Jean Watsons Theory of Caring free essay sample

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). We will write a custom essay sample on Jean Watsons Theory of Caring or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page 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 subjective life world of self and the one-being-cared-for. 3) Cultivation of one’s own spiritual practices and transpersonal self, going eyond ego self, opening to others with sensitivity and compassion. 4) Developing and sustaining a helping trusting, authentic caring relationship. 5) Being present to, and supportive of, the expression of positive and negative feelings as a connection with deeper spirit of self and the one-being-cared-for. 6) Creative use of self and all ways of knowing as part of the caring process; to engage in artistry of caring-healing practices. 7) Engaging in genuine teaching-learning experience that attends to unity of being and meaning, attempting to stay within others’ frames of reference. ) Creating healing environment at all levels (physical as well as non-physical), subtle environment of energy and consciousness, whereby wholeness, beauty, comfort, dignity, and peace are potentiated. 9) Assisting with basic needs, with an intentional caring consciousness, administering â€Å"human care essentials,† which potentiate alignment of mindbodyspirit, wholeness, and unity of being in all aspects of care; tending to both the embodied spirit and evolving spiritual emergence. 0) Opening and attending to spiritual mysterious and existential dimensions of one’s own life-death; soul care for self and the one-being-cared-for (Cara, 2003). Watson also focuses on the transpersonal caring relationship and the connections that exist in this relationship. In transpersonal caring the nurse consciously focuses on self and other within interpersonal exchanges in the present moment, while going beyond the moment and opening to new possibilities and values the existence of the others inner and outer perspectives (Sitzman, 2007). It is important to point out that the caring occasion/caring moment Watson describes can occur in any setting in which a patient and health care professional interact. According to Rafael (2000), Watson stresses the importance of the lived experience not only of the client but also of the nurse and these two come together in a caring moment and that becomes part of the life history of each person. Watson’s work heavily focuses on the connections made between nurse and patient and she knew that a major factor influencing these connections was his or her previous experiences. Caring Moment and Major Theory Assumptions I will be describing a caring moment that I was recently involved in at work concerning the family of a patient who had just expired in the emergency department. This situation involved a young man who reportedly had been involved in illegal activity that led to him sustaining a gunshot wound prior to arriving in the emergency department and that wound led to him dying in the emergency department. This patient had a very large family and group of friends who were gathering in the lobby and outside of the hospital. They were understandably distraught concerning what had happened and were becoming very anxious and impatient regarding being able to see their loved one. The caring moment began in the events that took place in the emergency department while caring for this patient and his family. Watson’s theory of caring makes assumptions related to person, health, nursing, and the environment that can be attributed to the nurse patient situation mentioned above. In this situation the person/person’s being cared for are the family members present in the emergency department to view their loved one who had tragically just lost his life. Watson’s view of the environment covered not only the immediate setting but also society. In this particular situation the environment is considered the lobby, trauma bay, and counseling room where the interactions between the nurse and family members were occurring. The environment became the place where the family could be alone with their loved one as well as be alone themselves to grieve over their loss. According to Alligood (2010), Watson believed that the nurse can also become the environment in which a â€Å"sacred space† is created where intentional healing and caring can occur. Watson’s view of health is concerned with complete physical, mental, and social well-being and functioning related to those. Health in this situation is not considered the absence of disease or good physical health, but dealt with the emotional and spiritual aspects of health as described by Watson. Health can be redefined as the unity and harmony within the body, mind, and soul and a harmony between self and others and self and nature (Alligood, 2010). Nursing according to Watson is concerned with preventing illness and promoting and restoring health. In this situation I was providing intentional care to this patient and his family and this is considered nursing in Watson’s theory. Transpersonal Relationship and Carative Factors Utilized Several of Watson’s carative factors are utilized when caring for the patient’s family mentioned above. According to Watson a single caring moment becomes a moment of possibility and in that moment an actual opportunity for human caring can occur (Alligood, 2010). In the initial encounter with the family the fourth carative factor of developing a helping, trusting, human, caring relationship is utilized. This family was very upset and they needed to trust in me and understand that I was there to help and that I genuinely cared about them and their loved one. I established this by speaking with them in a caring way and allowing them back in a controlled manner to view their family member. The fifth carative factor used is promoting and accepting the expression of positive and negative feelings during the time the family was with their loved one. They were obviously upset and were encouraged to express their feelings both positive and negative. This involved allowing the family to be angry and grieve as needed. The seventh carative factor promoting transpersonal teaching and learning is used with the family concerning the questions they had about the events that took place after we received the patient in the emergency department. The steps we took to attempt to save his life were explained to the family, and this helped them gain a better understanding of the situation. The tenth carative factor allowed existential, phenomenological, spiritual aspects to be addressed. This family had religious convictions that needed to be addressed and requested to pray with their loved one and have his pastor present. This was facilitated for the family so that they could properly address their loved one’s spiritual needs. Finally the third carative factor concerns the cultivation of sensitivity to one’s self and to others. I did not pass any assumptions or judgment onto this patient or his family regarding the circumstances involved in his death. I relayed to the family that I understood his or her loved one was a unique individual with inherent worth and that I was there to provide non-judgmental care to the patient and his family. Personal Reflection I learned many things about myself as a person and as a nurse following the experience and caring moments mentioned above. I learned that I can communicate my true intentions and purpose as a nurse who cares to a family that was initially upset and angry about their loved one passing away. My caring intent was well received and understood by this family and they appreciated it very much. I learned that I can provide compassionate and understanding care without allowing any assumptions or judgments about the ircumstances of the situation to cloud my purpose and duty as a nurse. I learned to utilize many of Watson’s carative factors in an actual clinical situation and that these were very beneficial to my nursing care. The family of this patient was very appreciative and voiced to me that my approach to the situation had allowed them to cope with the death of his or her loved one the best way possible and that without my understanding and accepting care it wo uld have been much more difficult for them. Conclusion In conclusion, Jean Watson’s theory of human caring helps define the caring moment or moments that occur between a nurse and patient and focuses on the fact that both nurse and patient have a uniqueness he or she brings to the moment. Watson’s theory focuses on the 10 catative factors recognized in her initial work as well as the more recently redefined clinical caritas processes. Watson’s theory is comprehensive because it addresses multiple aspects of the patient such as the mind, body, and spirit and her theory can be used by all health care professionals. Watson’s theory also highlights the importance of the transpersonal relationship that exists between the nurse and patient. Watson believes that caring is one of the most important parts of the nursing process and that her theory of human caring can be applied to patients and their families in addition to oneself. There are elements of Watson’s theory of human caring that can be applied and utilized in the daily practice of nursing. Nurses that use these elements in daily practice can experience the benefits for themselves in addition to the patients involved as highlighted in the above clinical situation. 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 fr amework for guiding community health nursing practice. Advances in Nursing Science, 23(2), 34-49. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Sitzman, K. (2007). â€Å"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. ?