Concept Comparisons and Analysis Theories

The 21st century healthcare culture has increased demands for quantity and efficiency, which has caused increased stress on practitioners and staff within health care (Dudkiewicz, 2014). This causes distance between healthcare providers and patients leading to unsatisfied holistic needs. Jean Watson created the theory of human caring to emphasize the importance of connectedness between all humans through holistic care, and nourishing others and one’s self in a personal and professional way (Sitzman & Watson, 2014). The obstacles Jean Watson faced led her to create and revise her theory on the philosophy and science of caring, which then evolved and adapted in hospitals, and continues to shape the nursing practice today.

According to Alligood and Tomey Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring is classified as nursing philosophy. “Nursing philosophy sets forth the meaning of nursing phenomena through analysis, reasoning, and logical argument. Philosophies contribute to nursing knowledge by providing direction for the discipline, forming a basis for professional scholarship and leading to new theoretical understandings” (Alligood & Tomey, 2010, p. 69).

Jean Watson’s theory of human caring is one that elevates nursing from being merely a clinical

Nursing theories have been a fundamental tool used to explain, guide and improve the practice of nursing. Theorists have contributed enormously to the growth of nursing as a profession. The four grand theorists I chose are Virginia Henderson, Peplau, Myra Levine and Jean Watson. These theorists have contributed tremendously in the field of nursing through their theories, and research. One thing the theorists have in common is that they are patient centered. They are all concerned on ways we can improve our responsibility to the patients, their families and the environment. They have different ideas but they are all aiming towards achieving the same goal, which is patient satisfaction and safety. Their differences are in their areas of

Throughout the development of the nursing profession, nurses have looked for a framework or guidelines to assist them in proper patient care. The development of nursing theories has provided the frameworks and guidelines needed for nurses to care for the patient in a holistic manner. These theories have developed and matured over time and continue to mature and become more patient-centered and closer to the bedside.

Nursing has developed into a profession, in which many theories have been developed and presented in order to lend guidance for purposeful and meaningful practice. In general, nursing theories are based on four concepts that collectively make up the nursing metaparadigm: person, environment, health, and nursing. These four concepts represent a commonality in the nursing profession (Tourville & Ingalls, 2003). This paper will

The purpose of this paper is to discuss my personal beliefs pertaining to the profession of nursing. As well I will discuss the (4) metaparadigms in nursing which are known as; human beings, environment, health, and nursing, and my personal beliefs on these concepts and how they have similarities to the nursing philosophy of a nursing theorist.

As stated by Butts & Rich (2015, p 502) Jean Watson’s caring theory states that the disease might be cured, but illness would remain because without caring, health is not attained. Butts & Rich (2015, p 502) continue that caring is the essence of nursing and the relationship between the nurse and the person and that caring can assist the person to gain control, become knowledgeable, and promote health

“The metaparadigm is part of the domain of the discipline” (Turkel, 2013, p.423). Person, health, environment, nursing, and research are concepts or domains within nursing and advanced nurse practice discipline. A further question originate the concept of teach, and how this concept can be part of each domain in the nursing metaparadigm. The concept of teach in the unitary caring paradigm is the integrality or continuing interaction of human and the environment. In the person domain, the concept of teach would enhance the quality of knowledge within the person and his/her community, develop a deeper understanding of learning, forming a diversity of teaching strategies, increase reflection, and would learn how to deal with environment (Peter et al., 2015).

She is the first nursing theorist to support the idea of soul and to accentuate the spiritual dimension of human existence. Watson describes nursing as an art and a human science with the major focus being the process of a human care for individuals, families and groups. According to her beliefs, body, mind and soul are distinquished from each other. Nevertheless, Watson also states that harmony is required among the three to be the highest form of health and that it is the nursing goal to help people to reach this equanimity. This goal can be accomplished through transpersonal relationship.

Throughout the history of nursing, there have been many nursing theorists who have each made significant contributions towards the shaping of nursing knowledge. Each of these theorists have differing perspectives and interpretations of how each domain of the nursing metaparadigm fit into their respective theories. The four domains of the nursing metaparadigm are: person, environment, health and illness, and nursing. The purpose of this reflection is to provide an overview of the domains related to the metaparadigm of nursing as well as to introduce this author’s perspective on their developing personal philosophy of nursing. In this paper, the author will take a closer look at each of these areas, how they are individually defined, and how they each fit into the nursing metaparadigm as a whole. At the conclusion of this overview, readers will be introduced to how these theorists and their perspectives have enabled this author to begin to create their own philosophy of nursing.

Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring was developed in 1979 (Cherner, 2007). Watson’s nursing theory was developed to bring meaning and focus to nursing as a diverse health profession (Cherner, 2007). Watson believed caring is what heals and help patients to live (Cherner, 2007). She believed patients should be treated as a whole to promote health. Watson’s theory has transformed the way nurses care for patients today; nurses build caring-interpersonal relationships with patients, treat patients as holistic beings- body, mind, and spirit, and provide care with a positive attitude.

Jean Watson developed the Watson’s human science and human care theory from 1975 to 1979 (Hood, 2012); this theory is broad enough to be applied to any area of nursing. The reason for choosing this nursing theory was due to the incorporation of science and humanity; her theory provides a framework for the study of caring that has served as a foundation for many nursing research studies and she relentlessly indorses and develops her theories. For example, she proposed the use of the term “caritas” to promote a deeper form of caring for the nursing profession. One of the main characteristics of nursing is caring, which

Theories have been a fundamental part of nursing since the early stages of the profession. When nursing was a new discipline, theorists began to determine the theoretic basis of practice. Nursing theories have been used to define the individual receiving nursing care, the goal or purpose of nursing, the nursing intervention, as well as the role of the nurse (Im & Ju Chang, 2012, p. 2) There was a change in focus from nursing education to nursing research during the theory era which was in the mid 1970’s to

Orem’s four metaparadigm principles are important in understanding the theory as a whole. Nursing is the actions performed by nurses to assist patients towards the goal of self-care. Health describes a patient being structurally and functionally whole. An environment that promotes self-care is equally as important as human’s being allowed to function at their highest self-care level.