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Marilyn Ray and Jean Watson's Theories Compared Essay

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Marilyn Ray and Jean Watson’s Caring Theories Compared Winifred Hernandez National American University Abstract How is caring defined? In nursing, caring is an essential part of our profession. It is the foundation and initial approach used in our daily practice. There are many belief systems in which caring is examined. The two theories discussed in this paper are Marilyn Anne Ray’s Theory of Bureaucratic Caring and Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring. The Theory of Bureaucratic Caring was generated in a complex organization, while The Theory of Human caring defines caring in more of a scientific way. The definition of caring for each have some similar characteristics, but these two theorist methodologies are quite different. …show more content…

It addresses nurse’s moral obligations to others (Marriner-Tomey, & Raile, 2006). This theory adopts the nature of nursing as caring, guided by spiritual and ethical caring in relationship to legal, economic, technological and other factors empowering nurses to think more holistically and build their nursing care upon this. The “soul of nursing” is to seek the good of self and others through compassionate caring. Nurses who have strong sense of self and caring provide holistic patient care are more grounded in caring values (Turkel & Ray, 2004). According to Ray, the relative elements of nursing practice generally occur within the organization that functions on bureaucratic or systematic principles. These elements or characteristics are listed in the table below: 1. A fixed division of labor 2. A hierarchy of offices 3. A set of general rules that govern performances 4. A separation of the personal from the official 5. A selection of personnel on the basis of technical qualifications 6. Equal treatment of all employees or standards of fairness 7. Employment viewed as a career by participants 8. Protection of dismissal by tenure (p. 478, Parker & Smith) In administration, nurse leaders have the moral responsibility to facilitate self-care renewal and healing in the organized culture to foster caring and trusting relationships (Turkel & Ray, 2004). This involves having the ability of their nursing

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