Watson's Theory of Human Caring, Assessment Tools, and Homeless Young Adults - Research Paper Example

?Running head: NURSING AND THE VULNERABLE POPULATION Nursing and the Vulnerable Population: Watson's Theory of Human Caring, Assessment Tools, and Homeless Young Adults (Name) (University) NURSING AND THE VULNERABLE POPULATION 2 Nursing and the Vulnerable Population: Watson's Theory of Human Caring, Assessment Tools, and Homeless Young Adults Introduction Assessment of the patient's condition is the first step in providing health care, and here, nursing assessment tools prove to be indispensable (Chinn, Kramer, & Chin, 2004). However, it is not the only aspect in nursing's human caring (Krebs, 2001, p.55). It is important for nurses to preserve their caring practice in providing health care. Jean Watson is a nursing theorist that states the importance of the quality of interaction and relationship between the nurse and the patient (Krebs, 2001, p.55) This paper aims to discuss how exemplary health care can be provided through the use of suitable assessment tools combined with Watson's theory of human caring. The assessment tools will be evaluated based on its appropriateness for application on the chosen vulnerable population. Within the heart of modern-day nursing is the concept of providing care in a world that looks at caring as something insignificant. In the history of nursing, nurses have been deemed as professional caregivers in terms of their health care expertise and calling to provide emotional comfort (Krebs, 2001, p.56). However, with the current shortage in health care professionals and with the progress of the health care industry, nurses' responsibilities and workload have changed greatly. In the more complex and stressful instances of patient care, it is easy for the nurses to forget the basic yet important aspect of human caring. However, it is important that in the current complexities that usually go with this profession, nurses should seek for ways to preserve their caring practice. Caring, in the world of nursing, can be linked to three concepts: 1) attachment, fondness, NURSING AND THE VULNERABLE POPULATION 3 or regard to the patient; 2) providing for or responsibility for the patient; and, 3) concern for or attention to the patient (Chinn, Kramer, & Chin, 2004). In a broader sense, caring means providing physiological, emotional, or psychological support for others when they need it. However, all these cannot be achieved without going through the initial process of providing care. Every nursing practitioners knows that the first step in nursing is the assessment of the patient's condition (Chinn, Kramer, & Chin, 2004). There are several assessment tools available that involves gathering information, confirming gathered information, organizing and interpreting the data available, and documenting by healthcare professionals (Heaser, 2008, p.37). This procedure aims to create a concrete basis for the provision of appropriate health care for the patient's overall well-being (Chinn, Kramer, & Chin, 2004). If this is coupled with Watson's theory on human caring, nurses will be able to provide an outstanding health care in the physiological, emotional, and psychology sense. Jean Watson's Theory of Human Caring From 1975-1979, Watson developed her theory for human caring. This is considered as the core concept of nursing, which is a humanistic philosophy involving “carative factors” --- an idea that is in direct contrast to the usual medicine realm construct of “curing” (Krebs, 2001, p.57-8). Watson's theory aims to “honor the human dimensions of nursing's work and the inner life world and subjective experiences of the people we serve” (Watson, 1994, p.27). After a while, these “carative factors” developed into clinical caritas procedures, which is the guideline or process of providing health care with compassion, love, and sensitivity (Krebs, 2001, p.58). Homeless Young Adults as a Vulnerable Population Vulnerable populations are those who are exposed to physiological, emotional, and NURSING AND THE VULNERABLE POPULATION 4 psychological harm (Poirrier, 2001, p.26). As stated in the nursing awareness paper, being vulnerable could range from being exposure to harm on and off the streets (Mares, 2010, p.81), to inadequate and inappropriate access to health care, and so on. According to the National Healthcare for the Homeless Council, young adults falling under the 18-24 age bracket experience homelessness in great numbers (Stergiopoulos et al., 2010, p.1032). The health concerns of this vulnerable population range from stress, to STDs, to cancer (NCH 2009). Through Watson's theory of human caring combined with the chosen assessment tool for this population, nurses can incorporate the mind-body-spirit construct to deliver utmost care for the patient, and improve the assessment stage in the medical procedure. Assessment Tools Stress and depression are among the common medical concerns among the homeless (Stergiopoulos et al., 2010, p.1032). Research shows that it is beneficial to overall well-being if a patient is able to disclose negative and traumatic experiences (Mares, 2010, p.83). Due to this, the two assessment tools chosen for this vulnerable population are 1) Perceived Stress Scale and 2) Beck's Depression Inventory. Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) Perceived Stress Scale is the most common tool used in determining and gauging the stress factors existing in the patient's life. PSS is easy to use, involving the need to answer easily understandable questions aimed to let the patient open up regarding general information in his or her life. It is not specifically intended for a certain population since the PSS tool is very basic (Heaser, 2008, p.55-6). This is one of the reasons why this tool can definitely benefit the homeless young adult population. The assessment process will just take a few minutes to NURSING AND THE VULNERABLE POPULATION 5 complete (Heaser, 2008, p.57 and Krebs, 2001, p.56). However, the cost of the assessment tool is not available. PSS tool is valuable in evaluating the homeless individual's stress condition in an easy manner (Heaser, 2008, p.59). On a personal viewpoint, the tool's ease of use is helpful in not adding more stress to the patient during the assessment phase. This is crucial especially when a homeless individual is experiencing severe anxiety or trust issues. However, this tool is not considered as a diagnostic instrument (Krebs, 2001, p.56). However, results of the PSS can be checked for consistencies with another more diagnostic assessment tool, like the Beck's Depression Inventory. Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) Beck's Depression Inventory involves a series of questions that aims to determine and gauge the patient's depression. It is also helpful in evaluating the patient's response to the health care being provided. BDI has two types, one which consists only of seven questions, while the other consists of twenty-one. BDI is mainly aimed at mental health patients, but its use and significance in primary health care also makes it an ideal tool for the homeless young adults. It takes about 10 minutes to complete the assessment, making it an easy-to-use assessment tool (Heaser, 2008, p.112). BDI results are tested and proven to be 90% consistent with other professional depression diagnostic tools (Krebs, 2001, p.58), making it a reliable, valid, and considerable tool for gauging depression among various populations. When teamed with PSS, consistency in the results will be useful in providing health care for the chosen vulnerable population because “health care providers will be able to easily determine if the patient is able, or will be able, to respond positively to and follow medical instructions” (Heaser, 2008, p.114-5). However, just like PSS, the cost of this tool is not available (Krebs, 2001, p.59). NURSING AND THE VULNERABLE POPULATION 6 Conclusion Compassion, love, and sensitivity are important components in providing human caring (Krebs, 2001, p.58). This can be achieved through ensuring that the patient's psychological and emotional conditions are given consideration along with the provision of physical care. According to Watson, the integration of mind-body-spirit in nursing is in the caring for the patient's overall well-being (1994). The assessment tools chosen can be considered as the medical practitioners' means to ensure that they are in touch with what the individual may be going through not only health-wise, but also in life. A homeless young adult may not have a chronic medical illness, but stress and depression are almost 100% present (Stergiopoulos et al., 2010, p.1035). For example, a homeless young female adult who may not have serious physical health concerns may need more kind words and encouragement due to recent sexual molestations encountered in the streets (Mares, 2010, p.92). She may also not be comfortable around male nurses, and the presence of a female nurse may be more helpful in her case. These tools, combined with the application of Watson's theory, can be powerful to ensure that patients are not treated collectively, but as “individuals with specific concerns and issues” (Poirrier, 2001, p.26). One should understand that while medicine may save the patient's life, caring will help them live. NURSING AND THE VULNERABLE POPULATION 7 References Chinn, P. L., Kramer, M. K., & Chin, P. L. (2004). Integrated knowledge development in nursing. St. Louis: Mosby. Heaser, E. (2008). Nursing & allied health: Index to measurement & assessment tools/instruments & questionnaires. Sacramento: Library, California State University, Sacramento. Krebs, K. (January 01, 2001). The spiritual aspect of caring--an integral part of health and healing. Nursing Administration Quarterly, 25, 3, 55-60. Mares, A. S. (January 01, 2010). An Assessment of Independent Living Needs Among Emancipating Foster Youth. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 27, 1, 79-96. National Coalition for the Homeless. (2009). Factsheets [Data files]. Retrieved from http://nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/index.html Poirrier, G. P. (2001). Service learning: Curricular applications in nursing. Boston: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Stergiopoulos, V., Dewa, C., Durbin, J., Chau, N., & Svoboda, T. (January 01, 2010). Assessing the mental health service needs of the homeless: a level-of-care approach. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 21, 3, 1031-45. Watson, J., & University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. (1994). Applying the art and science of human caring. New York: National League for Nursing Press. Read More