The term "humanistic nursing" often is interpreted as implying
humaneness. Logically, humane caring must be one aspect (a major aspect)
or a natural expression of humanistic nursing practice theory. But the
term means more. According to the position being taken here, nursing may
be described appropriately as humanistic since at its very base it is an
inter-human event. As an intersubjective transaction, its meaning is
found in the human situation in which it occurs. As an existential act,
it involves all the participants' capacities and aims at the development
of human potential, that is, at well-being and more-being. Our approach
qualifies, then, as a form of humanism, according to the dictionary
definition, being "a system or mode of thought or action in which human
interests, values, and dignity are taken to be of primary importance."
In another sense of the word, our theoretical stance is humanistic by
virtue of its regard for the humanities and arts. Philosophy,
literature, poetry, drama, and other forms of art are valued as
resources for enriching our knowledge of man and the human situation.
They also are seen as suitable means for expressing or describing the
lived realities of the nurse's world.
Contemporary nursing, being a true child of its time, reflects American
society's high regard for "Science." Values of science are easily
discernible in nursing and affect the character of its research,
education, and practice. Consider, for instance, how the nursing
dialogue is influenced by the prizing of objectivity, precision of
language, operational definitions, scientific jargon, development of
constructs and theories, methodology of scientific inquiry, emphasis on
quantification and measurement.
There is much more written in our current literature about nursing as a
science than about nursing as an art. Although slighted, the humanities
have not been rejected. In fact, some nurses and educators are urging
that the role {86} of the humanities and arts be recognized in nursing
and that they be used more effectively in undergraduate and graduate
nursing education.[1]
Turning to my own personal experience, I recall that one of the first
definitions I had to learn in my basic nursing program began with the
statement, "Nursing is an art and science...." (It is interesting that
now, years later, this is all I can recall of the definition!) At that
time, I accepted the statement at face value. I did not question it.
Perhaps I had not thought enough about art and science and certainly I
did not know enough about nursing to question the description. Yet over
the years many experiences and insights have turned into questions that
challenge this adopted cherished notion.
In the beginning I merely accepted the view that nursing is an art in
the sense of being a skillful or aesthetic application of scientific
principles. After all, we had a course in nursing arts (later called
fundamentals of nursing). This had to do with bathing, feeding, making
beds, and hundreds of other nursing procedures that were presented as
"nursing arts," the doing of nursing. At the time I also had courses in
the humanities and liberal arts. These courses were not related directly
to nursing by either the teachers or myself, as I recall. I did not ask:
In what way is nursing an art? What kind of art is nursing? Or, how does
the art of nursing differ from other arts?
The notion (perhaps "conviction" would be more accurate) that nursing is
an art in some sense other than an artful application of scientific
principles has been with me for a long time. I do not know its origin
nor even the form in which the view first appealed to me. I do recall
having difficulty on several occasions in trying to express let alone
explain, my idea. At these times, what I experienced subjectively as an
intuitive flash of insight would end up objectified in an amorphous blob
of words. Yet the theme returns over and over in a variety of questions
and issues that demand response if not resolution. This chapter offers
some further reflections on the relatedness of humanistic nursing and
art.