Imbalances in this relationship may cause alterations in health. Professional nursing focuses on environments which enhance health and the quality of life. Health is dynamic, characterized by unity between person and environment. Health can be affected by an individual's genetic predisposition, lifestyle, position in the life cycle, and by the health behavior choices the individual makes. A major goal of professional nursing is to assist persons to achieve optimal health.
Professional nursing is both an art and a science.
The art of nursing is providing a caring human service which promotes health behaviors that modify environments to reduce threats to the quality of life. Nursing science is the evolving body of knowledge which, when applied to practice with persons, results in health promotion, disease prevention, assistive care, rehabilitation, and supportive care. Cognitive, affective, and psychomotor competencies in nursing require both application and synthesis of theoretical and empirical knowledge through the use of nursing processes as a unifying element, and the responsible and humanizing use of resources. Nursing care is provided within a complex health care system. This service may be provided autonomously or collaboratively with other health professionals.