Health is evaluated by the individual's subjective feelings of wellbeing and objectively by bio-behavioral measures and standards. Health needs are viewed within a developmental context and are met through health promotion, risk reduction, and illness and symptom management. Nursing is an art and a science. Nursing is expressed as an art committed to promoting, restoring, and maintaining the health of humans across the life span through culturally sensitive care to diverse populations within the context of their environment. Nursing's unique perspective of humans, their environment, and their health provide the foundation for the continuing development of nursing science.
Nursing science is an organized body of knowledge derived from research and scientific methods.
It describes, explains, and predicts phenomena related to the metaparadigm concepts of nursing and provides the foundation for basic and advanced nursing practice. Nursing history and philosophic inquiry contribute to nursing knowledge. The science of nursing is applied through creative, therapeutic modalities of care in a variety of settings. Nursing's focus of health care is optimization of health through health promotion, risk reduction, and illness and symptom management. Health maintenance and optimum wellness are the desired outcomes of care.