Watson's Theory of Human Caring Dr. Jean Watson, a native of West Virginia, began her career in 1961 where she graduated from the Lewis Gale School of Nursing in Roanoke, Virginia. She then moved to Colorado, where she now lives, to further her education. She attended the University of Colorado and received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1964, then further pursued her Master’s degree in psychiatric-mental health nursing in 1966 and then on to obtain her Ph.D. in educational psychology and counseling in 1973. Today she serves as a legendary Professor of Nursing and holds an endowed Chair in Caring Science at the University of Colorado and is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing (Watson,2007). She is the author/co-author of …show more content…
When one considers knowledgeable human caring as a mandate for survival, this caring can be seen as the highest form of ethical commitment to patients, families, communities, society, civilization, and planet Earth. A caring science model is based on a deeply relational worldview that includes human-to-human relationships as well as human-to-environment relationships. This caring science seeks to honor the depth, humility, connection, compassion, responsibility, and concern for human welfare and optimal human development/evolution. It is a model that honors the paradox of differences and similarities that unite rather than separate our existence and experiences” (Watson, 2008, p. 58). Transpersonal Caring relationship emerges from the 10 caritas. The transpersonal caring relationship is the nurses’ moral commitment to protecting human dignity as well a higher self, the nurses caring consciousness of respecting a person to not treat the person as an object and a nurse’s conscious connection to a person through experience to heal. Caring is an approach that promotes a state of being. The nurse needs to look at transactions of the caring moment and environment to note how it affects the healing process. If negativity exists then it will affect everyone involved in a negative way. Many nurses use Watson’s theory without knowing. Learning and using the caritas can enhance their nursing care
Nursing is as much science as it is a study in the human condition. Combining caring and the notion of human flourishing allows the nurse sharpen her understanding of patients’ needs by observing and understanding herself (Husted & Husted, 2008). A nurse is able to better anticipate the needs of her patients by noting similarities and differences between the two of them. With caring in the nursing corner, even under less-than-ideal conditions, one can still create havens of hope, nourishment, and the possibility for flourishing (MacCulloh, 2011).
Transpersonal caring relationship. A moral commitment to protect and enhance human dignity. Allow human beings to determine and find their own meaning. ( Meleis, p 173, 2012)
Human caring is what sets nursing apart from other professions. As Watson (1998) stated, “care and love are the most universal, the most tremendous and the most mysterious of cosmic forces: they comprise the primal universal psychic energy. Caring is the essence of nursing and the most central and unifying focus for nursing practice” (p. 32-33). It is important to establish a good nurse-patient relationship in order to create a healing environment that would meet patient’s needs on all levels including physical, mental/emotional and spiritual, promote recovery, maintain health, and create positive outcomes. Jean Watson emphasized the importance of human
Jean Watson’s Theory of Caring has six explicit assumptions. The first assumption is, ontological assumptions emphasizing on the oneness or the connectedness of the human beings. The nurse’s experiences and values are key points to the first assumption. The second is an epistemological assumption which states that there are many ways of knowing. This includes topics as oneself and patients to abstract topics and concepts in nursing. The third assumption mentions that there are diverse methods of knowing and that the collection of information is in various forms. This includes learning about cultures, talking to patients etc. The fourth assumption makes the diverse perspectives explicit in the caring model.
The Theory of Human caring is a middle range theory developed by Jean Watson with the focus on the relation between use of the clinical caritas processes and the building of a transpersonal caring relationship within the context of caring occasion and caring consciousness. The Theory of Human Caring honors the unity of the whole human being, while focusing on creating a healing environment (Watson, 2006). Watson had preference for human science, and clearly shunned the mechanistic and reductionist word view (Watson, 1985, as cited in Fawcett & DeSanto-Madeya, 2017). According to Watson, person is “an experiencing and perceiving spiritual being” (Watson, 1999, as cited in
Caritas process one is “cultivating the practice of Loving- Kindness and equanimity toward self and other as foundational to Caritas consciousness” (Watson, 2008, p. 47). This means that for a nurse to love others no matter their situation, they must have equanimity and loving kindness to any situation to best help and support their patients (Watson, 2008, p. 59). With regards to Sarton’s book Lisa Thornhill and Caro show this process as Lisa is loving in how she speaks to Caro giving Caro hope and happiness from her visits. Lisa tells Caro how she would love to revisit making Caro happy to hear the truth (Sarton, 1973, p. 65). When I have patients I will make sure to ask them how they feel, what I could help with, or listen to their stories. I will make sure to stay and listen to everything they say without acting rushed so they know I care for them and their needs.
According to Fawcett and DeSanto-Madeya (2013), Watson’s Theory of Human Caring can be categorized as a middle- range theory due to its focus on the relation between use of the clinical caritas processes and the building of a transpersonal caring relationship within the context of caring occasion and caring consciousness. Theory of Human Caring honors the unity of the whole human being, while also attending to creating a healing environment (Watson, 2006). Caring is acknowledged as transpersonal, in that it goes beyond the ego-oriented human; it involves the one caring as well as the care receiver, and is mutual, intersubjective, and reciprocal (Watson, 2006). The integrity and usefulness of the theory will be evaluated based on Fawcett’s (2005) criteria. Why it can be argued that the Theory of Human Caring meet the Fawcett’s evaluation criteria, there is evidence of confusion and lack of simplicity.
The caring theory was grounded on a humanitarian perspective and is found on a humanistic approach toward human caring programs and experiences. It acknowledges that life with individuals and their community to the surrounding environment are somehow connect and affects wellbeing of everything involved. The nature of the theory caring implies that it embraces reflective investigations as well subjective and interpretative inquiries. The nursing profession uses nursing theories as the framework and foundation for practice. Many people find nursing theories to be meaningless and of no use to the
The theory of transpersonal caring is the nursing theory of Jean Watson. The essence of her theory is “caring for the purpose of promoting healing, preserving dignity, and respecting the wholeness and interconnectedness of humanity.” (George, 2010) The four major components of Watson’s theory are the human being, health, environment/society and nursing. Watson embraces
It is evident that nursing theorists, scholars and health care professions have varying interpretations of what caring is or should be. In the middle of all these disparity, caring is a vital component of the nursing practice and the key to choosing the concept of caring is because it is very essential when it comes to health care. This paper tries to make clear the concept of caring in the field of nursing and it makes use of the Walker and Avant outline to support the concept. It starts with recognizing the concept and its functions. It then identifies three emerging attributes of caring will be identified and a description of each will be given. At last, the paper will recognize antecedents, the effects or consequences and
Within the Theory of Human Caring, during transpersonal caring moment, the nurse and the patient gain entry into the lived knowledge of each other. In order for transpersonal contact to occur both the caregiver and the one being cared for should experience a process of being and becoming, both are influenced by the nature of transaction. (Watson, 1985) Watson defines human caring as a moral ideal, that the nurse should carry during every transaction. According to her theory, that ideal will assure a certain needed behaviour at the time of the caring occasion.
Born in West Virginia theorist Jean Watson has had a very distinguished career, as a nurse educator and researcher in the area of “human caring and loss” (Nursing Theories, 2012, p.1). Beginning her education with a BSN from University of
My personal philosophy aligns with that of Jean Watson Theory of Human Caring in nursing. Nursing is more than treating an illness. Jean Watson mentioned Caring Sciences involved the Humanity, Arts and Sciences. My attitude is one of caring, compassion, and service. I feel extremely satisfied when I care for others and make a difference in their lives. It is interesting to know that Jean Watson Theory of Human Caring in nursing is used by most clinical nurses and academic programs worldwide. Her Caring Theory has made a
This paper will explore Jean Watson’s theory of transpersonal human caring as well as a description of the major concepts of Watson’s theory. I will apply Watson’s theory to two nurse/ patient relationships and describe the caring moments that occurred. I will discuss Watson’s major assumptions and relate this to person, health, and nursing in the health care environment. I will also describe how Watson’s carative factors were utilized in a transpersonal relationship with the application of four carative factors. Lastly I will conclude with a reflection
This theory explains, describes, guides, and supports nursing practice. It gives language to the unspoken beliefs and perspectives of the nursing profession. This allows the nursing professionals to better envision, realize, and articulate their unique role in healthcare (Green & Robichaux, 2009). Human caring is the basis of therapeutic relationships between human beings (Wade & Kasper, 2006)