Ambiguous Opportunity: Toiling for Truth of Nursing Art and Science

Art is shown to be a way to enhance understanding and meaningful knowledge when woven with nursing theory to guide practice and borders that have served to separate notions about nursing art and science are challenged.

Abstract

This article questions traditional boundaries between nursing art and nursing science and explores how nurses build knowledge and truth. A brief overview of familiar notions about nursing art is followed by questions that are meant to deepen understanding about nursing and the knowledge required for a discipline. Authors describe understanding as an event that heralds human creation of meaning and potential action. Art is then shown to be a way to enhance understanding and meaningful knowledge when woven with nursing theory to guide practice. Findings from Parse's research method are described as artistic expressions, and borders that have served to separate notions about nursing art and science are challenged. The hermeneutics of human becoming are presented as beacons for truth and understanding. Authors call for tolerance of ambiguity and openness to support dialogue and discovery.