Jean Watson Theory

Theory provides professional independence by guiding the practice, education, and research functions of the profession. The study of theory helps to develop analytical skills, challenge thinking, clarify values, and assumptions, and determine purposes for nursing practice, education, and research (Reed, Shearer, and Nicoll, 2004).
According to Reed, Shearer, & Nicoll (2004) Jean Watson presents the most current nursing theories. She is the only nursing theorist to support the concept of soul and to emphasize the spiritual dimension of human existence (p. 310). According Suliman, Welmann, Omer, and Thomas (2009) Jean Watson theory addresses caring relationships among people and the deep experiences of life itself.
Background and Major Concepts
The nurse should recognize what effects the internal and external environments have on health and illness of the patient (Watson, 2011).
• Assistance with gratification of human needs through intentional caring and assisting patient with basic needs
• Allowance for existential phenomenological spiritual forces; Jean Watson believes that the nurse have the responsibility to go beyond the care factors in dealing with one’s own life and death so that he or she can deal with the patient that is cared for.
Nurse and Patient Interaction
Transpersonal caring can be read about, but to truly understand it a person has to experience it personally, interact, and grow within this intentional experience. I worked in the intensive care unit, and it was my turn to receive the next admission. In walked a tall very handsome 34-year-old young man. He has a wife and twin daughters. He worked as a Wayne County Sheriff. He was admitted with diagnosis of cancer of the throat and was going to surgery the next day. At this point, he was ill and needed help, according to Alligood (2010) Watson views health and illness functioning simultaneously as a way to stabilize and balance a person’s life. Illness is turmoil and an interruption in a person’s life. There is a healing potential within the transpersonal caring relationship. With this the nurse can assist the patient to realize his
Caring endorses our professional identity and upholding these caring values in our daily practice helps to transcend us from a state where nursing is perceived as a just a job to that of a gratifying profession. Upholding Jean Watson’s caring theory (which is embedded within me) not only allows me to practice the art of caring, to provide compassion to ease a patient’s suffering as well as his or her family suffering, and promote his or her healing and dignity, but it will also expand my actualization. Allowing this patient to verbalize his thoughts was a way for him to find his voce as well as his own lived experience to allow him introspection and meaning (Alligood, 2010). I cried with his wife when he expired because when you care for a patient and become involved with the family it is as if they become a part of you. When they expire it is as if you have lost that personal part of yourself.
By talking with his patient I feel that I applied Jean Watson’s care factors by providing the patient and his wife respect, instilling hope by taking the time to talk over his concerns. I discussed the patient feelings and perceptions about his quality of life and management of care within the intensive care unit. I provided a trusting relationship, which enabled the patient to discuss negative feelings about his current health situation.