Jean Watson Nursing Philosophy Essay

Throughout history nurses have been described as honorable, trustworthy, compassionate and caring. In today’s ever changing world of technological advancements, scientific discoveries, increased life expectancies, patient surveys and overall moral decline in all cultures respectively, the art of caring in nursing has become increasingly more difficult to express in its genuine form. The purpose of this paper is to explore this advanced practice nurse’s definition of caring in comparison to literature’s definition of caring in nursing and how caring is demonstrated in patient care both artistically and in practice.

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

Additional components such as caring support the nurse-client relationship; a nurse who is able to truly care for Irene will develop a strong bond with her. Caring for a client is taking the time to treat them like they matter and looking past their illness and recognizing the unique individual that they are (Johnstone, 2010). Genuineness is being authentic towards a client. Irene will respond more freely and honestly to a nurse who is genuine. A nurse is genuine by maintaining meaning behind what they say or ask and by actually caring rather than running through the motions (Van Manen, 2002).

Watsons theory of caring applies to most nursing research. Almost all nursing research involves the caring model. A variety of research has been achieved with its focus on caring and nursing. Caring or not caring can have both positive and negative consequences. Research has proven that the biogentic level, the deepest level of a caring relationship, was in connection with true caring. This level of caring is related to the transpersonal caring theory. Research also shows that the level of non-caring, known as the biocidic level, leads to annoyance, frustration, and non-healing (Watson 2006).

Nurse and patient relationships are referred to therapeutic relationships, they are a person-centred approach to care (Berman Et al 2012). For a therapeutic relationship to be effective in meeting the client/patient goals the nurse needs to ‘earn the person’s trust and respect.’ Berman Et al (2012) suggests that the trust and respect of a patient can be earned through ‘sound nursing knowledge and use of effective communication.’ This is reflected in the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia’s competency standards. These national standards that are regulated and followed by all nurses, they are updated regularly to remain contemporary and

  There are many different styles in the way a presents a caring presence to their patients, such as a nurse’s personality, and mindfulness practice to the way they provide a healing environment. As a nurse the caring model that I can relate to most is Dossey Era III. I believe that health and healing is not just about the physical aspect but involves the person as a whole. Healing involves not only physical, mind, body, spirit and cultural factors; but also involves patients and family involvement in their own care. Being in the emergency department I

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

In reviewing the article Thanks to Jesse by Pamela Davies, the author clearly demonstrates the concept of caring as it applies to the nursing profession. Caring is defined as “a relationship that transcends all other human relationships, and reflects the fact that we share a greater purpose than just serving ourselves in a material universe” (Hawthorne & Yurkovich, 2005). The article clearly shows how a caring relationship between the child, Jesse, and the author, Pamela Davies, is integral factor in the healing process for Jesse. It gives the reader an understanding of how Roach’s C ‘Compassion’ and Watson’s Carative Factor ‘Developing and sustaining a helping-trusting, authentic caring relationship’ are an important aspect of the

I feel I closely identify with many of Jean Watson’s concepts. Her theory is about caring as a

A person can be an individual, family, community or all mankind. It is “the focus of nursing practice (George, 2011). Providing compassionate and patient centered care is imperative. Maintaining an efficient nurse-patient relationship is instrumental to the care of a person. A nurse theorist that she relates this too is Hildegard Peplau whose theory greatly emphasizes the importance of the nurse-patient relationship. The nurse-patient relationship starts when there is a need. Therefore, through phases, the relationship is maintained. She believes that to any person that effective communication is greatly needed so that they are aware that their care is in great hands and all will be done to ensure health is restored to the highest level possible.

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.

Jean Watson Theory of Human Caring is very significant in the nursing practice. One must always be reminded of this theory so nurses may be grounded and rekindle the mission why they are nurses in the first place: to take care of patients. This theory is also considered as a moral or ethical foundation for the nursing profession. Taking care of a patient does not only entail science but also the art on the delivery of care towards a patient.

A nurse-patient relationship is the basic requirements in all practice settings. Its usage is to manage communication between an organization and a public while maintaining boundaries in the therapeutic relationship. Based on Peplau’s interpersonal theory, communication takes place in a nurse-client relationship where therapeutic process occurs involving complex factors such as environment, attitudes, practices, and beliefs in the dominant culture (seu.edu, 2015). The actions of each person in a nurse-patient relationship is measured on the collaboration of their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Nurse’s work to attain, maintain, and restore the patient’s health until patient have fulfilled the health care needs. Patient must be guided and provided a well-respected environment until a better health and specific needs are fully considered in the relationship. In this kind of setting, nurse’s must create relationship with patients by communicating receptivity, assimilating the concepts of empathy, trust, genuineness, respect, and confidentiality into their interactions.

Nursing goes beyond caring for a patient during their illness and managing their disease process. Nursing includes adapting to a patient’s and their family’s physical, social, spiritual, environmental and psychological needs. I believe in treating the whole patient and being supportive of the family’s needs as well. Shelly & Miller (2006) asserts “while critical thinking, decision-making, and leadership skills are extremely important, the characteristics nurses need most are compassion, competence, faith, integrity and responsibility” (p. 291).

Not all patients are capable of independently identifying and articulate their care needs, so the nurse also adapts the role as an advocate. Clarity and continuity in a trusting environment enables good communication. Progressive identification of needs takes place as nurse and patient communicate with one another in the interpersonal relationship (Peplau 1988, p. 84). Being considerate to the needs and vulnerability of patients is a moral attribute, as nurses are accountable for the care they deliver.