Nursing creates therapeutic change through the application of scientific principles. As the science of nursing has rapidly progressed over the past decade, nurse theorists have formulated various frameworks by which to organize nursing’s unique body of knowledge. While continuing to expand its theoretical base, nursing must remain firmly rooted in its essence—caring. In other words, nursing does not rely on science alone. The “art” of nursing refers to the caring, compassionate manner in which interventions are performed. “Nursing art is defined as helping patients create coherence in lives threatened by illness and change” (LeVasseur, 1999). A prerequisite for the nursing art is the nurse’s commitment to helping the client; this trait is also referred to as intentionality. As Isenalumhe (2000) states: Therapeutic use of self marks the art of nursing as different from the science of nursing. . . . The theories, concepts, and standard procedural techniques for clinical performance or practice in any profession constitute its scientific base. . . . The art of nursing can be learned, through shared, as well as hands-on, experience.
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