Jean Watson: Caring Science As Sacred Science

Jean Watson: Caring Science as Sacred Science

Biography
• Born in West Virginia in the 1940’s
• Graduated from the Lewis Gale School of Nursing in Roanoke, Virginia in 1961
• BS degree University of Colorado at Boulder in 1964
• MS degree in psychiatric and mental health nursing in 1966
• Ph.D. in educational psychology and counselling in 1973
• Distinguished Professor of Nursing and holds an endowed Chair in Caring Science at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
• Founder of the original Center for Human Caring in Colorado
• Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing
• Served as Dean of Nursing at the University Health Sciences Center
• Past President of the National League for Nursing
• Six Honorary Doctoral Degrees
Caring responses accept person not only as he or she is now but as what he or she may become
 The potential of a person is as important as the person in their current state of being
5. A caring environment is one that offers the development of potential while allowing the person to choose the best action for himself or herself at a given point in time
 People feel more cared for when they are empowered to make their own choices about health care
6. Caring is more “healthogenic” than is curing. A science of caring is complementary to the science of curing
 Caring and curing needs to coexist for the individual to achieve their maximum health potential
7. The practice of caring is central to nursing
 Caring is at the center of nursing practice
 Nurses must engage in caring in order to be effective at improving the health and wellness of their patients

Human Caring Theory
• Completely codified in 1979, revised in 1985 and broadened more recently
• Newest of nursing’s grand theories
• Only theory that incorporates spiritual dimension of nursing at the time it was
The promotion of interpersonal teaching-learning
 Separates caring from curing. This factor is more on nurses caring for the patient
 Understand the patient’s perception of the situation to prepare a cognitive plan
 Allows the patient to be informed and shifts the responsibility for wellness and health to the patient
 Enables the patient to provide self-care, determine personal needs, and provide opportunities for their personal growth
Clinical caritas: engaging in genuine teaching-learning experience that attends to unity of being and meaning, attempting to stay within others’ frames of reference

8. The provision for a supportive, protective and/or corrective mental, physical, socio-cultural and spiritual environment
 Divided into external and internal variables, which the nurse manipulates in order to provide support and protection for the patient’s mental and physical well-being
 External variables – includes comfort, privacy, safety, and clean, aesthetic surroundings
 Internal variables – includes mental and spiritual well-being and socio-cultural beliefs of the individual
Clinical caritas: creating healing environment at all levels (physical as well as non-physical), subtle environment of energy and consciousness, whereby wholeness, beauty, comfort, dignity, and peace are