Concept Caring Analysis - Research Paper Example

Running Head: Concept Analysis An Analysis of the Concept of ‘Caring’ Background The term ‘caring’ denotes a sentiment or showing empathy and a caring manner. In the field of social welfare, ‘caring’ relates to specialized social or medical nursing care or to the practice of providing medical or social care. The popularity of the concept of ‘caring’ can be verified by its numerous applications and meanings. We stumble on several medical practitioners referring to themselves health care providers, with general practitioners calling themselves primary care professionals. Nurses view their task as a caring one. Nursing homes pride themselves on their caring staff. However, the concept of ‘caring’ nowadays is confounded by its many uses and descriptions. The objective of this paper is to analyze the concept of ‘caring’ as it relates to the profession of nursing. Rationale for Selection of Concept The concept of ‘caring’ is chosen for the concept analysis because of the current questions about the actual definition and characteristics of ‘caring’. While not everyone is caring, roughly all people would like to be cared about, and when necessary, be cared for. The main concern of ‘caring’ should be revisited. A short time ago, caretakers were horticulturists or gardeners for large manors. Nowadays, the concept is related to care providers, and a great deal of the workforce more and more moving in this path (Phillips & Benner, 1994). The question then is what has been the outcome? On one hand, a lot of women have given up domestic responsibilities, such as sustaining a home for the family or providing care for their children, transferring these special responsibilities to others. The argument is that these women have to find a source of income. In several instances, this is true, but in some cases, employment outside the home is sought for in order to escape domestic obligations (Phillips & Benner, 1994). Literature Review The information and empirical studies gathered for the literature review were obtained mostly from Questia.com, ProQuest.com, and Medscape. The content of this section was narrowed down to those relevant to the helping professions, such as counseling, teaching, and most importantly, nursing. The concept of ‘caring’ is indefinite and debatable. Part of the dilemma is that the concept has been applied in varied ways that its core meaning is by now endangered. According to some scholars, conceptualizing ‘caring’ entails an effort to encompass the political and social economy within which it is implanted (Halstead & Wagner, 2002). If the concept will be used as a general form of analysis with regard to the profession of nursing, one should discover a way of sustaining its potential to disclose significant aspects of women’s lives and simultaneously encompass more common features of societal agreements around individual needs and wellbeing (Ferreira & Bosworth, 2000). It is vital to regard caring, therefore, not only in terms of behaviors, but as well as in terms of a fundamental ethic that orients behavior. It is never an intangible ethic, but instead one that is founded on a feeling of connection between individuals, circumstance, and context. Caring as an ethic is not merely broadened through behavior; it may also function as a moral basis for making decisions. Caring puts emphasis on relationships and obligations rather than privileges and rules (Hemmings, 1991). In examining the concept of caring, an essential concern surfaces in terms of the inherent against the gained character of caring. Bateson (1990) analyzed the argument between those who view individuals as social egotists in opposition to those who see individuals as having a potential for compassion and selflessness. He advocated the perception of individuals as having the capacity to care for others to satisfy unselfish needs, not merely self-centered intentions. Others have discovered selfless actions in children aged 1 to 2 (Eisenberg, 1992). These discoveries signify that individuals are born with the predisposition for moral conduct and, therefore, to be caring human beings. Certainly, Hemmings (1991) argues that moral conduct developed as part of the individual need for mutual aid, which reinforced the odds for survival. Support Science Research Early works from theorists such as Mayeroff, Heidegger, and Buber laid the foundation for the growth of the concept of caring in relation to the clinical profession (Halstead & Wagner, 2002). The classic work of Buber (1958, as cited in Jolley, 1996) entitled I and Thou examined the empathy and experience that thrive in the meeting of two people. Buber was considered as one of the first to support philosophies of therapy on justice and caring in relationships among humans. He formulated the therapeutic procedure as one that transpires within that relationship between the counselor and client. Heidegger perceived caring as a general fact that affects the ways in which individuals reflect, behave and feel with respect to one another (Halstead & Wagner, 2002). In his philosophical and provocative work, Mayeroff expressed a definition of caring as “helping the other to grow through giving meaning and order to life” (Halstead & Wagner, 2002, 34). These insightful points of view functioned as a basis for guiding professionals in exploring what takes place between two individuals when the aspiration is to advance therapy beyond the responsibilities related to particular therapeutic regimens (ibid). In nursing, the formulation of a transpersonal care theory by Watson (1988, as cited in Jolley, 1996) perceives the nurse as a ‘coparticipant’ in individual care practice. The two people in the caring relationship carry with them distinctive life histories in a way that both are affected by the form and nature of the transaction. This interaction involves “protection, enhancement, and preservation of the person’s humanity, which helps to restore inner harmony and potential healing” (Watson, 1988, 58). The assertion of transpersonal caring is that a person grows toward self-actualization and harmony in everyday human interaction between two individuals (ibid). As the notion of caring is continuously researched and developed in different helping fields, there are fundamental components on which most individuals consent. Caring is consistently personal, entails devotion, and takes place within a particular framework in which the client and professional become attached (Phillips & Benner, 1994). This attachment “has energy and vitality that demands something be done to act upon those feelings” (Bevis, 1981, 58). The interaction is equally fulfilling to both professional and client, and growth is gained by both. Even though acknowledgment of ‘caring by the cared for’ (ibid, 58) is an essential component in the caring relationship, it does not necessarily have to be mutually reciprocated. Salient Characteristics Even though caring behaviors could be shown during particular instances, such as when helping a friend in need, reciprocity and interdependence are at the heart of caring relationships (Bateson, 1990); definitely, to the theorist Martin Buber (1965, as cited in Jolley, 1996), caring resembles a conversation “where each participant really has in mind the other… with the intention of establishing a living, mutual relationship” (p. 19). In the field of nursing, the concept of caring is essential. Caring in the profession of nursing has various salient characteristics. First, caring is fundamental for growth, wellbeing, therapy, survival, and as well as for confronting poor health or death. Second, caring is a wide-ranging holistic framework to direct nursing care processes (Phillips & Benner, 1994). Third, there can be no healing without the presence of caring. Fourth, the concept of caring has both comparable and dissimilar features among all world cultures. And lastly, caring is affected by language, worldview, and political, social, religious, economic, educational and environmental forces (Phillips & Benner, 1994). Definition The word ‘caring’ is defined in a number of ways in Dictionary.com (2009): 1) to be worried, concerned or considerate; have attention or respect; 2) to be thoughtful or have a particular inclination; 3) and to have a propensity, preference, attachment, or fondness. Caring is a basic human nature. Our knowledge of the concept is indefinable, partly because it surfaces in quite numerous contexts and perspectives. Caring is a wide-ranging concept generally applied to indicate a broad array of behaviors and attitudes. Caring, as well, is applied as an equivalent for other terms, such as empathy, prosocial behavior, compassion, and helping. Caring will cease to exist in isolation; the concept consistently thrives with regard to a ‘cared for’ (Ferreira & Bosworth, 2000). A caring relationship, as argued by Noddings (1992), “involves a ‘feeling with’ that she calls ‘engrossment’, a temporary state in which the ‘one-caring’ receives the ‘cared for’ into her/himself, and sees and feels with the other” (p. 30). Hence, caring is a “way of being in relation, not a set of specific behaviors” (Noddings, 1992, 17). Caring entails commitment, determination, patience, sincerity, confidence, optimism and courage. These characteristics should be employed to assist the cared-for mature toward helpful self-actualization. Model Case DeFannie Davis has been discovered in Detroit providing care to her husband and children in an unremitting effort to satisfy numerous needs and demands with too little money, time and a diminishing energy. DeFannie is a 39-year old mother and wife. She is the only one taking care of her husband who has been suffering from stroke attacks. But DeFannie, even in the face of insurmountable difficulties, still tried very hard to fulfill the needs and demands of her family. She even discovered ways of transferring Roy from one place to another with his wheelchair. In order to sustain his strength, DeFannie has sought support from her church and her close friends. “My church has kept my family in prayer as well as helping with some bills. One particular friend paid my house note for months. They still buy us toilets paper and paper towels.” (American Heart Association, Inc., 2009, para 8). This is a model case of caring because the caregiving experience of DeFannie complements the positive qualities of caring. Furthermore, the story also shows sympathy from the people around DeFannie, another positive attribute of ‘caring’. Contrary Case One of the writers in Mail Online related a story about a nurse that does not care. According to this anonymous writer, he was contacted by a nurse requesting him to check a 70-year old male patient. The nurse sounded very worried. When he reached the ward the nurse was evidently in agony because the patient was mortified. Then the writer decided to find the nurse who had contacted him and he found her calmly sitting in a room enjoying herself with a cup of tea while reading an entertainment magazine. When he asked the nurse why she did not do anything about the difficulty of the patient, she firmly claimed that she was clueless and does not know what the problem was. Then he insisted that she should do something about the problem but she answered dispassionately, “I’m on my break” (Mail Online, 2006, para 4). In order to avoid this kind of problematic cases, there should be: (1) an open and constant communication, consultation and cooperation; (2) a fostering of mutual decision making between the clients and health care practitioners; (3) an association with present policy and national, local and state guidelines; (4) an application of a quality approach to cultivate constant clinical progress; and (5) a provision of an inclusive, varied and definite array of unified clinical services to address community needs (Phillips & Benner, 1994). Paper Summary and Conclusion The concept of caring has evolved and became increasingly complicated in its use and application as time progresses. For a number of helping professions, such as nursing, performing from a caring framework has been a way through which patients can realize optimal health and wellbeing. This is achieved by cultivating within the helping professional an awareness of caring that improves the quality of relationship and transaction between the patient and the health service provider. Even though caring alone is inadequate to guarantee successful practice, there is a wide array of literature to indicate that there are evident advantages and gains when clinically experienced practitioners include caring into their profession. References Are nurses angels? I dont think so. (2006). Mail Online , para 1-5. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-396258/Are-nurses-angels-I-dont-think-so.html Bateson, C. (1990). How social and animal? The human capacity for caring. American Psychologist , 45 (3), 336-346. Bevis, E. (1981). Caring: A Life Force. In M. Leininger, Caring: An essential human need (pp. 49-59). Thorofare, NJ: Slack. Buber, M. (1965). Between man and man. New York: Harper & Row. Buber, M. (1958). I and thou . New York: Scribners. Caring. (2009). Dictionary.com. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/caring DeFannie Davis. (2009). American Heart Association, Inc. , para 1-9. http://www.strokeassociation.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3025467 Eisenberg, N. (1992). The Caring Child. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Ferreira, M. M. & Bosworth, K. (2000). Context as a Critical Factor in Young Adolescents Concepts of Caring. Journal of Research in Childhood Education , 117+. Galanti, G.-A. (2008). Caring for Patients from Different Cultures. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: University of Pennsylvania Press. Halstead, R. W. & Wagner, L.D. (2002). Counselors Conceptualizations of Caring in the Counseling Relationship. Counseling and Values , 34+. Hemmings, J. (1991). The physiology of moral maturity. Journal of Moral Education , 127-137. Jolley, M. (1996). Caring: The Compassion and Wisdom of Nursing. Noddings, N. (1992). The challenge to care in schools: An alternative approach to education. New York: Teachers College Press. Noddings, N. (2003). Caring: A Feminine Approach to Ethics and Moral Education. Los Angeles, California: University of California Press. Phillips, S. & Benner, P. (eds.). (1994). The Crisis of Care: Affirming and Restoring Caring Practices in the Helping Professions. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press. Raatma, L. (2001). Caring. Minnesota: Capstone Press. Small, M. (2005). Caring (Way to Be!). Minneapolis: Picture Window Books. Watson, J. (1988). Nursing: Human Science and Human Care. New York: NLN Press. Read More