Clinical nursing is about the direct contact between the person and the nurse. Clinical nursing as an academic subject is linked to everyday practice, but must be carried out using relevant and reliable knowledge. Competence in clinical nursing is developed though practical experience, systematic application of research based knowledge, critical thinking and reflection.

Clinical nursing as a science encompasses research directed at phenomena linked to the direct contact between nurse and patient. The knowledge derived thereof is presented as research based knowledge, education or theory. Research based knowledge is thus the link between clinical nursing as a profession and as a science.

Research areas

• Educational quality - On pedagogic and didactic methods, e.g. simulation as method as well as furtherance of professional competence.
• Quality in nurses actions - On the diverse steps of the nursing process, the interaction with patient, next of kin and other groups in the health service.
• Health in daily life - On the significance of health and well being in diverse life situations.

The correlation of the diverse areas

In a perspective of clinical nursing, quality of education and actions leads to improvement and preservation of health, while knowledge on health and well being affect nurses actions and the contents of the education.