Application of Theory to the Practice Problem of Nurse Staffing
Marialena Murphy
Grand Canyon University
August 10, 2011
Application of Theory to the Practice Problem of Nurse Staffing
Nursing theory influences the practice of nursing in a multitude of ways that can have a profound impact. Theory provides a framework to support and define nursing practice, support quality of patient care, and can be implemented in practice situations to provide solutions to nursing practice problems. Applying theory to resolve nursing challenges can be utilized in educational and research settings, direct patient care situations, as well as in administration and management of nursing care services. The benefits of applying theory to address a
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The ten carative factors/caritas processes outlined in Jean Watson’s theory of human caring can be viewed as nursing interventions that describe and express the connection between caring and love. “Caritas comes from the Latin word meaning to cherish” (Watson, 2008, p. 39) and summons compassion, caring, love, forgiveness and equanimity into the relations between self and other in the practice of nursing. The ten caritas processes include:
1. Practicing loving kindness toward self and others.
2. Instill faith and hope in others.
3. Nurture individual beliefs and practices for self and others.
4. Promote helping and trusting relationships.
5. Acceptance of positive and negative feelings.
6. Creative solution-seeking using scientific methods and all ways of knowing.
7. Genuine teaching and learning that supports individual needs.
8. Creation of a healing environment that attends to physical, societal and spiritual needs.
9. Providing acts of healing by attending to basic human needs.
10. Remaining open to mystery and the unknowns of existence. (Watson, 2008)
These assumptions of the theory of human caring and the caritas processes apply at the level of self, other and also in a societal and leadership sense. The theory and processes are specific enough to be interventions that apply in nurse patient or interpersonal relationships but have a breadth and universality that can also be applied as leadership principles.
Theory Applied in Practice
“Theory-based nursing practice has demonstrated a capacity to structure professional care, unify and simplify communication, save time, clarify decision-making, and reduce nurse staff turnover saving thousands of dollars” (Alligood, 2011, p. 982). Although theory is present in my workplace, it is rarely discussed. This is a shame because it is apparent that theory is essential to the nursing profession and should be at the forefront. Nursing theory helps define and verify
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.
Nursing is a unique profession which is built upon theories that guide everyday nursing practice. According to Taylor, Lillis, & Lynn (2015), “Nursing theory differentiates nursing from other disciplines and activities in that it serves the purposes of describing, explaining, predicting, and controlling desired outcomes of nursing care practices” (p. 27). Many nurses may unknowingly apply a theory or a combination thereof, along with critical thinking to get the best outcome for a patient. Theories are used in practice today because they have been supported by research and help the profession uphold its boundaries. Most nursing theories consist of four concepts which are the patient, the environment, health, and nursing. Each patient is at the center of focus and they have the right to determine what care will be given to them using informed
The Caritas Processes give nurses a common language and help remind them of their true focus, which is caring for humanity. As a clinical assistant at Boston Children’s Hospital and a Simmons College nursing student at clinicals, I can see how the ten Caritas Processes are closely intertwined with the art of nursing. The first process is “Practicing Loving-Kindness, Compassion and Equanimity Toward Self and Others.” I make sure that I incorporate this process into nursing by truly focusing on the patient and their family members when I initially walk into a room. Instead of going straight to the computer, I interact directly with the patient. By paying attention and listening wholeheartedly, I am honoring human dignity and consciously caring.
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
Theory has so far remained a strategic tool in advanced nursing practice. Firstly, nursing utilizes every feature of management science. Fortunately, the knowledge base of each and every management science takes theory into account. Theory includes methods, principles, and concepts. The principles are usually related, and can be observed and validated or verified when translated into the practice of management. Likewise, concepts are general notions, thoughts, and ideas that tend to form a basis of discussion or action. Therefore, theoretical principles guide clinical nurses to various
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
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
Nursing theory is important to the profession of nursing as it provides guidance to practice and helps to broaden nursing knowledge. Although nursing theory can be traced back to Florence Nightingale’s pioneer work during and after the Crimean War, it was not until the twentieth century that theory development in the nursing profession became a major part of discussion and implementation (Alligood, 2010). Because the nursing profession is complex and there are multiple practice settings, nursing theory is not a one size fits all.
Watson links her 10 carative factors with her seven carative assumptions, this is where the science of nursing merges with the compassion of nursing practice. “Watson is one of the few nursing theorists who consider not only the cared-for but also the caregiver” Cara, 2003, p. 51). Promoting and applying these carative factors and carative assumptions is essential for nurses as well as patients.
In order to effectively guide practice, it is essential that nurses understand and critique different theories to evaluate them for use in practice. For this paper I have selected Jean Watson’s Human Caring Theory:
“Nursing theory aims to describe, predict and explain the phenomenon of nursing” (Colley, 2003, p. 33); therefore, nursing theory is the scaffolding on which nurses stand to build and remodel nursing practice. This is a symbiotic relationship because nursing theory builds the nursing practice and as practice expands the scaffolding must, in turn, grow as well. As such, the investigation into practice and research keep informing the practice and profession of nursing. Ultimately this leads to more effective patient care utilizing evidenced-based
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
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.
There are many different nursing theories that are significant to nursing practice, because they help nurses to examine what is already known, and what additional knowledge and skills are required in variety of nursing situations. They provide basis for nursing practice, as well as some additional tools, that help with delivery of better care to patients and caregivers. Finally, nursing theories improve professional status for nurses and provide guidance and direction for research and education (Colley, 2003).