Abstract

CARLOS AGUSTIN, León Román. Nursing: the science and art of care. Rev Cubana Enfermer [online]. 2006, vol.22, n.4. ISSN 0864-0319.

In the cross-sectional course of knowledge, from Florence Nightngale up to now, some nursing theories state in their postulates that “ …nursing is a science and an art…”. Care is stressed as the object of study and the rationale of Nursing. This paper is aimed at exchanging criteria on Nursing as a science and an art. In the first trimester of 2006, a bibliographic review that included diverse textbooks was made, and experts on this subject were asked to extend the knowledge about the nursing foundations. The criteria supporting nursing as a science and an art were detailed, based on the analytical study of the consulted bibliography. Nursing is a recognized science since the middle of the last century and it has its own conceptual theoretical body that supports its principles and objectives, and it is under a constant renovation through scientific research. It has its own scientific method of acting - Nursing Care Process - that includes particular techniques and procedures, directed to the health care of the population.

Keywords : Nursing; science; art.