Nurs 805-theory exam study guide review 2022
Nursing – An Occupation or
a Profession?
In your course readings, McEwen (2019a) defined “occupation” as a
job or career. Occupations have widely varying
levels of training/education, knowledge, and skills.
Contrast that criteria with the criteria of a profession:
• Altruistic and valued as beneficial to members of society
• Defined and specialized knowledge base
• Control and authority over education
provided in colleges/universities
• Credentialing/registration to ensure competence
• Ethics code
• Socialization to profession takes time
• Autonomous, with control of professional activities
• Scholars and researchers to advance knowledge and
improve practice
• Professionals are responsible and accountable to
the public “All professions are occupations, but not all
occupations are professions” (McEwen, 2019a, p. 2).
Nursing as an Academic Discipline
Nursing knowledge relies on knowledge from many disciplines, as well as sharing our
knowledge with a wide variety of disciplines (McEwen, 2019a). Theorists strive to identify what
is unique to nursing.
Nursing is now considered a separate discipline because nursing has at least one identifiable
philosophy that is specific to nursing, at least one conceptual framework/perspective to define
what constitutes nursing, and suitable methods and approaches to develop knowledge that are
respected in the wider scientific community (McEwen, 2019a).
,Nurs 805-theory exam study guide review 2022
Nursing practice is defined broadly by the College of Nurses of Ontario (2014) to include:
• Clinical
• Leadership/Administration
• Education
• Research
The Art of Nursing
Many have tried but none have succeeded in developing the
ultimate definition of the art of nursing. Challenging to
describe, the art of nursing is even harder to define. Why do
you think this is so?
Rather than defining, Johnson (1994) identified five
components of the art of nursing that involve the nurse’s
ability to:
• Grasp meaning in patient encounters,
• Establish a meaningful connection with the patient,
• Skillfully perform nursing activities,
• Rationally determine an appropriate course of nursing
action, and
• Morally conduct one’s own nursing practice.
Finfgeld-Connett (2008) stated that the art of nursing
involves “sensitively adapting care to meet the needs” of
patients (p. 383). Creativity is used when the nurse is
uncertain about the course of action because scientific
evidence is not available. However, the nurse has to have
sufficient experience to use creative solutions that are also
safe and based on some similar experience in the past.
Nurses need to use discretion in choosing to be creative.
The art of nursing is built on the science of nursing.
,Nurs 805-theory exam study guide review 2022
Developing the Art of Nursing
Both empirical and metaphysical sources are used to
develop the nurse’s skilled use of knowledge and values
in the art of nursing (Finfgeld-Connett, 2008).
Consider and reflect on the following question, then click on
it to compare your answer.
What is an example of an “empirical source”, and what is an example of a
“metaphysical source”?
Relationship-Centred Practice and the
Art of Nursing
Finfgeld-Connett (2008) emphasized the importance of
mutual trust and respect between the client and nurse in
relationship-centred practice. Foundational to the
relationship is respect for and comfort with the uniqueness
of clients and their informed choices, even those that may
differ from the choices the nurse would make.
A strong relationship-centred practice that allows the nurse
to implement the art of nursing requires an intense
awareness of the client’s situation, the ability to get at the
underlying concerns, and a deep appreciation of the
patient’s needs (Finfgeld-Connett, 2008).
The nurse’s use of kindness, healing touch, humour, and
thoughtful doing are behaviours that support relationship-
centred practice and the art of nursing.
, Nurs 805-theory exam study guide review 2022
The Science of Nursing
A focus on discovering “truth” is the basis of science
(Rosenfeld, 2012). However, scientists recognize that it’s
impossible to know the whole or absolute truth because
truth can change over time. Our ability to accept and
understand how these “truths” and knowledge change is
important to improve nursing practice. For example, for
years, reality orientation was thought to be the best way to
reorient people who were confused and had dementia; this
nursing practice was very upsetting to the clients and
contributed to many responsive behaviours, such as
withdrawal or striking out.
Why does nursing need its own, broad body of knowledge,
developed using scientific methods? Think back to the
definition of a profession – a defined and specialized
knowledge base, and scholars and researchers to advance
knowledge and improve practice (McEwen, 2019a).
Nursing Science: Defined
“Nursing science describes the frameworks and theories of
the [nursing] discipline” (Parse, 2001, p. 1). Barrett (2002,
2017) has explored the definition of nursing science over
many years. She defines nursing science as a basic science
that aims to discover facts and expand knowledge in
nursing. Nursing science is:
• Communicated in nursing theories and frameworks
• Focused on the human-universe-health process
• Informed by philosophies
• Informed by processes to develop and use knowledge
to make it specific to nursing
Nursing – An Occupation or
a Profession?
In your course readings, McEwen (2019a) defined “occupation” as a
job or career. Occupations have widely varying
levels of training/education, knowledge, and skills.
Contrast that criteria with the criteria of a profession:
• Altruistic and valued as beneficial to members of society
• Defined and specialized knowledge base
• Control and authority over education
provided in colleges/universities
• Credentialing/registration to ensure competence
• Ethics code
• Socialization to profession takes time
• Autonomous, with control of professional activities
• Scholars and researchers to advance knowledge and
improve practice
• Professionals are responsible and accountable to
the public “All professions are occupations, but not all
occupations are professions” (McEwen, 2019a, p. 2).
Nursing as an Academic Discipline
Nursing knowledge relies on knowledge from many disciplines, as well as sharing our
knowledge with a wide variety of disciplines (McEwen, 2019a). Theorists strive to identify what
is unique to nursing.
Nursing is now considered a separate discipline because nursing has at least one identifiable
philosophy that is specific to nursing, at least one conceptual framework/perspective to define
what constitutes nursing, and suitable methods and approaches to develop knowledge that are
respected in the wider scientific community (McEwen, 2019a).
,Nurs 805-theory exam study guide review 2022
Nursing practice is defined broadly by the College of Nurses of Ontario (2014) to include:
• Clinical
• Leadership/Administration
• Education
• Research
The Art of Nursing
Many have tried but none have succeeded in developing the
ultimate definition of the art of nursing. Challenging to
describe, the art of nursing is even harder to define. Why do
you think this is so?
Rather than defining, Johnson (1994) identified five
components of the art of nursing that involve the nurse’s
ability to:
• Grasp meaning in patient encounters,
• Establish a meaningful connection with the patient,
• Skillfully perform nursing activities,
• Rationally determine an appropriate course of nursing
action, and
• Morally conduct one’s own nursing practice.
Finfgeld-Connett (2008) stated that the art of nursing
involves “sensitively adapting care to meet the needs” of
patients (p. 383). Creativity is used when the nurse is
uncertain about the course of action because scientific
evidence is not available. However, the nurse has to have
sufficient experience to use creative solutions that are also
safe and based on some similar experience in the past.
Nurses need to use discretion in choosing to be creative.
The art of nursing is built on the science of nursing.
,Nurs 805-theory exam study guide review 2022
Developing the Art of Nursing
Both empirical and metaphysical sources are used to
develop the nurse’s skilled use of knowledge and values
in the art of nursing (Finfgeld-Connett, 2008).
Consider and reflect on the following question, then click on
it to compare your answer.
What is an example of an “empirical source”, and what is an example of a
“metaphysical source”?
Relationship-Centred Practice and the
Art of Nursing
Finfgeld-Connett (2008) emphasized the importance of
mutual trust and respect between the client and nurse in
relationship-centred practice. Foundational to the
relationship is respect for and comfort with the uniqueness
of clients and their informed choices, even those that may
differ from the choices the nurse would make.
A strong relationship-centred practice that allows the nurse
to implement the art of nursing requires an intense
awareness of the client’s situation, the ability to get at the
underlying concerns, and a deep appreciation of the
patient’s needs (Finfgeld-Connett, 2008).
The nurse’s use of kindness, healing touch, humour, and
thoughtful doing are behaviours that support relationship-
centred practice and the art of nursing.
, Nurs 805-theory exam study guide review 2022
The Science of Nursing
A focus on discovering “truth” is the basis of science
(Rosenfeld, 2012). However, scientists recognize that it’s
impossible to know the whole or absolute truth because
truth can change over time. Our ability to accept and
understand how these “truths” and knowledge change is
important to improve nursing practice. For example, for
years, reality orientation was thought to be the best way to
reorient people who were confused and had dementia; this
nursing practice was very upsetting to the clients and
contributed to many responsive behaviours, such as
withdrawal or striking out.
Why does nursing need its own, broad body of knowledge,
developed using scientific methods? Think back to the
definition of a profession – a defined and specialized
knowledge base, and scholars and researchers to advance
knowledge and improve practice (McEwen, 2019a).
Nursing Science: Defined
“Nursing science describes the frameworks and theories of
the [nursing] discipline” (Parse, 2001, p. 1). Barrett (2002,
2017) has explored the definition of nursing science over
many years. She defines nursing science as a basic science
that aims to discover facts and expand knowledge in
nursing. Nursing science is:
• Communicated in nursing theories and frameworks
• Focused on the human-universe-health process
• Informed by philosophies
• Informed by processes to develop and use knowledge
to make it specific to nursing
