Jean Watson's Theory of Human Caring

Jean Watson's Theory of Human Caring

Jean Watson's Theory of Human Caring

Currently, there are tremendous changes in the nursing field world wide that require nurses to increase their working capacity. The great responsibilities do not stop the expectations that nurses are expected to portray as stipulated by Watson's theory. Nurses ought to help their patients despite the greater complexities of this age in the best way possible especially as stipulated by Watson. This paper will therefore reflect on the background, the concept of Jean Watson's Caring Theory and its implication in the field of nursing.

Background of the theory

The theory came about as a result of the desire of bringing a new definition and dignity to the field of nursing and care given to patients. It was published in1979 for the first time. The theory received several criticisms as well as support. Those who support it have seen the fruits of the theory. Her concepts came from a wide range of experience she had gained in her social and professional life. Her concepts were inducted from three fields; Clinical, empirical and they also comprised his intellectual and background experiences. Her earlier concepts came from her norms and values as well as his beliefs concerning life. She could ask himself such questions as, what humanity is all about and also what caring means. She also asked herself the meaning of healing, the meaning of developing knowledge and skills that would be essential in people's lives (Marckx, 1995). She finally asked herself the living philosophical idea that enables individuals to venture into nursing and the definition of life in two categories; health and illness.

Several ideas about life, death and health as well as the two issues of caring and healing were part of the things that led her to come up with her theory. Her thirst increased especially basing on the commitment she had in her profession and the role and mission of the career of nursing. The ethical connection that exists between the society and nursing as a way of promoting care motivated her also to come up with the theory. Nursing is a field that tries to bring good health to the society and so nursing works hand in hand with the society to bring an end to problems like illness, death as well as curbing any effects which members of the society experience. This then was the basis of her theory.

Concepts

(i)The Carative factors

These factors were created in 1979 so as to help in provision of a framework that would act as a basis of rating good nursing and also help individuals understand what nursing is all about. Currently, the concept is termed as clinical caritas. This concept clearly explains the attributes and values that nursing career ought to have (Foster, 2006). The practices and knowledge that every nurse should possess geared to help in human care. Such factors include kindness, courtecsy gentleness though firm when necessary. Skills of problem solving are also an important factor. A nurse is expected to portray qualities of problem solving at all times and to different patients basing on the nature of the problem. This ability will both be obtained from one's experience and values. Skills that one achieves in the training process should be applicable in this issue of problem solving.

(ii) Transpersonal Caring Relationship

This concept concentrates on the care that a nurse should attribute to a patient by trying to study his or her inner feelings. It reaches beyond the physical and also calls upon the sacrifice of the ego or self in a nurse for him or her to be in the world of the patient. It calls for individuals to be authentic beings at that particular time of nursing a patient (Watson, 1999). Watson says that it is all about dealing with unique personalities of every patient and trying to go beyond one's ego.

(iii)Caring occasion Caring Moment

In this concept she says that care comes about when a nurse through a human to human transaction, having different histories and fields try to reach out to a strange individual, the patient. The caring moment involves tough choices that have to be made by both parties. The patient assumes an important role also. For instance, when the nurse gives him or her hope of healing, his or her beliefs play a role of bringing healing to him. An ER nurse is expected to give hope to the patient not only through words but also through actions. For example, he or she can help find out the respiratory rate of a patient or heart rate after which the nurse can contact the doctor or put him or her in a better sitting or sleeping position. The experience at that moment is also a good memory to both sides. When a patient is well treated, they always remember the good memories and so is it to the nurse who sees a patient recover.

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