Watson's Theory of Human Caring Sandra Middlestate NUR/403 April 16, 2012 Watson's Theory of Human Caring In this paper on Watson’s theory of human caring it will briefly describe the theories background and concepts. In discussion of an actual nurse patient event I have had in Obstetrics it will analyze major theory assumptions related to person, health, nursing and environment in the context of this caring moment, along with a personal reflection of this caring moment. 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 …show more content…
That will meet the needs of the patient mind, body and spirit. Watson’s ten curative factors help prepare the nurse for these patient encounters. These include “humanistic-altruistic system of values, faith-hope, and sensitivity of self and others.” (Alligood, 2010, p. 37) A nurse needs to be aware of one’s self sensitivity and values in order to provide unbiased care with empathy. Watson’s theory of caring is related to the nurse recognizing the patient and his needs as the priority, with regards to his body mind and spirit. Regardless of the setting, hospital, clinic, or community, care should be rendered to the patient with knowledge and skill while creating an interactive relationship that allows challenge and growth for both parties. It is not just the nurse completing tasks or treatments as ordered by the physician. The nursing process and Watson’s theory both provide a framework to promote critical thinking by the nurse so conclusions can be made and they can have a caring moment. This is completed by “assessment, plan, intervention, evaluation.” (Nursing Theories, 2012, p.4) The theory is well organized, not complex and “can be used to guide and improve practice.”(Nursing Theories, 2012, p.4) Watson’s theory has four major concepts; “human being, health, environment/society and nursing” defined as. Human being or “person - a valued being to be cared for, respected, nurtured, understood, and assisted a fully functional
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
Nursing theories began more than a century ago with Florence Nightingale and began to flourish around the 1800’s, when education became the central focus of nursing (Current Nursing, 2012). Although several definitions and variations of theories exist, generally speaking nursing theories guide nurses in their daily practice and serve as evidence based foundations for clinical decisions and outcomes (Petiprin, 2016). Additionally, theories aim to improve quality of care for our patients and enhance nursing as a profession by inviting application of critical thinking and reasoning towards patient care (Current Nursing, 2012). Caring Science, as a theory has been quietly evolving for years (Rosa, Estes, & Watson, 2016). Dr. Jean Watson
Jean Watson’s theories of nursing are instrumental in today’s structure of nursing. Watson’s theories are being practiced in various health care setting all over the world. One of these theories in the nursing process. This entails first assessing patient, planning, intervention and evaluation. There is multitude of research proving these theories to be effective in treating and caring for patients with this consistent approach. In this paper I will dissect her different carative factors learned and that
“Nursing is concerned with promoting health, preventing illness, caring for the sick and restoring health” (Jean Watson Nursing Theory, 2013). This mainly focuses on health promotion and treatment of disease. She believes in holistic health care which is the center of practice for nursing. One that identifies and integrates the principles of holistic healing into everyday life is consider being a holistic nurse. “Holistic nursing encourages nurses to integrate self-care, self-responsibility, spirituality, and reflection in their lives” (Klebanoff, 2013). She defines nursing as “a human science of persons and human health-illness experiences that are mediated by professional, personal, scientific, esthetic and ethical human transactions” (Jean Watson Nursing Theory, 2013). In Watson 's model, “she makes seven assumptions that caring can be effectively demonstrated and practiced only interpersonally” (Jean Watson Nursing Theory, 2013). The assumption consists of Carative factors that result in the satisfaction of human needs and effective care that stimulates health individuallyor family growth. Caring for patient helps the growth of the
The caring theorist, Jean Watson, first developed her theory and published the philosophy and science of caring in 1979 (Current Nursing, 2011). She describes nursing as a process of caring not curing, and that it is effectively practiced and demonstrated interpersonally only. Her theory also “suggests that caring is a different way of being human, present, attentive, conscious, and intentional” (Wafika, Welmann, Omer, & Thomas, December 2009, p. 293). Watson believed that “caring is central to nursing and the unifying focus for [our] practice (Blais, Hayes,
She believes effective caring promotes health and the core to nursing is ‘nurse-patient relationships that result in a therapeutic outcome’ (Watson, 2002). A nurse’s attitude and competence can affect a patient’s world, making it bigger or smaller, threatening or secure. Watson believes these moments transformed the nurse and the patient and they were connected together.
Thank you all, for your responses. Jean Watson’s philosophy of nursing revolves around the concept of caring within nursing. The major conceptual element of the theory mainly focuses on the ten carative factors. Other important concepts include the transpersonal caring relationship, the caring moment/occasion, and caring-healing modalities (Parker and Smith, 2010, p.353).
Jean Watson, PHD, RN, AHC-BC, FAAN is a recognized professor of nursing, and beneficiary of the Murchinson-Scoville Blessed Seat in Caring Science, at the College of Colorado in Denver, Colorado. She is a researcher, creator, instructor, and originator of the Watson Caring Science Establishment, a worldwide, non-benefit establishment that is devoted to supporting, growing and augmenting the hypotheses and practices of human caring in social insurance (Watson Caring Science Organization, n.d). Jean Watson has six privileged doctorates and has gone all through the world developing, showing and operationalizing the theory of human caring in the work of medical nurses and social insurance. Jean Watson was conceived in West Virginia in July of 1940. She moved on from nursing school in 1961 in Virginia and afterward went to the College of Colorado to finish her BS, and MS in nursing and her Ph.D. in 1973.
This paper will present and discuss Jean Watson nursing theorist and her renowned Watsons Theory of Caring. The key concepts will be described as how it relates to the nurse patient relationship. The carative factors of health, person, nursing and environment will be discussed in its relation to the theory. Jean Watson is a living legend to nursing and is still practicing her” caritas” and continues to speak to audiences in the US as well as worldwide.
The nurse's role in the view of Watson is to: (1) form a relationship with patients characterized by caring; (2) treat the patient's mind, spirit, and body; (3) provide acceptance that is unconditional; (4) treat patients with respect; (5) use knowledge and intervention to promote health; and (6) spend some time with the patient that is uninterrupted. (Vanguard Health Systems, nd, p.1) Caring moments are reported to be such that are characterized by a contact being made between the nurse and patient. When the nurse enters the patient's room, the patient experiences the feeling of expectation. The nurse displaying competence and professionalism, or alternatively a lack of these two
Jean Watson believed in The Philosophy and Science of Caring focuses on the connection a patient and nurse must have. There are four major concepts which include human being, health, environment/society, and nursing. This theory was developed to educate nurses on how important it is to build a relationship with their patients and not treat them just like a number. Many people become a nurse for the wrong reasons so throughout this paper I will cover why this theory is so important to the nursing community and how it is applied to the nursing practice. The Philosophy and Science of Caring theory provides the resources needed to be a good nurse to your patient. This theory should be used every day from start to finish with anyone
Also create a healing environment at all levels, physical as well as non-physical, subtle environment of energy and consciousness, whereby wholeness, beauty, comfort, dignity, and peace are potentiated. Examination of Watson's transpersonal theory of caring reveals certain concepts, structural components, and assumptions. The concepts that are integral to her theory of transpersonal caring are human life, health, environment, nursing, and care giving. Human life is defined as a physical, mental, and spiritual existence transcending time and space. Health represents a unity and harmony within the mind, body, and soul in a continual state of adapting, coping, and growing from conception to death. Environment is characterized by physical, societal, and biologic constants that affect behavior and are comprised of five variables: comfort, stress, privacy, cleanliness, and aesthetics. Stress is recognized as originating from change, developmental conflicts, and loss, which can create disharmony (Watson, 1985). Nursing is the human science of persons and human health-illness experiences, which is mediated by personal, professional, scientific, aesthetic, and ethical human care transactions. Transpersonal caring relationships consist of connections that embrace the spirit or soul of the other through the processes of full, authentic, caring and healing attention in the moment (Watson, 1988).
Educating nurses and nursing students to be prepared to care for patients as a whole, as well as educating nurses on the importance of being non-judgmental, will make building a trusting relationship with the patient leisurelier. Nurses are taught earlier in nursing school the importance of caring for a patient and keeping their environments comfortable. Students and nurses who are taught to practice Watson’s theory, gain education that is focused on caring as its center. It is not only important for the nurse to practice what they are taught but to also educate the patient.
Watson’s human needs model strived on the involvement of four elements which were vital in the care of a human being by the same token, the caritas process, transpersonal caring, caring moments, and care healing modalities
Although Watson recognizes the importance of empirical and physical substance, she emphasizes the psychological aspects of nursing practice. Watson concentrates on how nursing relates to various philosophical concepts: mind, consciousness, energy, soul, and also more basic grounds of being beauty, truth, love, openness, pain, joy, selfness, and selflessness. Watson besides the establishment of her famous 10 carative factors also raises and explores important questions: