Introduction Nursing theory influences the practice of nursing in numerous ways that can have an important impact. Theory provides a framework to support and define nursing practice, support quality of patient care, and can be implemented in practice, to provide solutions to nursing practice problems. Applying theory to resolve nursing issues can be utilized in educational and research settings, direct patient care concerns, as well as in administration and management of nursing services. The benefits of applying theory to practice can be demonstrated by applying Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring. The theory can be described as an expanded view of self and person, caring-healing consciousness, intentionality to care and promote healing, caring consciousness, caring moments, unbroken wholeness, and advanced caring-healing modalities (Watson, 2008). The sections of this paper will be the introduction, description of the issue, application of selected nursing theory to the concern, and the conclusion. Watson’s Theory Applied to Staffing Issues The specific issue being presented is staffing issues on the inpatient clinical units. Supporting nurse staffing ensures quality nursing care for patients and can be a challenge for nurse managers and administrators. Failure to provide sufficient staffing numbers and compassionate nurse staff has been demonstrated to negatively impact patient satisfaction and patient outcomes. The nursing staffing
Nurse staffing and how it relates to the quality of patient care has been an important issue in the field of nursing for quite some time. This topic has been particularly popular recently due to the fact that there is an increasing age among those who make up the Baby Boomer era in the United States. There will be a greater need for nurse staffing to increase to help accommodate the higher demand of care. Although nursing is “the top occupation in terms of job growth,” there are still nursing shortages among various hospitals across America today. The shortage in nurses heavily weighs on the overall quality of care that each individual patient receives during their hospital stay (Rosseter, 2014).
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
Cara, C. (2003). A Pragmatic View of Jean Watson’s Caring Theory. Retrieved February 22, 2015, www.humancaring.org
Stanton, M. R. (2004, March). Hospital Nurse Staffing and Quality of Care. Research in Action. Rockville, MD, USA: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Extensive research has shown that there is a correlation between staffing and patient ratio and patient outcomes. Better outcomes particularly are shown with lower patient to nurse ratio. However staffing issues remain an ongoing concern which greatly impacts the safety of the nurse and their patients, and also impacts cost of healthcare. Evidence shows that adequate staffing causes reduction in mortality, nurse burnout and job satisfaction, and reduction in medical errors.
The importance of staffing relating to patients and nurse is very critical as it secures the quality of healthcare services being provided. Quality care is a major focus for health care providers which is indicated by direct patient outcomes. It comprises effective principles that are safe, timely, patient centered, and efficient. One of the quality outcomes that determine the type of care provided to patients is nurse staffing. Nurses may fail to carry out their expected duties due to issues of low staff levels, inadequate time or lack of effective skills. This paper discusses how staffing affects both patients and nurse in the provision of quality care. Research studies show that there is a direct relationship between adequate nurse staffing and better patient outcomes (Buhlman, 2016).
Proper nurse staffing has been a debate since the modernization of nursing for many years. This paper examines the results of five researched based articles on the effects of nurse staffing and the outcomes of patient care within a hospital setting. The articles do vary in their methods of gathering information. One study used organizational data from 799 facilitates in eleven states to examine the outcomes of care from the type of nursing care received (Needleman, Buerhaus, Mattke, Stewart, & Zelevinsky, 2002). Another study examined the outcomes of care of intensive care patients in 65 hospitals in the United Kingdom (West, Barron,
Does the issue of nurse staffing have an effect on quality of patient care? This study addresses the topic of nurse staffing, which includes nurses (RN and LPN) and nurse’s aides. Research in Action: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) presents the study “Hospital Nurse Staffing and Quality of Care”. Nurse staffing is measured in one of two ways: nursing hours per patient day and nurse to patent ratio (Stanton, 2004). The article looks at periods of high vacancy rates, assesses the patients needs, the development of care
The purpose of this paper is an overview of Jean Watson’s Theory of Caring. This theory can be taken into account as one of the most philosophicaly complicated of existent nursing theories. The Theory of Human Caring, which also has been reffered to as the Theory of Transpersonal Caring, is middle – range explanatory theory. (Fawccett, 2000) The central point of which is on the human component of caring
The purpose of this paper is an overview of Jean Watson's Theory of Caring. This theory can be taken into account as one of the most philosophicaly complicated of existent nursing theories. The Theory of Human Caring, which also has been referred
Presented in the nursing study, Nursing activities, nurse staffing and adverse patient outcomes as perceived by hospital nurses, the research gives evidence that indicates nurse staffing levels can have direct effect on patient care. Therefore, in correlation to the question and point of study, the research pointed at the fact that inadequate staffing and unrealistic workloads place an burden on nursing staff, reducing the quality of care that nurses are able to provide. The patient-to-nurse ratio averaged 8.74:1 overall within the nurses involved in the study. The study took RNs’ evaluations of whether they had enough time to perform the listed nursing tasks and created a table. In the table, it showed more than a quarter of RNs expressed
Provide an overview of Jean Watson's theory of Human Caring ( introduction, purpose, and rationale) Provide a description of the theory ( purpose, concepts/definitions, relationship/structure, assumptions)
Well said Sheri, Nursing is more than curing a patient not only bodily but also heal their mind and soul. This theory reminds nurses to hold caring nature as a central for every action in nursing practice.VA hospital where I work follow jean Watson theories and practices of caring to give veterans the best compassionate care possible. Hospitals follow this theory to attain magnet status, but it has exceeded expectations in terms of patient and staff
Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring is an important theory to our group and to the nursing profession as a whole. We often use the Theory of Caring as a model framework to help guide us and help direct nursing care. It also helps improve nursing practice through a better understanding of the role and function of the professional nurse (Caring Science Theory & Research n.d.). The purpose of Watson’s Caring Theory is to bring meaning and focus to nursing as an emerging discipline and distinct health
Jean Watson's theory of nursing is based on the ideas of a number of philosophers and psychologists, including Carl Rogers, most specifically on his "phenomenological psychology and philosophy" (Tourville and Ingalls, 2003, p. 21). Her theory evolved over at least two decades of diverse experiences. Watson's theory is referred to as Transpersonal Caring because it emphasizes unity in the world (Tourville and Ingalls, 2003). Watson proposed that caring is a natural act for humans and it becomes a moral principle at the point when a patient and a nurse share a caring experience (Watson 2007). According to Watson, the goal of nursing is to help the patient achieve harmony of mind, body and spirit (Watson, 2007).