Jean watson

Jean watson

Theory of caring

By Michelle Downey

Jean Watsons backgroundMargaret Jean Harmon was born in a small town in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia in the 1940s.

She graduated from the Lewis Gale School of Nursing in 1961 and then continued her nursing studies at the University of Colorado.

In 1961, she married Douglas Watson and in 1963 & 1967, they had two daughters.

She received her Ph.D. in educational psychology and counseling in 1973.

(Watson Caring Science Institute, 2010)

She served as Dean of Nursing at the University Health Science Center.

She was the President of the National League for Nursing and she is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.

She has six honorary degrees, including an International Honorary Doctorate in 2003, and an Honorary Doctor at Sciences in Nursing in 2010.

(Watson Caring Science Institute, 2010)

Social changes in nursing while jean watson formed her theoryOn January 6, 1975, the ANA held formal ceremonies to honor the first nurses certified by the association.

The number of registered nurses was estimated at 961,000.

In 1977, the ANA introduced a health services bill that expanded primary care services, in area where there were shortages, nurse practitioners worked in concert with doctors.

(Watson Caring Science Institute, 2010)

In 1978, the ANA proposed a bill that would revise the system of federal funding for mental health, requiring states to provide comprehensive planning and coordination of programs.

By the year 1979, there was an estimated 1,123,200 registered nurses employed.

(nursingworld.org, 2015)

Jean watsons 4 major conceptsA human being is viewed as greater than and different from the sum of his/her parts.

Health high level of overall physical, mental and social functioning and the absence of illness.

Environment/Society caring and nursing has existed in every society, it is not transmitted from generation to generation but by culture as a unique way of coping with the environment.

Nursing is concerned with promoting health, preventing illness and caring for the sick and restoring health, holistic care being central. (Watson Caring Science Institute, 2010)

Jeans definition of nursing

A human science of persons and humans health-illness experience that are mediated by professional, personal, scientific, esthetic and ethical human transactions.

(Watson Caring Science Institute, 2010)

Jeans seven assumptionsCaring can be effectively demonstrated and practiced only interpersonally.

Caring consists of carative factors that result in the satisfaction of certain human needs.

Effective caring promotes health and individual or family growth.

(Watson Caring Science Institute, 2010)

seven assumptionsCaring responses accept a person not only as he/she is not, but as what he/she may become.

A caring environment is one that offers the development of potential, while allowing the person to choose the best for himself/herself, at a given point in time.

Caring is more healthogenic than curing. A science of caring is complementary to the science of curing.

The practice of caring is central to nursing.

(Watson Caring Science Institute, 2010)

Jean watsons theory strengths and limitations

The strengths of her theory are that is places the client in the context of the family, the community and the culture. Her theory places the client as the focus of practice rather than technology.

The limitations are the biophysical needs of the individual are given less importance. The ten carative factors primarily delineate the psychosocial needs of the person. Her theory needs further research to apply in practice.

(Watson Caring Science Institute, 2010)

Watsons 10 carative factorsPracticing loving-kindness and equanimity.

Becoming an authentic person, present and enabling through a sustainable deep belief system.

Cultivating a personal spiritual lifestyle.

Develop and sustain authentic caring relationships.

Becoming aware and supporting both positive and negative feelings in self and others. (Watson Caring Science Institute, 2010)

Learn to creatively use self and all the ways of knowing as part of the caring process, using the engaging artistry to promote caring/healing practices.

Learning to engage in genuine teaching/learning that create meaningful experiences, within anothers frame of reference.

Becoming aware of how to create a healing environment at every level, so wholeness, beauty, dignity, comfort and most importantly peace is potentiated.

Always assisting with basic needs, keeping intentional caring conscious, administering human care essentials, aligning the mind/body/spirit to create wholeness in all aspects of care.

(Watson Caring Science Institute, 2010)

Becoming open and attending to the mysteries of life/death and the soul being for, allowing and being open to miracles.

(Watson Caring Science Institute, 2010)

Jeans Watsons theory can be applied to all types of nursing. I feel it especially relates to Hospice Care. Persons at the end of life need all of the elements that Watson developed in her 10 Carative Factors. I have a deep interest in hospice care/palliative care and plan to use Watsons method in my nursing practices.

References

Watson Caring Science Institute. (2010). Retrieved from http:// watsoncaringscience.org/about-us/jean-bio/

American Nurses Association. (2015). ANA History. Retrieved from http://www.nursingworld.org/FunctionalMenuCategories/AboutANA/History/BasicHistoricalReview.pdf