Watsons Theory of Caring - Essay Example

? Watson’s Theory of Caring Paper (Add (Add (Add Watson’s Theory of Caring Paper Introduction The last few decades witnessed an increasing emphasis on the role of nurses in the healthcare delivery system throughout the world. This increased responsibility brought increased workload and increased stress in the workplace. The fact is that when there is a sharp rise in the workload and expectations, nurses are prone to lose the caring practice they are supposed to preserve. Here, the knowledge in Jean Watson’s Caring Theory can be a useful asset to any practicing nurse. This work intends to look into the tenets of Jean Watson Caring Theory, and, at the same, I reflect on my own practice as a Registered Nurse at a long term acute facility. Dr. Jean Watson is a distinguished nursing professor form Virginia. With a PhD in educational psychology, she has received many national and international awards. The very basic elements of Jean Watson’s Caring Theory are three in numbers. According to Watson (1988), they are the carative factors, the transpersonal caring relationship, and the caring moment. The Carative Factors According to the work named ‘the theory of human caring: retrospective and prospective’ published in Nursing Science Quarterly in the year 1997 by Watson (1997), carative factors should be considered as the guidelines towards the very basis of nursing. According to the scholar, the traditional medicine considers curative factors as the main function of nursing, and hence, she developed the term ‘carative’ factors to point out that the core of nursing is not in cure; but in care. As the scholar points out in the work, there are ten important aspects of carative factors. The very first element is humanistic and selfless system of value. It is followed by, and linked to, other aspects like faith, sensitivity to the feelings of others, showing a helping nature, showing positive feelings, showing problem-solving mentality, the tendency to teach and learn, creating an atmosphere of mental, physical, and spiritual well-being, and finally, ensuring proper assistance to human needs. The term altruism, in nursing, can be termed as taking such decisions that are in the best interest of the patient. Admittedly, with more and more modern technologies at hand, nurses are made to take such ethical decisions that are a matter of life and death. Here, it becomes necessary for a nurse to take such decisions that respect the patient. Here, I am forced to look back into my own practice as a nurse and the instances where I got stuck in ethical dilemmas. Two years ago, I had a patient who was, in fact, a Jehovah’s Witness. It was rather necessary for him to receive blood products from others to sustain his life, but his religious beliefs did not allow him to do so. Being the person responsible to do the same, I was in a dilemma; either I could force the patient to accept the treatment, or accept his suggestion. Here, I had to report the same back to the Ethics Committee of the setting to reach a decision. There I understood the fact that in order to be altruistic, one needs to respect the cultural and personal beliefs of the patient. However, a thorough scrutiny proves that there are more important things at play here. To illustrate, the family of a patient who is on life-sustaining treatments for no apparent benefit may be too confused and reluctant to take the decision to remove the same. In one such instance, I managed to convince the family of the patient that the ethics committee of the setting would help them to reach a decision that would be in the best interest of the patient. When the ethics committee came up with the decision to stop the life-sustaining treatment, the family was willing to cooperate as they were convinced that the decision was in their best interest. As one goes ahead, one can see that the term ‘carative’ was replaced by, or evolved into, another term ‘caritas’ as Watson modified her theory; and according to the scholar (as cited in Parker & Smith , 2010, p. 345), the term ‘caritas’ has its origin from Greek, which means ‘to give special loving attention’. According to Watson, ensuring caritas process in clinical practice includes a large number of practices. It involves creating such an environment that ensures healing at physical, mental, and spiritual level, completion of all aspects of personal life including comfort, peace, physical surroundings, and so on. Once, I had a patient who seemed rather upset in the setting. However, the patient was rather reluctant to raise any complaints probably because she found all the nurses too busy to give attention to any special requests. As I intended to see that the patient was provided a comfortable setting, I asked the patient as to what further assistance she wanted to have. The patient replied that she would prefer to move to a room where she would get a view of the street outside. Her statement made me realize the discomfort she was facing in being isolated. I promised her that I would help her to get it arranged, and soon, the patient was shifted to a room where she got a clear view of the street and open air through the window. I was really happy to see how the new ambience made the patient happy and contented. I found that just because of that openness I showed towards here just human care essentials, she developed trust on me, and started seeking my advice and opinion on various factors treatment. Admittedly, this incident made me look back into the Watson’s concept of transpersonal caring relationship. As the scholar points out, I was considering the patient as an embodied spirit, and not as an object that only requires cure; not care. According to Jean Watson’s theory, the relationship between nurse and patient should be transpersonal in nature. In other words, the nurse should be able to go beyond ones own ego. This will help the nurse identify the spiritual connections that are required to promote the comfort and healing of the patient. This involves being sensitive to, and protecting, the patient’s wholeness that includes dignity, humanity, harmony, and all human necessities of beauty, peace, and comfort. The Caring Moment According to Jean Watson, the most important moment in nursing is the caring moment. As per the definition given by Watson (1999, p.113), a caring moment is the moment when the nurse comes into contact with the patient in such a way that the need for human caring arises. Here, the most important aspect to be taken care of by the nurse is that all people have their own unique phenomenal fields. A phenomenal field can be considered as the totality of experiences of a human being, that includes feelings, bodily sensations, thoughts, spiritual beliefs, goals, expectations, environmental considerations, and perceptions, which are all based on ones history, present, and thoughts about future. Admittedly, the action and interaction of such phenomenal fields can cause friction if people are unaware of, or ignorant to, the phenomenal fields of others. Thus, according to Watson, (1999), it is highly necessary for nurses to be fully aware of ones own consciousness and authentic presence. As Watson points out (pp. 116-117), both the nurse and the patient are likely to be influenced by the actions and choices during the moment of care. That means, if the nurse is able to show openness and friendliness at the caring moment, there is the possibility of the caring occasion becoming transpersonal. Here, I would like to reflect on my personal experience as a registered nurse to see how Watson’s theory comes into clinical use. On 12th March 2010, I was assigned to take care of Mr. George; a white man of 45 who had just had his left leg amputated for gangrenes a second time. When he was admitted onto my unit, I welcomed him, and noticed that he was too tired, and was rather feeling lonely. On welcome, he returned a rather faint smile to me. Admittedly, the caring occasion started at that moment as I and the patient came into contact where the human care had to be started. At that moment, I knew very little about that person, and the patient had very little knowledge about me as a person. I wanted to make him understand that I was there to care form him and to help him. Evidently, this is what Watson described as the transpersonal relationship becoming a part of both people’s history. Admittedly, this practice of loving-kindness was in accordance with the first Clinical Caritas Process as described by Jean Watson (2007). As I helped him to settle in his room I decided to discuss with him about his feelings, priorities, and perceptions so that I could get more knowledge about the phenomenal field of the patient. As I arranged the environment, the patient asked for a change in the direction of his bed so that he could get a view of the outside world through the window, and I happily did so. Also, he wanted to have the newspaper of the day, and that too was made available. Admittedly, this too went in line with Clinical caritas Process number nine as suggested by Watson. According to the scholar, it is necessary to assist with the human care essentials, and this will, undoubtedly, facilitate better spiritual emergence through the alignment of mind-body-spirit wholeness. As all things were arranged, I took the time to ask the person as to how he felt at that point of time. This was, admittedly, in line with the Clinical Caritas Process guideline number four which points out that the nurse should develop and sustain a helping-trusting, authentic caring relationship. However, the response from the patient put me in even deeper dilemma. He responded with the highest degree of depression that he was no more feeling himself as a human being, and that he was getting dejected by everybody. I had no other way other than asking to explain how he was being isolated. Admittedly, this effort was in line with Clinical Caritas Process five that points out that a nurse should be present to, and supportive of both positive and negative feelings of a patient as way to deeper spirit of the patient. Mr. George responded that he was in danger of losing his acceptability in society as he was no longer useful as he was before. In addition, he said that he felt equally sick by other people’s attitude as by the medical condition. Here, he was, in fact, referring to the Clinical Caritas Process number eight that points out that healing should come from all sides ranging from physical, mental, social, and spiritual aspects. The fear of negligence from the near and dear was a matter of fear for him, and thus, was a matter to be avoided. Here, I was in a dilemma because I had no ready answer for him to prove that his medical condition would not affect his life. Though I felt that a human being should not be neglected for physically different, the reality loomed large. I told Mr. George that everything would be alright and promised him every help. I promised him to come back in a short time and left as he thanked me. This was an effort to abide by Clinical Caritas Process four of Watson which states that the nurse is supposed to develop a helping-trusting and authentic caring relationship. Conclusion Thus, in total, it becomes evident that for Watson, the core of nursing lies in caring. Caring is about helping the patient to find meaning of life during the hours of suffering, helping to remain as complete human beings with dignity, and helping to restore physically, mentally, and spiritually. References Parker, M. E & Smith, M. C. (2010). Nursing Theories and Nursing Practice. USA:  F.A. Davis Company. Watson, J. M. (1988). New dimensions of human caring theory. Nursing Science Quarterly, 1(4), 175-181. Watson, J. (1997). The theory of human caring: Retrospective and prospective. Nursing Science Quarterly, 10(1), 49-52. Watson, J. (1999). Postmodern Nursing and Beyond. Netherlands: Elsevier Health Sciences. Watson, J. (1999). Nursing: Human Science and Human Care: A Theory of Nursing. USA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Watson, J. (2007). Watson’s theory of human caring and subjective living experiences: Carative factors/ caritas processes as a disciplinary guide to the professional nursing practice. Texto Contexto Enferm, Florianopolis, 16(1), 129-135. Read More