Watson's Theory of Human Caring

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).

The ten carative factors are: humanistic-altruistic system of values, faith-hope, sensitivity to self and others, developing helping-trusting caring relationship, expressing emotions and feelings, individualized problem solving caring process, transpersonal teaching-learning, providing supportive environment, gratifying human needs and allowance of existential-phenomenological and spiritual forces (Parker & Smith, 2014, p. 357-358). The second concept transpersonal caring, stresses on, going beyond one’s ego and physical self to connect with and tap into the patient’s healing. The caring moment explains the coming together and the occurrence of a human-human transaction (Watson,

The art of human caring is one of the most essential parts of the nursing profession. Caring is not something that you learn to do, but something that is within you. In nursing, it is important to know what kind of nurse you want to be as well as the care you intend to provide to your patients. The patient is the center of nursing, and it is your responsibility to make sure they are receiving the best care that they can receive. One of the most important things is to be able to set aside personal beliefs and morals in order to provide patient centered care. The way that you approach and care for a patient is either going to make or break the effect of the care you will be implementing to the patient.

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.

A caring moment can be defined in many different ways by many different people. To me a caring moment between a patient and a nurse is when a nurse gives the patient their undivided attention. The nurse should take the time to listen to the patient and provide appropriate feedback reassuring the patient that they are being heard and the information as well as them are important. If the patient will allow the nurse to touch them this can be a very comforting gesture even if it is just a brief touch to the hand. Also repeat what

b) Why it is important to provide opportunities for learners to develop their English, Mathematics, ICT and wider skills such as communication, personal and employability (ref. 1.3)

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

A few weeks ago I was assigned to provide care for Mrs Tevez an 82yrs old female of Spanish origin who spoke very little English. Mrs.Tevez had a cervical fracture that resulted from a fall at home. Her admission to hospital was for immobilization with a cervical collar and bed rest pending possible surgery. She was considered a high risk patient because of the possibility of serious complications from her cervical fracture. It is amazing how a caring moment can have such a remarkable effect on persons who are part of that moment. A caring moment is the human care transaction that takes place as a

Since its establishment as a profession more than a century ago, Nursing has been a source for numerous debates related to its course, methods and development of nursing knowledge. Many nursing definitions and theories have evolved over time. Furthermore it is in a constant process of being redefined.

A patient by the name of Jackson Gray is a 90-year-old patient who is diagnosed with end stage renal disease, hypertension, diabetes, and chronic heart failure. He has refused to get out of bed, refused dialysis, and states “I’m done living; I don’t want to keep going on like this.” Which all raise concerns for me as a nurse. Of the nursing theorists, I chose Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring because of the correlational of human caring and patient wellness. “The first three factors form the "philosophical foundation" for the science of caring, and the remaining seven come from that foundation” (Nursing Theory,n.d.)

1. To observe and rationalize our motivations and needs for becoming helpers can help us

The approach is concerned with the achievements of one’s full potential through creativity, independence and a positive process that leads people to identify their abilities; to strive to develop them; to feel good as they become themselves and to be beneficial to society (Zastrow and Kirst-Ashman, 2010). This implies that the approach focuses on the expression of one’s quest for spiritual enlightenment, pursuit of knowledge, and the desire to give to society, and Schoott (1992) emphasize that there are examples of self-actualization.

6) Caring is more healthogenic than is curing. A science of caring is complementary to the science of curing.

“The three steps of study, prayer, and realization are spiritual aspects of your endeavor, but all your physical, emotional, and intellectual activities also have their share in bringing into your experience the desired good which, in this case, is the unfoldment of your inner spiritual nature.”

“The three steps of study, prayer, and realization are spiritual aspects of your endeavor, but all your physical, emotional, and intellectual activities also have their share in bringing into your experience the desired good which, in this case, is the unfoldment of your inner spiritual nature.”