[The aesthetic practice of care ethics]

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Philosophy of Medicine
• Ethics of Care

Context:

• The traditional doctor-patient relationship model positions the doctor as the subject and the patient as the object.
• Patients often experience frustration and helplessness, seeking emotional support from nurses.
• Nurses act as intermediaries, directly engaging with patients' emotional states.

Purpose:

• To challenge the traditional, doctor-dominant view of the doctor-patient relationship.
• To examine the nurse's unique position and responsibilities within this dynamic.
• To explore the ethical and emotional challenges nurses face in providing care.

Summary:

• Nurses provide crucial affective support, attending to patient exhaustion and helplessness.
• They manage professional medical duties alongside emotional labor, treating patients with familial care.
• The paper investigates how nurses integrate their emotional experiences and professional roles.

Impact:

• Highlights the significant, often overlooked, emotional and ethical contributions of nurses.
• Suggests aesthetic practices within care ethics to better support nurses.
• Reframes the doctor-patient relationship to include the nurse's pivotal role and subjective experience.