Watson's Theory of Caring
Watson 's Theory of Caring
NUR/403
02/20/2012
Dr. Ethel Jones
Watson 's Theory of Caring
Watson’s philosophy of caring can be traced back thirty years; it started as a textbook for a nursing curriculum at the University of Colorado. It started with a question of the relationship between human caring and nursing, this was the foundation for her book The Theory Of Human Caring: Retrospective an Prospective (1997), Nursing: Human Science and Human Care (1988), Caring Science as Sacred Science (2005), and the current book Nursing: The Philosophy and Science of Caring (2008). According to Watson caring is the “ethical and moral idea of nursing that has interpersonal and humanistic qualities.” She defines caring science as “an evolving philosophical-ethical-epistemic field of study grounded in the discipline of nursing and informed by related fields” (Watson 2008). Watson’s work was meant to bring meaning to nursing as an emerging discipline and health profession that has a mission with values, ethics and knowledge. The core of nursing, according to Watson is the aspects that promote the healing process and relationships with patients. Using the caring theory, interventions that are aimed at curing are reframed as sacred acts that are conducted in a caring fashion and completed in a way that honors the person as an embodied spirit. She describes caring and curing as complementary and compatible in nursing (Watson 2005). Watson embraces mind, soul, the emergence of Yin, holism, energy, healing artistry, and evolution along with proven theory and the physical material world of nursing practice. She also addresses beauty, truth, goodness, nurturing, suffering, pain, hope, compassion, peace, and the sacred feminine.
According to Watson a person possesses three spheres; mind, body, and soul which are influenced by the concept of self. The self is ones identity that is the center of the whole body, thoughts, sensations, desires, memories, and life history. She
NUR/403
02/20/2012
Dr. Ethel Jones
Watson 's Theory of Caring
Watson’s philosophy of caring can be traced back thirty years; it started as a textbook for a nursing curriculum at the University of Colorado. It started with a question of the relationship between human caring and nursing, this was the foundation for her book The Theory Of Human Caring: Retrospective an Prospective (1997), Nursing: Human Science and Human Care (1988), Caring Science as Sacred Science (2005), and the current book Nursing: The Philosophy and Science of Caring (2008). According to Watson caring is the “ethical and moral idea of nursing that has interpersonal and humanistic qualities.” She defines caring science as “an evolving philosophical-ethical-epistemic field of study grounded in the discipline of nursing and informed by related fields” (Watson 2008). Watson’s work was meant to bring meaning to nursing as an emerging discipline and health profession that has a mission with values, ethics and knowledge. The core of nursing, according to Watson is the aspects that promote the healing process and relationships with patients. Using the caring theory, interventions that are aimed at curing are reframed as sacred acts that are conducted in a caring fashion and completed in a way that honors the person as an embodied spirit. She describes caring and curing as complementary and compatible in nursing (Watson 2005). Watson embraces mind, soul, the emergence of Yin, holism, energy, healing artistry, and evolution along with proven theory and the physical material world of nursing practice. She also addresses beauty, truth, goodness, nurturing, suffering, pain, hope, compassion, peace, and the sacred feminine.
According to Watson a person possesses three spheres; mind, body, and soul which are influenced by the concept of self. The self is ones identity that is the center of the whole body, thoughts, sensations, desires, memories, and life history. She
References: Alligood, M.R. (2010). Nursing theory: Utilization & application (4th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier. Rafael, A. (2000). Watson’s philosophy, science, and theory fo human caring as a conceptual framework for guiding community health nursing practice. Advances in Nursing Science, 23(2), 34-49. Watson, J. (1989). Watson’s philosophy and theory of human caring in nursing. Conceptual models for nursing practice (3rd ed., pp. 219-236). Norwalk, CT: Appleton & Lange. Watson, J. (1998). A meta-reflection on reflective practice and caring theory. Transforming nursing through reflective practice (pp. 214-220). London: Blackwell Science. Watson, J. (2008). The Philosophy and Science of Caring. Boulder, Colorado: University Press.