The purpose of this paper will be to discuss the major philosophies that have shaped the nursing profession, how epistemologies have informed nursing science, the development of nursing philosophy, and the theoretical knowledge that has advanced the nursing body of knowledge. I will discuss how this new knowledge has influenced my perspective of the nursing profession, and how this will inform my theory-guided and reflective practice as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). Furthermore, I will articulate the concepts and ideas of my personal nursing philosophy and paradigm, and the congruence to the theoretical concepts and elements of Dr. Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring (Watson, 1979).
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
A foundation built on the concept of caring offers the ethical framework necessary to improve staff and patient satisfaction levels including the overall delivery of care provided (Dudkiewicz, 2014). Watson’s Theory of Human Caring can be used to address particular problems noted with in practice as well as the manner in which care is delivered among healthcare organizations by concentrating on the concept of caring. Nursing based on a foundation of caring provides a healing environment that fosters and promotes the growth of the nurse-patient relationship which further leads to the promotion of healing (Quinn, 2009).
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
My personal philosophy aligns with that of Jean Watson Theory of Human Caring in nursing. Nursing is more than treating an illness. Jean Watson mentioned Caring Sciences involved the Humanity, Arts and Sciences. My attitude is one of caring, compassion, and service. I feel extremely satisfied when I care for others and make a difference in their lives. It is interesting to know that Jean Watson Theory of Human Caring in nursing is used by most clinical nurses and academic programs worldwide. Her Caring Theory has made a
The purpose of this paper is to analyze and summarize the philosophy of nursing and how nursing theory guides this nurse’s practice. Information used to do this paper was retrieved from the online database, Nursing and Allied Health Source and CINAHL through the SJR State Library. Our textbook, The Conceptual Foundations and the Merriam- Webster Dictionary website was also used. Some of the search phrases used were Jean Watson theory of human caring, philosophy of nursing, and Watson’s philosophy and theory of human caring in nursing on the online database. The word philosophy was also searched on the Merriam- Webster Dictionary website. There was an abundance information throughout my research on
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:
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,
When asked to develop a personal nursing philosophy caring was found to be the main component. Jean Watson’s Caring Science as Sacred Science reflects this philosophy in which caring is the predominate component needed in nursing. This paper will provided basic information on the Caring Science as Sacred Science Theory. The paper will further provide a personal example of a patient experience in which this theory shaped the care and healing of the patient. The personal experience to be shown in this paper involves a patient with complex chronic illness. The patient had been hospitalized for over a month. Patients with chronic illness and in the hospital often experience feeling powerless, scared, distant, and confined (Kay Hogan & Cleary, 2013). When these feelings persist they overcome the patient and do not allow the patient to concentrate on healing or being an active member of the healthcare team. Patients in this situation need caring and psychosocial support before moving on with medical care. However, this can often be hard for the healthcare team. When a patient has complex complications often treating these issues is all the team has time for due to patient load and institutional demands. Jean Watson (2009) recognizes this in her work Caring Science and Human Caring Theory: Transforming Personal and Professional Practices of Nursing and Health Care. Watson (2009) recognizes nurses are often torn between values of human caring
The significant ideas of the theory of human caring depend on the presumption that the substance and establishment of nursing lives in caring science
The term ‘caring’ is an inclusive theory that can be defined extensively. It is said to be “The work or practice of looking after those unable to care for themselves, especially on account of age or ill”. (“Caring”, 2015) That being said many people consider caring as one of the key components in nursing. Hildegard Peplau, who is a well known nursing theorist defines nursing to be a significant therapeutic, interpersonal process. She defines it as a human
According to the American Nurses Association, nursing is defined as “protection, promotion, and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations”. My philosophy of nursing revolves mainly on this definition and the importance to treat patient as a whole. Florence Nightingale has been my theorist of choice because her idea of healing a person as a whole and not just their physical. I have added Jean Watson nursing theorist because her believe of caring is central to nursing practice and this aligns with my beliefs.
In this paper, the author will share her views, values, and beliefs about the four main concepts of the nursing metaparadigm which includes the person, health, nursing and environment. There are many important components that encompass what nursing care is. Nursing is not only a science that focuses on a disease process but also an art form that works to heal all areas of a patient including the body, mind, and spirit.
In the Theory of Nursing as Caring, Boykin and Schoenhofer believe that all humans are caring. As nurses, we have the inherent ability to touch our patient’s lives through the care we provide for them. The theory presents nursing with the aim nurturing persons and caring for the living as well as growing in the caring for others. This theory is based on essential foundations that to be a human means to care and that that being a complete person implies that a person ought to take part in nurturing relationships as well taking care and caring for others. In fact, the fundamental premise with this theory is that all humans are caring, and the innate caring nature is what dictates that a person is human. Moreover, the theory
Kristen M. Swanson may not be as well-known as Florence Nightingale in the nursing field, but she has made great contributions with the Theory of Caring that has been used in many hospitals, even internationally, for their framework to guide patient care. Through the study of her practice, I have realized much of her practice is reflected in mine. This paper will present the basic concept of nursing known as the metaparadigm concepts of person, health, environment, and nursing as presented by Swanson, as well as provide my own philosophy of nursing, which in many ways mirrors Swanson’s.