Can the underlying principles of art be applied to nursing?

It is a common assumption that nursing is an art, yet the art of nursing is a term for which there is little definitional agreement and understanding. Problems surrounding the art of nursing are rooted in dilemmas connected to philosophical issues and ideas, as well as the strong value associated with science. The concept of art is embedded within many theories and distinctions, for which there is no consensus of opinion. This article reappraises the literature on the artfulness in nursing, and by examining aesthetic theories, offers a different perspective to that of considering the existence of an art of nursing as a foregone conclusion.