Human-Animal Connections and Nursing Science: What Is the Relationship?

Human-animal relationships have been documented for centuries. Animals are used for many purposes, such as enhancing human health, wellness, and companionship, to name a few. The human-animal relationship is different for every person and requires a holistic perspective. Nurses are interested in relationships that are caring, natural, and therapeutic. Research supports the profound and multifaceted health benefits of the human-animal bond. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the relationship between the human-animal connection and nursing science.