Jean Watson's Theory of Caring
Jean Watson’s Theory of Caring
Aaron Greer RN
Nur 403
June-12-2011
Karen Benjamin RN, MSN Jean Watson’s Theory of Caring In this paper the subjects to explore are the background and major concepts of Jean Watson’s theory of caring. Major theory assumptions related to person, health, nursing, and environment will also be discussed as they apply to a nurse patient interaction. Examples of Watson’s carative factors used in the transpersonal relationship of this nurse patient interaction will be highlighted. Finally, personal reflections from the caring moment will be included. The reflections will highlight the things learned from the interaction by the nurse and how the caring is perceived by the patient or family members involved.
Background and Major Concepts of Watson’s Theory Jean Watson’s theory of human caring has been evolving over the last 30 years into what it is today. The major components of Watson’s theory are the carative factors, the transpersonal caring relationship, and the caring occasion/caring moment (Cara, 2003). According to Alligood (2010), Watson had the desire to bring meaning and focus to the emerging discipline of nursing as a distinct health profession with unique values, knowledge, practices, ethics, and mission. She thought that caring was central to nursing and focused her attention on ways to show that caring promotes growth and good health and can be used by all health care professionals. Watson sought to find a common meaning for the discipline of nursing that applied to all work settings (Sitzman, 2007).
Early in her work Jean Watson noted 10 carative factors that can be identified and serve as a guide to practicing nursing and these eventually evolved into the 10 clinical caring caritas processes. The caring caritas processes are as follows: 1) Practice of loving kindness and equanimity within context of caring consciousness. 2) Being authentically present, and enabling and sustaining the deep belief system and
Aaron Greer RN
Nur 403
June-12-2011
Karen Benjamin RN, MSN Jean Watson’s Theory of Caring In this paper the subjects to explore are the background and major concepts of Jean Watson’s theory of caring. Major theory assumptions related to person, health, nursing, and environment will also be discussed as they apply to a nurse patient interaction. Examples of Watson’s carative factors used in the transpersonal relationship of this nurse patient interaction will be highlighted. Finally, personal reflections from the caring moment will be included. The reflections will highlight the things learned from the interaction by the nurse and how the caring is perceived by the patient or family members involved.
Background and Major Concepts of Watson’s Theory Jean Watson’s theory of human caring has been evolving over the last 30 years into what it is today. The major components of Watson’s theory are the carative factors, the transpersonal caring relationship, and the caring occasion/caring moment (Cara, 2003). According to Alligood (2010), Watson had the desire to bring meaning and focus to the emerging discipline of nursing as a distinct health profession with unique values, knowledge, practices, ethics, and mission. She thought that caring was central to nursing and focused her attention on ways to show that caring promotes growth and good health and can be used by all health care professionals. Watson sought to find a common meaning for the discipline of nursing that applied to all work settings (Sitzman, 2007).
Early in her work Jean Watson noted 10 carative factors that can be identified and serve as a guide to practicing nursing and these eventually evolved into the 10 clinical caring caritas processes. The caring caritas processes are as follows: 1) Practice of loving kindness and equanimity within context of caring consciousness. 2) Being authentically present, and enabling and sustaining the deep belief system and
References: Alligood, M. R. (2010). Nursing theory: Utilization & application (4th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier Cara, C. (2003). A pragmatic view of Jean Watson’s caring theory. International Journal for Human Caring, 7(3), 51-61. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Rafael, A. (2000). Watson’s philosophy, science, and theory of human caring as a conceptual framework for guiding community health nursing practice. Advances in Nursing Science, 23(2), 34-49. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Sitzman, K. (2007). “Teaching-learning professional caring based on Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring.” International Journal for Human Caring, 11(4), 8-16. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.