ABSTRACT
Nursing is the art and science of caring. Since 1999 when nurses were included in the Gallup “Honesty and Ethics” poll, nurses have been rated as one of the most trusted professional groups by the American public (https://www.gallup.com/poll/releases/pro011205.asp). What is it about nurses that the public is willing to trust? Could it be that nurses often see people in their most vulnerable states and, during that time, treat them with respect and provide a safe environment to nurture them back to a more independent self-caring state? Nursing is much more than simply caring and providing comfort; it involves the art of knowing how to give the right kind of care and comfort to facilitate the healing process, and this knowledge is based in science. The goal of nursing care is to promote health and reduce the harm caused by injury, disease, or poor self-care.
