Associate professor, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Unfortunately, despite the emphasis of documents and contemporary theories on the belief that nursing is a science and an art in care, a review of published studies shows that only the nursing science has developed. Many experts believe that by recognizing and perceiving this concept the clinical field can develop aesthetic knowledge in the education of nursing students. Since there are no studies to explain perception of nursing art in Iranian nursing culture, so this research was conducted to explain the client's perception of nursing art.

This study was an interpretative phenomenological research. Unstructured interviews were used to gather the data. Participants in this study were 12 hospitalized clients that were purposefully selected. Their experiences were analyzed using Van Manen’s hermeneutic phenomenological framework.

13 clusters and five main themes were derived after thematic analysis of the phenomenon of nursing art. Emerged themes were: subjective description, overt spirituality, opening desperate impasse, unity of feeling and manifestation of capabilities beyond duty.

Emerged themes of client's perception from nursing art involved holistic care behaviors in the current literature on nursing with an emphasis on spirituality and skill. By identifying these behaviors, we can help nurses provide better care and respond to the realistic expectations of their patients.