Why is nursing both considered art and science?

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Why is nursing considered as art and science?INTRODUCTION Nursing as a definition means to help the sick and look after them. It is about seeing the sick individual as a whole and, seeing the mental, physical, social and spiritual. Nursing is a profession that is in demand and important part of the health care field. Nursing was not a respected profession like today and understanding the history of Nursing and healthcare in the UK is essential. In this essay, we will discuss about the developments in the profession of nursing and healthcare and influence of historical nurses. I will also discuss about the differences and similarities between historical and current health issues. What do we mean by, ‘’ Nursing is an art and science? WET NURSE The word ‘’ Nurse’’ came from the Latin and it means to suckle. It was most common word referring to a breast feeder and know as a ‘’ Wet nurse’’. A wet nurse is a woman that breast feeds in the place of the mother and gives care to infant. It is believed that ‘’ Wet nurse’’ started at the ancient times and extended until the 20th of century. Wet nurse’s job was to ensure that she looks after the child of the mother and does her nursing part. Some mothers could not do breast feed due to medical, illness condition or to social reasons. Women from upper class believed that it was unfashionable to breast feed and hired wet nurses. In England, wet nurses were a well-paid and respected job for lower class women. Most women took in the infants because of the money and It led to infant deaths to those children because those women provided poor care and fed the infant whatever cheapest. RELIGIOUS TRADITION: Most religions (Christianity, Buddhism and Islam) played a key role in the development of nursing and healthcare. Most religious leaders cared for the sick and religious communities founded some of the earliest hospitals. Senior nurses in the UK today are still called Sisters because most religions considered nuns as sisters. During the Crimean war (1853), it was a horrible time in the history. There were hundreds of soldiers that came back with diseases like typhus, cholera and dysentery and many injured. ONE HISTORICAL NURSE AND HER INFLUENCE. Florence Nightingale, a founder of the modern nursing, was one of the nurses that arrived in Turkey with a group of 38 nurses from England, to care for the wounded-British soldiers fighting in the Crimean War. At the hospital, Florence Nightingale saw how unhygienic it was and the soldiers wasn’t well cared for. Florence Nightingale organised care for the wounded soldiers and she opened a school called ‘’ Nightingale training school’’. Nightingale explains the importance of, how to look after the sick, the attendance, patient observations, needs, and good care for the sick and a good hygiene. SECOND HISTORICAL NURSE AND HER INFLUENCE. In 1855, Mary Seacole established the British hotel and helped the soldiers in the Crimean war. Mary Seacole is celebrated due to her bravery in Nursing and known for the natural remedies and kindness to those injured soldiers. Mary Seacole delivered food, medicine and care to her patients regardless of the ethnic group they belonged to. There is some similarities and differences between historical and current nursing issues.