Watson’s Theory of Caring Essay
Watson’s Theory of Caring Essay
Jean Watson’s Theory of Caring
Since its establishment as a profession more than a century ago, Nursing has been a source for numerous debates related to its course, methods and development of nursing knowledge. Many nursing definitions and theories have evolved over time. Furthermore it is in a constant process of being redefined.Watson’s Theory of Caring Essay
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The purpose of this paper is an overview of Jean Watson’s Theory of Caring. This theory can be taken into account as one of the most philosophicaly complicated of existent nursing theories. The Theory of Human Caring, which also has been reffered to as the Theory of Transpersonal Caring, is middle – range explanatory theory. (Fawccett, 2000) The central point of which is on the human component of caring…show more content…
She is the first nursing theorist to support the idea of soul and to accentuate the spiritual dimension of human existence. Watson describes nursing as an art and a human science with the major focus being the process of a human care for individuals, families and groups. According to her beliefs, body, mind and soul are distinquished from each other. Nevertheless, Watson also states that harmony is required among the three to be the highest form of health and that it is the nursing goal to help people to reach this equanimity. This goal can be accomplished through transpersonal relationship. Within the Theory of Human Caring, during transpersonal caring moment, the nurse and the patient gain entry into the lived knowledge of each other. In order for transpersonal contact to occur both the caregiver and the one being cared for should experience a process of being and becoming, both are influenced by the nature of transaction. (Watson, 1985) Watson defines human caring as a moral ideal, that the nurse should carry during every transaction. According to her theory, that ideal will assure a certain needed behaviour at the time of the caring occasion. Another concepts in Watson’s theory are person, health, illness and environment. Watson defines person not only as a spiritual being, but also as a material physical being that is also a part of nature and the physical world. “A person is experiencing and perceiving Watson’s Theory of Caring Essay
Since its establishment as a profession more than a century ago, Nursing has been a source for numerous debates related to its course, methods and development of nursing knowledge. Many nursing definitions and theories have evolved over time. Furthermore it is in a constant process of been redefined. The purpose of this paper is an overview of Jean Watsons Theory of Caring. This theory can be taken into account as one of the most philosophicaly complicated of existent nursing theories.
Dr. Jean Watson, a registered nurse with a doctorate in philosophy, believed that nursing was more than just a health profession, but rather that through nursing, you can actually affect, influence or even change both a patient’s and a nurse’s life for the better. She theorized that this could be accomplished if an individual was cared for as a whole person “in body, mind and spirit”, taking into consideration their environment, feelings, culture and relationships, rather than just focusing on their illness. This is why she developed a unique set of values and practices that when implemented in nursing, helped patients with the healing process, whether it was spiritual, emotional or physical and promoted growth. This theory became known as the Theory of Human Caring and focuses on three major elements a) caritative factors, b) the transpersonal caring relationship and c) the caring occasion /caring moment.Watson’s Theory of Caring Essay
The caritative factors consist of a set of 10 modalities which are the core foundations and the providers of a structural guide for the nursing practice of caring. The general main concepts of these are; the development of caring values trough family and life experience, the use of faith-hope as a means in providing a sense of well being and aid in the curative process, the need of becoming sensitive toward the feelings of others and one’s self, using communication and empathy to establish a helping-trust relationship, promoting the expression of both positive and negative feelings, making decisions using the scientific problem-solving method, focusing on the learning process as much as the teaching process, manipulating the environment to provide support, comfort, safety Watson’s Theory of Caring Essay
…e many ways nurses today can integrate Watson theory in their everyday practice, for example, by being always open and receptive to patients needs, always communicating with the patients and listening to their concerns, demonstrating sensitivity to their patient’s feelings, always being positive and encouraging, devoting time and attention to patients and increasing their knowledge by constantly continuing their education. In today’s fast-paced health care settings, questions may arise whether it is posible for nurses to actually implement Watson’s caring theory into their practice, but the benefits that can clearly be obtained by practicing the theory of Humans Caring, overweigh any of today’s challenges and help nurses to realize the unique and important role they play in people’s lives.
Jean Watson’s Care of Nursing Care for more than a century ago, the nursing care theory became a professional career, and nursing care has become a source of much debate about its curriculum, method and its development of nursing knowledge. Many care definitions and theories have evolved over time. In addition, this is the constant redefinition process. The purpose of this article is to outline Jean Watson’s care theory. This theory can be regarded as one of the most philosophically complicated factors among existing nursing theories.Watson’s Theory of Caring Essay
Compassion is the main concept of Jean Watson’s theory of human care. Watson describes love as a moral and moral ideal of care with personal and human qualities. Care is about complicated concepts of holistology, sympathy, knowledge of critical thinking, skills, and expertise. According to Watson (2009), “Maintaining human dignity through human care, human relationships and honesty, after all, is a measure of evaluating the experience that patients have frequently taken the treatment. “(P.471)
Jean Watson In the 1980s, Jean Watson developed a theory of human care focusing on the art and science of human care. According to Watson (1985, page 33), “care” is the essence of care, the most important and unified focus of nursing practice. This theory provides a new approach to the conceptualization and maximization of human-human transactions performed daily in nursing practice. . Watson’s theory is influenced by the oriental philosophy and is based on metaphysics, mental existentialism, and phenomenological orientation (Fawcett, 1993, p. 220). These effects link Watson ‘s theory to the work of early theorists like Travelbee, Paterson and Zderad.Watson’s Theory of Caring Essay
The moment of nursing care Brittany Seawright NUR / 403 June 18, 2012 The moment of care of Stephanie Merck Human care theory of Jean Watson was developed in 1979 (Cherner, 2007). Watson’s care theory was developed to focus on the meaning and focus on care as a diverse medical professional (Cherner, 2007). Watson believes that care will help patients heal and survive (Cherner, 2007). She believes that patients should be treated as a whole to promote health. Watson’s theory changed the way to care for nurses … to define what makes the community a reality? In order to better solve this problem it may be useful to analyze specific encounters between individuals and their communities. For example, let’s take a look at the famous football game between Mexico and the USA in the summer of 1996. Even if this game is held in Los Angeles, the vast majority of fans are attracting the attention of many media to support the Mexican team. American team members,Watson’s Theory of Caring Essay
Jean Watson’s Theory of Caring
Dr. Jean Watson developed a theory of human caring that has become essential in nursing. Caring is at the core of nursing and is vital in providing positive patient outcomes. Watson’s theory of caring can be applied to patient situation and his or her environment. She based her theory upon human caring relationships and experiences of human life. She acknowledges a caring relationship and a caring environment preserve human dignity, wholeness, and integrity and to restore the person’s harmony it is the nurse’s responsibility to assist an individual to establish meaning in illness and suffering (Cara, 2003). Nurses have a responsibility to evaluate the patient’s
The Theory of Human Caring, which also has been reffered to as the Theory of Transpersonal Caring, is middle range explanatory theory. (Fawccett, 2000) The central point of which is on the human component of caring and actual encounter between the client and the caregiver. Jean Watson has stated that her work was motivated by her search of a new meaning to the world of nursing and patient care. I felt a dissonnance between nursings (meta) paradigm of caring-healing and health, and mediciness (meta) paradigm of diagnosis and treatment, and concentration on disease and pathology.Watson’s Theory of Caring Essay
Watson, 1997,p. 49) Jean Watsons theory was first published in 1979. Later Watson explained that this work was an attempt to solve some conceptual and empirical problems, with no intention to create a theory. This theory was expanded and formalized in her next book in 1985. Since than Watson continued to refine her ideas through various publications. At his time, the major conceptual elements of the theory are ten Clinical Caritas Processes (originally Carative factors), Transpersonal Caring Relationship, Caring Moment/Occasion and Caring Consciousness.
According to Watsons theory, the human care process is performed through a Transpersonal Caring Relationship guided by the Carative factors, which are based on humanistic altruistic value system. The Theory of Human Caring was initialy based on data about variety of aspects of caring, collected through open ended quistionnaire. The purpose of this research was to evaluate different points of view, expressed by both the clients and registered nurses. In addition to this data, Watsons theory uses broadly recognized work from other disciplines.Watson’s Theory of Caring Essay
Specific philosophers cited by Watson, as sources are Rogers, Whitehead, Gadow, Yalom etc. Furthermore, she also recognises the contribution of the eastern philosophy in her work. According toWatson (1985), her philosophical orientation is existential phemenological, spiritual and methaphysical. She is the first nursing theorist to support the idea of soul and to accentuate the spiritual dimension of human existence. Watson describes nursing as an art and a human science with the major focus being the process of a human care for individuals, families and groups.
According to her beliefs, body, mind and soul are distinquished from each other. Nevertheless, Watson also states that harmony is required among the three to be the highest form of health and that it is the nursing goal to help people to reach this equanimity. This goal can be accomplished through transpersonal relationship. Within the Theory of Human Caring, during transpersonal caring moment, the nurse and the patient gain entry into the lived knowledge of each other.Watson’s Theory of Caring Essay
In order for transpersonal contact to occur both the caregiver and the one being cared for should experience a process of being and becoming, both are influenced by the nature of transaction. (Watson, 1985) Watson defines human caring as a moral ideal, that the nurse should carry during every transaction. According to her theory, that ideal will assure a certain needed behaviour at the time of the caring occasion. Another concepts in Watsons theory are person, health, illness and environment.
Watson defines person not only as a spiritual being, but also as a material physical being that is also a part of nature and the physical world. A person is experiencing and perceiving physiological individual that is able to find meaning and harmony in existence (Watson, 1979, p. 55). Watson beliefs that that the person is not limited by time and space and able to control his physical world. Consequently she refers to environment as the universal or cosmic level of existence and perceives person and environment as a field of connectedness.Watson’s Theory of Caring Essay
Watson, 1985) Furthermore, Watson (1985) defined a connection between health and illness. As it was stated previously, health, according to the Theory of Human Caring is unity and harmony within the mind, body and soul. Moreover, health is also associated with the degree of congruence between the experienced and perceived self. Consequently illness is a disharmony within a persons mind, body and soul, which can lead to disease. Thus, nursing as a discipline has a role of helping a person to find meaning in illness and existence in general.
According to Jean Watson, everything in the universe is connected. Humans cannot be separated from self, other, nature and the larger univers and should be treated as a whole. Watson (1997) is concerned that caring values of nursing and nurses have been submerged within contemporary medical systems, which are dominated by economics. She beliefs that nurses must continuosly question and be open to new possibilities, as well as form and reconsider ancient and new knowledge. There is a well – known gap between theory and practice in nursing.
Encorporating Watsons theory into practice requires an exclusive moral and spiritual pledge from a nurse towards herself and the patient. This writing process brings me to a question. Is every nurse capable to reach this level of commitment? Watson has stated in her publications that her theory framework is difficult to study concretely. However, a practice methology for the application of the theory in practise, has been extracted from Watsons publications. Since than, the number of published reports of the theory has grown.Watson’s Theory of Caring Essay
One of the concepts that received a wide coverage as a research issue in the several past years is caregiver. In 1995 Sandra Weeks made an attempt to investigate future family caregivers points of view regarding their needs. Watsons theory of Human Caring was used as a theoretical framework for this research, while Matthi Questionnaire was used as an assessable tool. The Questionnaire has provided a list of 45 tasks, devided to a several categories, with the major focus on assisting disabled adult and maintaining caregiver and family well being.
This article concentrates on two major ideas of Watsons theory caring as an obstract concept and caring moment as a measurable one. As a hypothesis to this study, Weeks defined a connection between nurses perception of caregivers needs and caring moment, based on the Theory of Human Caring. Caring parallels perceivingPerceiving can lead to an actual caring occasion when the prospective family caregivers educational wants are recognized and met by the nurse. (p. 257) The results of this research have shown that family members of newly disabled adults are faced with uncertainty and burdened with mixed feelings.Watson’s Theory of Caring Essay
This paper examines Jean Watson’s theory of care and its application in the nursing practice environment. This topic will be examined in the following manner. First, by providing a definition of and discussion about Watson’s theory. Secondly, discussing the importance of a supportive care setting for patients. Third, by reviewing examples of Watson’s theory in the care setting. Finally, this paper will look at the implications for nursing education. The search terms used for this paper were as follows: ‘Jean Watson’; ‘CARITAS’; ‘theory of care patient setting’; and, ‘nursing practice Jean Watson’.
Definition: Watson’s Theory of Care
Jean Watson is a nursing theorist who formulated the theory of human caring and the ‘caritas’ processes in support of this theory. Watson’s background is in nursing and psychology. Through her practice, she observed the effect of authentic caring on patients and the resultant health outcomes. She has published many works on the “…philosophy and theory of human caring and the art and science of caring in nursing” (Watson Caring Science, 2017). Watson’s Theory of Caring Essay Watson’s theories are taught in nursing schools around the world. Watson (2006) notes the absence or separation of caring from the care environment. “Caring and economics, and caring and administrative practices, are often considered in conflict with each other” (Watson, 2006, 48). In fact, Watson makes the point that the “…basic consid- erations of what it means to be human, to be vulnerable, to be ill, to be cured, to be cared for, to be healthy, and to be healed” (Watson, 2006, 48). While lengthly, the above quotations are worth rereading and being given due consideration because the traditional model of healthcare leans heavily on an economic/administrative model of caring, whereas Watson’s theory emphasizes the reason why nurses were attracted to the profession. That is, nurses are drawn to the human side of nursing and believe in the posiitve effect of human caring on health outcomes (Watson, 2006, 48). Stated plainly, Watson notes “Any profession that loses its values becomes heartless; any profession that becomes heartless becomes soulless. Any profession that becomes heartless and soulless, becomes [Worthless]” (Watson, 2006, 49).
Importance of Supportive Care for Positive Health Outcomes
Relationship management is integral to patient engagement and to engagement with a patient’s family. With the concerns about economics and the place that economics has in all areas of life, it is often difficult for healthcare providers to justify, from an economic standpoint, allowing staff to take the time to build caring relationships with patients. Qualis (2014) notes that “bio-psychosocial model” (Qualis, 2014, 1) is the next step in health interventions. This is supported by scientific evidence indicates that “social relationships affect a range of health outcomes” (Umberson & Montez, 2010, 11). Watson’s caring theory supports these principles through the core concepts of her theory. These core concepts are the following: relational caring of self and others; transpersonal caring relationships; having caring occasions or moments; recognition of multiple ways of knowing; a reflective/meditative approach to care; caring that is inclusive, circular, and expansive; the recognition that caring changes the self, others around the individual, as well as the culture of groups and their environment (Watson Caring Science, 2017, 1-2).Watson’s Theory of Caring Essay
Application of Watson’s Theory in Care Settings
Watson’s theory is applied through what are called carative factors or caratas processes. There are ten carative factors and these are the following. Briefly, the application of the theory is demonstrated as the practice of loving-kindness, equanimity, authenticity, enabling, cultivating a spiritual practice; developing a relationship that is helping-trusting; enabling the expression of both positive and negative feelings; having a caring-healing practice; a willingness to learn for the caring experience; being able to engage in a teaching-learning experience that is genuine; enabling and creating environments that are healing; caring for basic needs, both spiritual and physical; and, being open to spirituality (Watson Caring Science, 2017, 2). In practice, this means that a nurse practitioner engages his/her own emotions in the caring relationship, not being closed to new spiritual and emotional experiences while looking after the physical and health needs of the patient.Watson’s Theory of Caring Essay
Watson’s Theory & the Implications for Nursing Education
The workplace environment that nurses face can be frustrating and morally destroying as they face disrespect, anger, frustration and apathy from various areas in the healthcare workplace. To counter this experience, cultivating caring in nursing practice seems to be a pre-requisite for basic peace of mind for the nurse practitioner. This can be cultivated if the ability to cultivate caring is part of the curriculum in nursing education. Dyess, Boykin, & Rigg (2010), observe that when practice is guided by “values and beliefs” (Dyess, Boykin, & Rigg, 2010, 498), nurses use these values and beliefs as a lens to “view their practice … interact … and create an environment for nursing care to be delivered” (Dyess, Boykin, & Rigg, 2010, 498). In other words, nurses can determine the lens that will guide their practice. The researchers observed the impact of a dedicated education unit, in a Sotheast Florida enviornment, that was “…grounded in a theoretical frame- work of caring to both nursing practice and education” (Dyess, Boykin, & Rigg, 2010, 498). The results indicated that the project allowed for strengthening and reinforcing an understanding of living the theory of caring through practice. Another study found that nurses realized their essential value to the healthcare environment when caring theory was integrated into their daily practice (Ryan, n.d., 7).Watson’s Theory of Caring Essay
Conclusion
To conclude, Jean Watson’s theory of caring champions the traditional practices of caring and empathy, and encourages a more emotional and open approach to the care of patients in a healthcare practice. Nurses are encouraged to engage authentically and spiritually with their patients and their patient’s families, in order to allow a more positive experience of the healthcare environment for all parties. Research indicates that when patients are engaged in this manner, both the nurses and the patients benefit in the shared experience. When the caring theory is integrated into the nursing curriculum, nursing students learn from early on in their practice to include the theory in their own practice, thereby allowing a more authentic experience of nursing for themselves and their patients.
Nursing theories are important in health care, and not a lot of nurses and other medical practitioners know that. Some of them think that nursing theories are only for school, in which student nurses review these for a long exam or a simple class recitation. Nursing theories are as important as nursing facts because without these theories, nurses would not be able to fully apply what they have learned in school. One of the most effective theorists of all times is Jean Watson. She is known for her Theory of Caring.Watson’s Theory of Caring Essay
Before Jean Watson’s Caring Theory is discussed, it will help to know the theorist’s background first. Watson is a nursing scholar who now resides in Boulder, Colorado but was born and raised in West Virginia (McEwen and Willis, 2007, p. 191).
She had her undergraduate degree at the University of Colorado where she finished psychology and nursing. Her hunger for knowledge manifested when she finished her master’s degree. She had psychiatric-mental health nursing as her MA, and educational psychology and counseling as her Ph.D (McEwen and Willis, 2007, p. 191).
“At the School of Nursing in University of Colorado, Watson is the Murchinson-Scoville Chair in Caring Science and also a Distinguished Professor in Nursing. She is the founder of the Colorado’s Center for Human Caring (McEwen and Willis, 2007, p. 191).” She is also affiliated to the American Academy of Nursing and it is no surprise that she has received numerous honorary doctoral degrees and other honors both from the national and the international scene (McEwen and Willis, 2007, p. 191).
Because of her theory of human caring, and her philosophies that shaped her opinions and insights, Jean Watson was able to publish a book explaining her theory. Today, her theory is being taught in schools. Nurses from the different parts of the globe study her thoughts and insights (McEwen and Willis, 2007, p. 191).Watson’s Theory of Caring Essay
According to Jean Watson, her theory is bound by three basic elements. The first element is the carative factor. “When it comes to ‘caractive’ factor, Watson includes ten steps in her theoretical framework (McEwen and Willis, 2007, p. 191).” The “Caractive” Factor
These ten steps include altruistic and humanistic system of values, presence of hope and love, being sensitive not only to the self but also to other people, fostering relationships that are trustworthy and helpful, expressing feelings which can either be positive or negative, being able to know how to solve problems and be caring at the same time, how to learn and how to teach in a transpersonal manner, developing a supportive environment, being able to assist the needs of fellow humans and lastly, being sensitive to forces that are spiritual, phenomenological and existential (Johnson and Bayliss, 2004, p. 173).
As Watson developed her theory, she made it known the idea of “clinical caritas process” which is now what people study in lieu of her “caractive” factors. With these new processes, it can be seen that there is a larger and more enormous spiritual dimension involved. Caritas is a Greek word that means to give attention, to treasure or to cherish. Now, below are some ways in which Watson applies the caractive factors in caring for clinical patients (Johnson and Bayliss, 2004, p. 173).Watson’s Theory of Caring Essay
Caritas can be applied when practicing love, equanimity and kindness as long as a nurse is under conscious caring. A nurse should also be present because the one being taken care of has to have his or her subjective world and belief system supported and enabled. Patients must be taught how to sustain and develop their transpersonal selves, their spiritual practices, compassion and the way they are sensitive with other people (Johnson and Bayliss, 2004, p. 173).
Caring relationship must be developed at all times, and must be sustained with trust and a helping environment. It is also important to support and be aware of how a patient expresses feelings, be it negative or positive, in order for the patient to be closer with his or her inner self (Johnson and Bayliss, 2004, p. 173). Of course, this way, the bonding between the nurse and the patient is also cultivated.
To properly care for the patient, it is important to be creative, too, because this way, the nurse will surely have to find ways to know how to care for the patient in a better way. “Creativity is important when it comes to healing and caring practices” (Johnson and Bayliss, 2004, p. 173). Of course, caring is an art, so creativity is needed in this theory.Watson’s Theory of Caring Essay
It is also important to engage in a real experience bound by teaching and learning. In a real teaching-learning experience, the nurse must be able to let the patient know how to unite meaning and being and at the same time, the nurse should also be able to teach the patient to stay inside the frame of reference of other people (Johnson and Bayliss, 2004, p. 173).
A healing environment is also important for a patient, be it a physical or a non-physical environment. The healing environment must be characterized by peace, dignity, comfort, beauty, wholeness, consciousness and of course, energy (Johnson and Bayliss, 2004, p. 173).
Assisting the patient with his or her basic needs is also crucial, because this is where a nurse administers the essentials of human care. When these essentials are employed, it automatically means that the mind, body and spirit of the patient are all united. He or she has to understand the unity of being and wholeness (Marriner-Tomey and Alligood, 2006, p. 105).
This way, the nurse is able to evolve the emergence of the spirit, and attend to the embodied spirit in a patient. Human care in Watson’s theory is therefore not just all about caring for the sick, but for showing kindness and concern for the soul (Marriner-Tomey and Alligood, 2006, p. 105).Watson’s Theory of Caring Essay
The Transpersonal Caring Relationship
The second element of Watson’s theory is the “transpersonal caring relationship”.
Transpersonal caring relationship, according to Watson, “focuses not on ordinary care, but on a special one that relies on the following: the moral commitment of the nurse when it comes to shielding human dignity and spiritual self, and that is just one” (Marriner-Tomey and Alligood, 2006, p. 105).
The caring consciousness of the nurse which he or she expresses in order to honor and preserve the self and the soul, thereby not decreasing the perspective for a person into someone with a moral status of a material thing is another. The caring consciousness of the nurse is also needed when it comes to healing because with this process, what takes place are connection that’s intentional along with perception and experience (Marriner-Tomey and Alligood, 2006, p. 105).
Transpersonal relationship is about how a nurse does not only administer objective assessment but beyond it as well. A nurse should care about the deeper meaning of the patient’s health care. He or she should understand the subjective part of the patient’s personality.Watson’s Theory of Caring Essay
A nurse does not only assist the doctor or assist the patient when taking in medicine. A nurse is also responsible for helping the patient understand his or her perspective and in this way, the mutuality between the patient and the nurse is better appreciated (Marriner-Tomey and Alligood, 2006, p. 105).
Mutuality, of course, has to be achieved the whole time because this is important to the relationship as the patient is healing and recovering. As a result, one is called the “caring one”, and the other is referred to as the one being cared for. They both connect to look for wholeness and meaning (Marriner-Tomey and Alligood, 2006, p. 105). What is truly achieved in this connection is pain’s spiritual transcendence.
Why, then, is the term “transpersonal” used? Transpersonal, in this context, is about going beyond the ego today, right at this moment, as an inpidual reaches more profound and more defined spiritual connections in encouraging healing and comfort. The goal of this theory’s element is to promote inner harmony, wholeness, humanity and dignity, and at the same time preserve all of these (Marriner-Tomey and Alligood, 2006, p. 105).Watson’s Theory of Caring Essay
The Caring Moment or The Caring Occasion
According to Watson, a caring moment is the time when a patient and a nurse unites, fostering human caring. The two engage in human-to-human interaction even when they both are different from each other. A field matches an inpidual’s frame of reference. Summing up the experience of humans, it can be found out that this is made of meaning, perceptions, considerations, expectations, goals, beliefs, thoughts, sensations and feelings. All these depend on the history of the inpidual’s life, and everything that happened to him or her in the past. It is also based on the present moment, and of course, on how the person sees his or her future (Marriner-Tomey and Alligood, 2006, p. 105).
Clinical Application
To apply this theory, then, a nurse must be aware of Jean Watson’s theory for him or her to know that he or she should stay beside a patient and for sharing a caring moment. This way, the nurse will know how to properly handle the patient and the situation as the nurse discusses the various goals of a patient’s hospitalization (Zraigat, 2007, p. 5).Watson’s Theory of Caring Essay
The patient, on the other hand, will learn how to understand why he is in the hospital. He will learn to accept the treatments being administered to him. He will be aware of the status of his health and therefore, he himself will find ways to make his situation better (Zraigat, 2007, p. 5).
A nurse will share a caring moment with the patient. The nurse will assure the patient that whatever grief is being experienced at the moment, the nurse experiences it, too. The nurse will learn to find ways through this theory, on how to reach out to the patient emotionally, while making sure that the patient is comfortable (Zraigat, 2007, p. 6).
The normalization of the daily routine of a disabled adult was acclaimed as the major concern by majority of the prospective family caregivers in the current study. The facts in this research stress out the importance of nurses awareness of the family needs. Moreover, it is essential that the assessment process will occur immediately upon the patients admission and will continue through the hospitalization process into the discharge planning. Furthermore, there is a need to recognize the extent of needs expressed by a patient and a caregiver together as a family and separetly.Watson’s Theory of Caring Essay
As stated by Watson (1985), been sensitive to the feelings and needs of family members, the nurse can better learn the familys beliefs systems, values and worldview. Summing up, adressing the family members needs through a caring process will help them to deal with their loved one illness and achieve a better adaptation to a new role of caregivers. This conclusion is consistent with Watsons (1985,1996) definition of Human Caring Emphasis is placed on helping other(s),, to gain more self knowledge, self control, and even self healing potential, regardless of the health illness condition
In my opinion, this research is consistent with the Watsons theory, where the major focus is not only on individuals, but on families as well. Unquestionably this is a confirmation that the Theory of Human Caring can be incorporated within nursing practice. However, this particular article also rises another question. Do all family members caregivers have the same needs? What will be a predictor of this variance? Piccinato & Rosenbaum (1997) have tried to explore the caregiver personality characteristics in their article.Watson’s Theory of Caring Essay
The purpose of their research was a review of the literature regarding the concept of older caregiver hardiness within Watsons theory of Human Caring. The term of hardiness was said to be complex, existential phenomenological and almost as imposible to measure, as Theory of Human Caring. Nevertheless, the authors have decided to use Watsons theory as a framework for their investigation of the hardiness concept because of its consistency with phenomenological, existential concepts. Examination of various nursing studies, regarding caregiving experience of older adults, has revield its negative effect on the caregiver well being.
The core definition of hardiness used for the purposes of this article describes hardy persons: Hardy persons view change as a challenge and as beneficial to personal development and are considered to possess three interrelated attributes: control, commitment and challenge (p. 34). Hardiness, according to Piccinato & Rosenbaum article, is described as a gathering of personality characteristic that promotes withstanding during stressful life events, which resolves in a positive caregiving experience. There is no exact definition of hardiness in the Theory of Human Caring.
However, the authors tried to extract the definition of self from Watsons terminology and compare it to the three components of hardiness – control, commitment and challenge. Piccinato & Rosenbaum suggestion to nurses is to help facilitate the caregiver hardiness through a transpersonal caring relationship, using Watsons ten Carative factors. According to their findings, caregivers needs should be incorporated into nursing care plans. Through this process the caregivers will be able to achieve spiritual well being and promote healing in their loved ones.Watson’s Theory of Caring Essay
Incorporating Watsons theory in this research article is useful in terms of expanding knowledge about family members as caregivers. However, because this reserch was based on theory, my opinion is that it will require further research in order to determine its use. Two previous articles have explored Watsons theory of Human Caring in terms of family members as caregivers. The conclusions of both articles bring in a question about the carereceivers needs. This issue is explored in Donnas Strickland (1996) article.
The research was done in nursing home settings in order to receive feedback regarding nursing practice, using the Theory of Human Caring as a theoretical framework and as an evaluation tool. The study was conducted among six elderly women, using Lees Glickstein Laughing Spirit , format which is based on a group sessions where each member has an equial opportunity to be fully heard. Each group member, including the reserchers had an opportunity to tell their personal stories, receive a positive feedback and listen to others. Listening under this context was defined as enterning someones phemenological field.Watson’s Theory of Caring Essay
The whole settings were reffered to as Transpersonal Relationship. Several findings came out from the above interactions in the closing session. The subjects of this study have reported that reaching one to another had given them an opportunity to feel connected. Positive feedbacks were compared to reciprocal altruism, which may be compared to Watsons first Carative Factor. Another correspondence with Watsons theory was that the group found it difficult to express themselves because of the phemenological, spiritual context of the experience, which is related to the tens Carative factor.
Both the researchers and the participants felt positively affected by this experience. In spite all this, the group success provided some negative feedbacks as well. All group members felt that those caring moments usually missing in the retirment community between caregivers and elders. Strickland argues that if Watsons theory had been in use in these particular settings, these women would not report an isolation and lack of caring. One may dispute that the above research was applied to a specifically small, chosen group of people, but it is yet another translation of Theory of Human Caring into practice.Watson’s Theory of Caring Essay
Will the results differ in a larger, younger or transcultural group of people? One of the Watsons guideline for the human care process is to consentrate intentionaly on caring, healing and wholeness, rather than on disease (Fawccett, 2000). The practice methodology for this procedure advises the nurse to stay within the others frame of reference, potentiate comfort measures and a sence of well being. The nurse, through a transpersonal caring, enters into patients phemenological field, allowing him to explore his deeper emotions.
Thus, in order to achieve a better understanding and a positive outcome, it is up to the nurse to gain knowledge about the subjective personal meanings of the patients experience before initiating a transpersonal caring occasion. The case study that I have selected for the interpretation of Watsons definitions is a story about Mrs. Chow. In Chinese medical tradition, illness is perceived as a state of disharmony between the individual and the environment. Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism constitute the essence of the traditional Chinese culture.Watson’s Theory of Caring Essay
Chinese medicine combines both holistic and traditional knowledge. Patients do not express their concerns about prescribed interventions or treatments. Thoughts are expressed politely and with restraint through language that is indirect. Direct eye contact is used with the elderly. A display of emotions is considered a weakness of character. (Geissler, E. M, 1998, p. 53) In traditional Chinese patrilocal society, the elderly used to live with their sons. Daughters, however, moved in with their in laws. Both respect and obligation in Chinese culture require that children take care of their parents. Watson’s Theory of Caring Essay
