Theory of Caring Science

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

Watson incorporates three main components of caring into building the framework of the Transpersonal Caring Theory. Watson’s main component of her theory relies upon the 10 carative factors that provide not only structure and a format for the theory, but also a focus for nursing phenomena (Watson, 2013.) The first three components of the factor describe the philosophical foundation for the science of caring (Watson, 2013). The other seven are building blocks of the theory. As shown below one can exam how the caritive factors turned into the caritas process which emphasized more on caring and love.

“Watson describes nursing as a human science, with the major focus being the process of human care for individuals, families and groups. Her theory is based on a form of humanism and has its origins in metaphysics (philosophy of being and knowing)” (McCance et al., 1999, pg. 2). Knowing and understanding the nursing metaparadigm is the first step in defining the art of human caring. Nursing is defined as promotion of health, prevention of illness, and collaborative care (Taylor, 2011). However, there are a lot more vital aspects to becoming a good nurse. It all relates back to the care you will be providing for the patient. “The goal of

A nursing theory that has influenced my professional nursing practice is Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring. In this theory she addresses how nurses care for their patients. Caring is the essence of the nursing profession and is a relationship formed between the nurse and the patient. In Watson’s theory she believed that caring could assist the patient to gain control in their own health care, become educated, and in the end find health. Watson focused on the patient’s mind, body, and soul and this is the aspect of her theory that I try to use in my professional practice. As a new nurse straight out of nursing school I focused more on protocols and procedures to make sure I was doing everything right. My patients had good outcomes but I was amazed when I started thinking about the patient as a whole and not just thinking about the illness they had and how to treat it. Many times just treating the patient’s

Nursing care incorporates not only a compassionate attitude but passion for care of patients. The caring component of nursing cannot be measured, rather dissected through theory within the clarification of what nurses do. Systemically this is all supported through abundant theories and theorist. The nursing profession emphasizes on holistic care which is defined as treatment of the whole person. Within this skill is the admittance of problems that are biomedical but also opportune clarification of the well-being and health of a human that introduces added indicators of disease that are non-visualized (Powers, 2011).

Caring can mean different things to different people, however, there are a few principles that are important to all such as empathy, compassion, respect and trust. The act of caring is shown initially by our exterior presence but our actions and personality is what portrays our caring ways. Growing up in a family with morals and beliefs, has taught me to be an approachable friendly person, having strong qualities of respect and compassion for others. Knowing one 's self, the acceptance of others comes naturally and eases formation of relationships. Understanding the caring needs of others, I will establish the nurse-patient relationship. Jean Watson, and many other nursing theorist, have defined caring as the central concept of nursing. Despite the unique and personal needs of each individual patient – there are key characteristics that the profession upholds. Throughout this paper, I will talk about what caring is and how it is different in the nursing industry.

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).

Jean Watson is one of the most influential nurse theorists of the 21st century. Her development of Caring Science/Human Caring Theory have put greater importance of a patient as a whole being, and a nurse’s role in care. Through her 10 caritas process, Watson has developed ways for nurses to foster a positive, caring relationship with their patients to aid in healing and development. The Watson Caring Science Institute as well as the Watson Caring Science Center continue the development and integration of these theories into the workplace, thus allowing nurses to provide better patient-centered care.

Watson recommends that we see nursing as an art rather than as an obligation to cure and that we turn back to the remembrance of our original desire for wishing to become a nurse. The duties of nursing, she proposes, has turned us from motivation (or "body") into machine, making us lose our original purpose and turning nursing into a profession that is contrary to what it is inherently supposed to be. Nursing is supposed to be a spiritual profession involving healing as per the literal and traditional sense of the word, literally 'nursing'. To retain that focus and adherence to the meaning involves a holistic, spiritual focus on all aspects of the patient and on realizing the significance and impact of the nurse-patient dynamic. According to Watson (2001), we can do this by following the three grounding principles of her theory which are: (a) the carative factor by mindfully and calmly practicing loving kindness to the patient, (b) the transpersonal caring relationship and, (c) the caring occasion/ caring moment which is a special kind of human relationship that transcends one's own ego in caring and dedication to the needs of the others.

A comprehensive caring science would aim to achieve holism in ways of knowing, the person in their lifeworld context, the kind of holistic care that is led by the lifeworld and that can integrate ‘head, hand and heart’. (Galvin, 2010, p. 174) Caring science is so much more than just taking care of a patient. I feel like this week’s assigned article really delved deep and taught us that. I liked that you talked about the head, hand, and heart model as a holistic approach because I completely agree with you. By using this model, a nurse is going to ensure that the patient is taken care of as a whole. I am glad to see that you are learning a lot from our clinical site as well. The nurses at KU Rehab are great and they really do approach their

Educating nurses and nursing students to be prepared to care for patients as a whole, as well as educating nurses on the importance of being non-judgmental, will make building a trusting relationship with the patient leisurelier. Nurses are taught earlier in nursing school the importance of caring for a patient and keeping their environments comfortable. Students and nurses who are taught to practice Watson’s theory, gain education that is focused on caring as its center. It is not only important for the nurse to practice what they are taught but to also educate the patient.

As a future advanced practice registered nurse (APRNs) I have thus far acquired the advanced knowledge on theories and philosophies, reflective practice, ways of knowing and unknowing that will only prepare me in the future practice as I provide quality nursing care. The knowledge is critical in decision-making allowing me to collaborate effectively with a multidisciplinary team, patients, and their families to promote quality care and positive outcomes. As APRNs, in order to develop nursing theories the ability to use reflection and have an open mind to different concepts and possibilities in nursing care is crucial. It only takes a few minutes to apply Watson theory of caring to sit with a patient and hold their hand to influence the patient’s outcome and promote a healing environment. Newman’s model focuses on the individual and their interaction with the environment (Warelow, 2013).

“Caring is acknowledged as the highest form of commitment to self, to others, to society, to environment, and, at this point in human history, even to the universe (Jean Watson, 1996).” Jean Watson Philosophy and Theory of Caring 1940 - Present Jean Watson, a nursing theorists, developed the conceptual framework in her theory of caring. Her work is used as the foundation for professional nursing practice in clinics, hospitals and universities all over the world (Nursing Theories, 2012). The course of her work

Watson’s theory of caring is related to the nurse recognizing the patient and his needs as the priority, with regards to his body mind and spirit. Regardless of the setting, hospital, clinic, or community, care should be rendered to the patient with knowledge and skill while creating an interactive relationship that allows challenge and growth for both parties. It is not just the nurse completing tasks or treatments as ordered by the physician.

Introduction: Introduces the theory, purpose of the paper, and provides rationale for selecting the theory.