have studied and dialectically analyzed nursing as an art. Also, various authors have looked at the aesthetics of care from different viewpoints; to give an example, based on ethics and philosophy, expressing the need for nursing to develop and apply professional spaces and strategies for the subjective expression of feelings (26) and, based on poetry, socio-poetics and written prose, as a form of expressing and storing aesthetic knowledge produced in the intensity of nurse-patient interaction processes (27)(28)(29) .…”