Running head: WRITTEN RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS 1 1
Written Responses to Questions 1
Jonna Marcelo
Liberty University
WRITTEN RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS 1 2
Written Responses to Questions 1
1. Is nursing a science or an art, or both? Explain.
Professional nursing is a complex and multifaceted field. Recent and continuous changes
and updates to the healthcare system play a role in the intricacy of the scientific knowledge and
technical expertise necessary for the practice of nursing. Expectations for nurses include
providing competent, evidence-based, patient-centered care. To meet these expectations, nurses
are required to have current knowledge, clinical, technical and communication skills, and to
practice their problem-solving ability through the use of clinical judgment (Palos, 2014). On the
other hand, patients and their families also expect nurses to give compassionate care that will
enable patients to maintain their dignity and humanity (Palos, 2014). Embedded in these
expectations of nurses is the need to regard nursing as a profession with two sides – it is both a
science and an art.
I believe that nursing is both a science and an art. When looking at the science of
nursing, it is important to consider a combination of knowledge, skills, attitude, and
performance. Science is defined as the systematic study of definite fields of knowledge and
involves a methodological process of collection, verification and systematic explanation about
reality (McEwen & Wills, 2014). To become a competent nurse, one is required to have a broad
range of academic knowledge and clinical experience. Competent nursing requires a strong
knowledge base and possession of technical skills. Nurses are also responsible for having
knowledge and skills in critical thinking, clinical decision making, and evidence-based practice
(Palos, 2014). Nurses need to have a working knowledge of disease mechanisms, medications,
therapeutic regimens and management of patients. They also need to be up-to-date on policies,
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practices, and procedures and must have a working knowledge of various diagnostic procedures
and equipment.
Nursing as an art, on the other hand, involves the application of the science of nursing to
provide the utmost care that every patient needs. The art of nursing entails the nurses’ perception
of patient needs on the basis of their manifested and expressed behaviors (Robinson, 2014). In
contrast with scientific knowledge, the art of nursing does not rely on systematic explanation to
reach conclusions. It is focused, instead, on patient experiences, nurse-patient connection and
bridging information from nurses to the patient. This side of nursing is oftentimes called true
presence and requires nurses to utilize the skill of active listening and promote communication
with emphasis on patient and family values (Robinson, 2014). The innate capacity to respond to
the needs of individuals, the ability to perform relational work and promote positive changes in
patients are all aspects of the art of nursing. Patients and families expect nurses to be caring,
compassionate and communicative and these qualities are highly valued and considered essential
in the provision of patient-centered care (Palos, 2014).
In conclusion, the field of nursing is a science and an art and nurses should be able to
maintain the balance of these two different faces of nursing. Nurses are required to maintain
their clinical competencies, keep abreast of the current knowledge in the healthcare field and
keep their technical skills up-to-date as these are essential for the science of nursing. But nurses
should not focus only on the technical aspects of nursing or feel overwhelmed by competing
demands and feel that they have limited time to practice the art of nursing. Taking the time to
demonstrate caring, compassion, and effective communication along with clinical competence
can contribute to overall patient satisfaction and safety (Palos, 2014). Care and compassion are
the driving forces in nursing that can enhance patients’ quality of experience.
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2. In your own words, define the following terms. Use your text and other sources:
Ontology is known as the philosophical study of being, existing or meaning. It seeks to
answer the question, “What is it we believe exists?”
Extant can be defined as a state of existing, being visible and prominent; not lost or
destroyed.
Epistemology refers to the study of the origins, nature, and limitations of knowledge and
the methods on how knowledge is acquired.
Empiricism is known as the belief that people should not rely on theories as a basis for
knowledge, but instead puts emphasis on practical experiments and experiences as sources of
knowledge.
Logical positivism can be defined as a philosophical movement that believes a statement
can only be meaningful if it can be confirmed or verified by observation and experiment.
Post-positivism refers to the belief that observation can be influenced by background,
knowledge, values, and theories of the researcher.
Received view can be defined as the belief that theories are either right or wrong. This
view utilizes a verification method and believes that all theoretical propositions need to be tested.
Its emphasis is that a single truth is possible to identify.
Perceived view is known as the belief that theories are neither right nor wrong.
Observation involves utilizing the senses and the mind; therefore it is subjective and not
necessarily measurable. It does not seek truth but only seeks understanding,
Paradigm refers to the framework that organizes a discipline and contains assumptions,
beliefs, concepts, principles, and values. It also pertains to a formal set of ideas used for
explaining and understanding a particular field of study.
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3. The metaparadigm of nursing generally is defined by the following 4 concepts:
person, environment, health, and nursing. Do you agree with this global
representation of nursing? Why or why not? Would you add any other
components or sub-components?
Metaparadigm refers to the general statements of a discipline and functions as a
framework for the conceptual models and theories that guide research and other scholarly
activities (McEwen & Wills, 2014). The four central interests that define nursing practice are
identified as the person, environment, health, and nursing. Person refers to a human being
regarded as an individual and is composed of biochemical, intellectual, physical and
psychosocial needs (McEwen & Wills, 2014). Environment, on the other hand, refers to external
elements and conditions that influence a person and permits the exchange of matter, energy and
information (McEwen & Wills, 2014). Health can be defined as the ability to adapt and self-
manage. Physical health pertains to the maintenance of physiological homeostasis through
changing circumstances; and social health includes people’s capacity to manage their life and
fulfill their potential and obligations (Brussow, 2013). Nursing is both a science and an art, and a
practice discipline with its central core evolving around caring. The goals of nursing include
care of the well and sick, assisting with self-care activities, facilitating attainment of human
potential and utilization of nature’s law of health (McEwen & Wills, 2014).
The metaparadigm of person concentrates on the patient who is the recipient of care.
This may encompass a person’s family or friends, cultural beliefs, spirituality and socioeconomic
status (Branch, Deak, Hiner, & Holzwart, 2016). It is imperative to view the patient as more
than just a disease process or a combination of assorted diagnoses. Every individual has their
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own unique set of needs. For healing to fully occur, a holistic approach that focuses on a
person’s mind, body and soul should be utilized.
The metaparadigm environment consists of both internal and external factor related to the
patient. It is important to create a therapeutic environment as it affects not only the patients and
their ability to heal, but can also affect nurses as well (Branch et al., 2016). Establishing home-
like environment with private areas for the patient, keeping noise levels to a minimum, adequate
lighting, windows that expose nature and natural lighting, and amount of space in rooms are all
important factors to consider to further promote the healing process.
The metaparadigm of health involves the quality and wellness of a patient, and also
includes a patient’s access to healthcare. The condition of health is more than just achieving a
physiological response or attaining a cure for an illness. In order to achieve health, it is
imperative to have a complete balance of person’s physical, cognitive and spiritual aspect; with
all these components unified and functioning at the highest level (Branch et al., 2016). Nurses
should implement nursing care plans that not only focus on the alleviation of symptoms or
treatment of illnesses but include interventions that promote health and well-being as well.
Lastly, the metaparadigm of nursing refers to how nurses apply their knowledge and
skills when providing care for patients. To provide effective nursing care, it is crucial for a nurse
to establish a therapeutic relationship with the patient. Caring is an essential component of the
nursing process by focusing on the person as a whole and ensuring that nurses will focus on the
patient’s physical, mental and spiritual well-being when providing care (Branch et al., 2016). If
nurses are able to establish meaningful relationships with patients, it aids in gaining more patient
information, patients feel more safe and comfortable and promotes better healing to achieve
optimal health.
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I agree with the global representation of nursing and the four concepts adopted by the
metaparadigm of nursing. I believe that nursing practice should utilize the holistic approach and
care should be tailored according to individual needs and on how patients perceive their situation
and health goals. It is crucial for nurses to utilize these four metaparadigms to the nursing
process in order to address patient care as a whole. It is also important to take all these four
concepts into consideration when formulating a plan of care with the patient. I will not add any
other components or sub-components to these four concepts but I will put an emphasis on how
these concepts are the key foci of patient care and elements that define nursing practice.
4. Up until now, has nursing theory or philosophy been important to your own
practice? Why or why not?
Nursing theory offers a structural and organizational framework for knowledge and also
provides a systematic method of data collection to describe, explain and predict nursing practice
(McEwen & Wills, 2014). Through the use of systematic inquiry, nurses are able to develop
knowledge that will contribute to improving patient care. Nursing philosophy, on the other hand,
has been defined as a statement of the belief system or the worldview of the nursing profession
and provides perspectives for nursing practice, nursing research and nursing scholarship
(McEwen & Wills, 2014). This refers to a person’s perception of the nursing profession and
identification of the driving forces behind their actions and participation in the nursing field.
I believe that nursing theory and nursing philosophy have been vital components of my
clinical practice. The philosophy of nursing asserts my thoughts on what I believe about the
nature of the nursing profession and provides a basis for my nursing activities and interventions.
I believe that the act of caring is what differentiates nursing from other healthcare professions.
While other healthcare professions take collaborative steps to promote the healing and well-
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being of the patients, it is the nurse that is in the frontline, interacting with the patient 24/7 and
having the opportunity to know the patient deeply and meaningfully.
I believe that my nursing theories and philosophies affect the choices that I make in my
nursing practice. As a nurse, I firmly believe that my role is to alleviate my patient’s pain, speak
for my patient’s behalf, promote healing, help others achieve better health and save lives. Being
the nurse involves working long hours, being immersed in emotionally draining situations and
facing high-pressure and stressful conditions. Keeping these values in mind helps me to provide
nursing care even in the most difficult circumstances.
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References
Branch, C., Deak, H., Hiner, C., & Holzwart, T. (2016, June 21). Four nursing metaparadigms.
Indiana University South Bend Undergraduate Research Journal, 16, 123-132. Retrieved
from https://scholarworks.iu.edu/journals/index.php/iusburj/article/view/22199
Brussow, H. (2013, July). Microbial Biotechnology, 6(4), 341-348.
https://doi.org/https://dx.doi.org/10.1111%2F1751-7915.12063
McEwen, M., & Wills, E. M. (2014). Theoretical basis of nursing (4th ed.). Philadelphia, PA:
Wolters Kluwer Health.
Palos, G. R. (2014, April). Care, compassion, and communication in professional nursing: Art,
science, or both. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 18(2), 247-248.
https://doi.org/10.1188/14.CJON.247-248.
Robinson, S. G. (2014, April). True presence: Practicing the art of nursing. Nursing2014, 44(4),
44-45. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NURSE.0000444533.58704.e5
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