Jean Watson’s Caring Theory
The continuous changes in the delivery of health care services have increased responsibilities of nurses and their workloads. Therefore, nurses must try to meet the various needs of their patients who usually demand for qualitative healthcare services. Essentially, nursing is a very noble profession and most nurses have contributes their dedication and commitment to their patients, giving them, support, love and comfort. However, with the myriad challenges within the healthcare system the role of a nurse as caring and loving medical personnel is waning. Nurses should work towards safeguarding their responsibility of caring for patients. Jean Watson’s theory of caring can therefore provide a very insightful hindsight towards achieving this particular goal.
Watsons caring theory poses a challenge to the nurses and it allows them to reflect on the traditional practices and principles of their profession. In addition, it gives out a clear picture of the model of a perfect and ideal nurse (Watson, 2006). Caring entails the application of professional characteristics coupled with the continuous interrogation of humanistic ideals. Upholding high quality services in our day-to-day practices and enables a nursing profession to stand out from other professions, that is, nursing becomes a very satisfying profession. Watson’s caring theory does not only allow a nurse to perform the art of caring, but it also emphasizes to show compassion and kindness to relieve the patients and their families from suffering and to facilitate healing and the development of self-esteem (Watson, 2006). It also bolsters a nurse’s self-actualization. Watson’s theory is among the few nursing theories that take note of both the caregivers and those who are being cared for (Watson, 2006). The overall promotions and strict application of these nursing ideals are not only important in the nurse’s job but they also play a very crucial role in assigning meaning to the profession.
Essentially, Dr. Watson has been a nursing intellectual in the United States from the year 1962.
She pursued an undergraduate degree in nursing and psychology from Colorado University ("Faculty directory," 2008). Later she perused her master’s in psychiatric-mental health nursing. She further earned a Ph.D. educational psychology and counseling. Cyrrently she is a professor at the Colorado University (Watson, 2006). She is also the chair of the Murchinson-Scoville in Caring Science, Nursing School and is the initiator of the Human Caring Center in Colorado ("Faculty directory," 2008). She has received numerous acknowledgements both from the national and international level including honorary doctoral degrees. She has produced numerous works detailing her philosophy elaborating her theory. Nurses all over the globe are currently studying most of her works.
According to Watson, the main underpinnings of her theory include Carative Factors, Transpersonal Caring Relationship and Caring Occasion/Caring Moment.
Carative Factors
This was developed in the year 1979, but has undergone several revisions as in the year 1985 and 1988. Watson (2006) perceives the carative factors as a channel for the profession of nursing. She chose the phrase carative to distinguish it from the usual curative factors in medicine. Her carative factors endeavor to reflect the human scope of nursing’s job and the personal experiences of various individuals served by the nurses. The factors are composed of ten basic tenets, which are highlighted below (George & Julia, 2008).
1. Values of humanism-altruism organization
2. Faith- Hope
3. Personal and others sensitivity
4. Help-Trust individual care relationship
5. Showing both positive feelings and negative feelings
6. Artistic method of solving problem of caring
7. Transpersonal learning process
8. Supportive-Protective environment
9. Human need assistance
10. Phenomenological-spiritual forces relating to human existence
As she progressed to develop her theory, she incorporated the idea of clinical caritas processes that have therefore presently replaced the carative factors. Watson described that the term caritas comes from a Greek lexis, which means to appreciate and relish (George & Julia, 2008). They include:
1. Love, kind and equability practice in the care framework consciousness
2. Presence authenticity, in-depth belief structure enablement, sustainment, and caregiver and care receiver subjective life world
3. Spiritual and transpersonal self-promotion, self-ego extension and compassionate and sensitive openness to others
4. Helping-trusting development and sustainment, and caring relationship authentication
5. Presence, support, positive-negative feeling expression for caregiver and care receiver deeper spiritual connection
6. Caring- healing artistic practices through self-creativity and extra process of caring process knowing
7. Teaching- learning authentic practices for unity attention within contextual reference
8. All level healing and subtle environment (physical/non physical) creation for potentiating wholesomeness, self-esteem, consciousness, energy and peace.
9. Basic needs assistance, conscious care, wholes mess administration of essentials of and attention to embodied spirit and spiritual emergence evolvement (Wills and McEwen, 2008).
10. Spiritual-mysterious openness and attention, personal life-death dimensional existence and care of the soul of both care giver and receiver.
Transpersonal Caring Relationship
Watson believed that this kind of relationship show the kind of care to human that is most compassionate. It depends on the following:
1. Commitment of the nurse moral concerning shelter and improvement of human dignity and self-esteem
2. Consciousness of the nurse in caring as communicated to conserve and respect the embodied spirit, as a result, not tumbling the individual to the ethical status of an entity.
3. Consciousness of the nurse caring and connection and equipped with the ability heal because the ongoing perception, intentional connection and experience (Watson 2006).
The relationship describes the way nurses can recognize things that have past, perform an objective assessment and expression of attention to the persons own and in-depth understanding that concerns their own health care state. The nurse’s act of caring behavior becomes necessary for the link and understanding of the perspectives of other people. This kind of an approach places of interest on the exclusiveness of both the person that is receiving care and the nurse himself or herself. It also supports the dependency of the two persons, which is primary to the relationship. Subsequently, the person giving care and the one receiving, are both connected in common search for importance and wholeness, and somewhat for the spiritual understanding of suffering. The word “transpersonal” has a meaning that connotes that an individual is past his/her own ego and current and presents, as it gives way to one to achieve a deeper spiritual connection for the sake of promoting the comfort and the healing of the client. Lastly, the objective of a transpersonal caring relationship stands with protecting, giving enhancement, and preserving the person’s self-esteem, kindness, totality, and inner accord.
Caring Occasion/Caring Moment
According to Watson (2006), a caring occasion is that considered moment in terms of time and physical place when the nurse and somebody else act together in a manner that an occasion is dedicated for human caring. The two, with their distinctive phenomenal areas of concerns, have the capability of coming together. For Watson this phenomenal field stands out to the person’s point and is tantamount to saying that an individual consists of feelings, thought, beliefs environmental consideration bodily sensations, thoughts, goals, understanding of one’s perception. All these have that basis of the person history and the perceived future. Further, the nurse is expected to be aware of and real perception of existence in the care of the patients. Furthermore, it is possible to find that the care provider and the caregiver are being influenced with the situation that is in the relationship. This can intern influence part of the life history. When the caring practice changes to transpersonal, it occasions the existence of spirits both for the care giver and the patient. This precipitates a moment to stretch the limits that existed for openness, which provides an opportunity to extend those human capabilities (Wills & McEwen, 2008).
Nursing and Watson’s Theory
She gives a definition of nursing as a human science that involves both a person and human health (Wills & McEwen, 2008). According to her, she views health in terms of illnesses encounters encountered by the trained during the personal, esthetic, scientific and moral human care interaction. In addition, she underlines that nursing involve science and art. However, artistic ability, in conjunction with creativity, is widely perceived as contrasting with an institution’s set policies and protocols. Watson posits that an artist is part of nurse’s role and definitely part of patients care and including their families. In 1999, she tried to put to test the artistic area of nursing as rising transpersonal and caring-healing methods. It corresponds to the aspect of providing measures of comfort that assist a client to be free from pain alleviate stress and improving well-being and promotes healing (Wills and McEwen, 2008).
Just as other nursing scholars and researchers, she acknowledges the essentiality of nursing care. She added that the act of caring boosts a nurses morale and underlines the aspect of conserving the dignity of people. She asserts that this can be achieved through helping individuals to understand meaning in suffering with the aim of making the person regain his or her harmony (Watson, 2006). Her current definition shows caring as getting involved in a special association with one’ self, others and the whole environment (Wills & McEwen, 2008). This association needs both intention and serious commitment to individuals care (Wills & McEwen, 2008). The nurse actually has to be completely aware or conscious and involved in order link and initiate a relationship with the individuals he/she is caring for (Watson, 2006).
Reasons for Selecting Watson’s Theory
I have chosen this theory because of its underlying strengths. One on those strengths is that apart from offering assistance in provision of quality and high standard of care that a client is expected to receive in a health care facility , it avails a soul satisfying type of care which elaborate the reasons why several individuals resort to joining the profession decides to join the profession.
Another appraised part of this theory that guaranteed its choosing is that each nurse has to be a very active co participant in the client effort to realization of self-actualization. It assists a client to aim at the peak of his or her self-esteem despite that challenges that they go through in their health states. This is essential because the science of care is transcending from biophysical towards intrapersonal.
Watson theory gives a client a position in his normal environment. It places the client in his own culture, his own family and his own community. Lastly, reason is that this theory put more focus on practice and not only technology.
Areas where Watson’s Theory has been used
Watson’s theory has been used in various aspects both in practical, learning and also in research work. Watson’s theory was selected for use in a Hospital called Saint Joseph (Watson, 2006). The hospital is located in Orange, California state. It is the framework basis of nursing practice in the hospital. The theory of Watson is also the recommended because it acts as a guide in patient care for hypertensive clients (Watson 2006). This was after a study of the theory relation with quality of the life it contributes to hypertensive clients (Timber, 2009). ANNA has approved the theory as it can be used to no more about the dimension of polycystic kidney disease in adults (Watson, 2006).
Clinical Application
This is an example of application of Watson theory in a nursing situation.
(The numbers in the brackets in this section means the references to the numbers of clinical caritas processes (CCP) listed above)
Date: January 5th;
Client: Mr. Yon,
He is a 58-year-old Caucasian who it to be taken for her fifth amputation. His feet and legs are destroyed by gangrene. Consequently, he will have his right leg amputated on his since the previous amputation healed improperly. I am very familiar with him quit well because I had known him in his previous hospitalizations (CCP4).
I have always liked and appreciated this client (CCP1); essentially, I connected with him as soon as he was admitted into the hospital (CCP4). He told me about his life and the challenges he has weathered. This has enabled me to understand him more beyond regarding him as just “another patient”
I receive him on the day he is being admitted to the unit. He gives me a faint smile as we glanced at one another. (At this very instant, a caring occasion has begun to take place.) I inquire about how he is fairing on and also inform him that in after our previous meeting that I have found some more creative means that would help him remember to comply with his prescriptions .(CCP6, CCP7). (Following Watson theory, the nurse’s creativity here contributes to making act of nursing an art.)He agreed to engage with me later and he inquired about my welfare and wellbeing. Mr. Smith regards me as his nurse and as person; he is well informed about not. He is aware of my commitment to taking good care of him through his suffering (CCP4).
Judging from his faint smile, I could sense his depression. This may be occasioned by the painful fact that his leg has to be further amputated. Still, I can’t make such postulation and I will have to talk about with him his perceptions and thoughts about to his lived understanding (CCP3, CCP5, and CCP 10). As I helped him to settle around in his room, I make up the surroundings for him to relax. (CCP8). Right away, I utilize that time to inquire more on how he feels, the priorities he has pertaining to his care and even hospitalization and generally about him. (CCP5, CCP10). He tells me that he would like to be present at home for an anniversary since one of his grandsons would be present. Therefore, we will plan about his care following his priorities.
While I assist him resolve in his bed, he request for the bedpan (CCP9). As I put in the bedpan carefully under him, he says, “Look, I can’t even cope up by myself any longer! I feel that I am just piece of meat lying in this bed! Is it possible that this surgery work this time round or it is just a waste of both time and money? I am disturbed by his remark and ask him to elucidate (CCP5). He tells me how he used to be respected before he loses his legs. I am speechless! [It is important to realize the usefulness of Watson’s caring values according to respecting and upholding human dignity. Noticing the way other people react with him disturbs him understand more than before that Mr. Smith and the environment he is in are interrelated (CCP8, CCP10)]. He goes on to say that if I could have known him how he was before losing his legs, when he used to work and walk, the I would have realized that actually his life has change a great deal. Then I ask him how this he state made him change (CCP5, CCP9, and CCP 10). He tells me that nowadays he no longer has that social importance and recognition he used to have before. (Example of this situation it is important to see beyond the physical body of somebody and to focus on the soul and mind.)
I sensed that he needs to be alone. I therefore told him that I would visit him later. I slowly drew the curtains to ensure his privacy and comfort (CCP8). He thanks me for helping him (CCP4). As I leave him, I feel helpless towards the patient. I can’t tell what I may do or a word to tell him (Watson reminds nurses that as one becomes caring he too can become vulnerable.) I desire to assist him to maintain a some peace of mind in his life (CCP9).To promote hope in clients especially when their state is somber can be overwhelming (CCP2). However, because I believe that inspiring hope is very important in restoring harmony in him, I have to be creative enough (CCP6). To care for him is very important to me as through it I achieve my motivation, which improves the way I conceptualize myself in my profession
References
George, B. Julia, M. (2008). Nursing Theories- The Base for Professional Nursing Practice (4th Ed). Norwalk: Appleton & Lange Press.
Timber BK. (2009). Fundamental Skills and Concepts in Patient Care (8th Ed). New
York: Russell Sage Publications.
University of Colorado (2008). Nursing College. Faculty Directory. Retrieved November 22, 2010 from University of Colorado Guide to Library Research web site http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/nursing
Watson, J. (2006). Nursing: Human Science and Human care. A Theory of Nursing. New
York: National League for Nursing.
Wills, M. & McEwen M. (2008). Theoretical Basis for Nursing Philadelphia (2nd Ed). U.S.A: Lippincott Williams& Wilkins Press.
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