Jean Watson Nursing Theory Essay

Since the beginning of nursing as a profession, Nightingale made us look at the environment as an integral part of the healing process. Many theorists after her expanded upon this aspect, none so adamantly as Martha E. Rogers. Rogers elaborates on the holistic approach with her conceptual model/theory. Rogers’ science of unitary human beings is an indispensable research tool that relates to all South University Framework Pillars. Its historical significance only validates its invaluable quality. Rogers’ ideas are still functional today through the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education professional core competencies, care plans, clinical application, current individualized healthcare, and healthcare of populations.

Nursing theories have been a fundamental tool used to explain, guide and improve the practice of nursing. Theorists have contributed enormously to the growth of nursing as a profession. The four grand theorists I chose are Virginia Henderson, Peplau, Myra Levine and Jean Watson. These theorists have contributed tremendously in the field of nursing through their theories, and research. One thing the theorists have in common is that they are patient centered. They are all concerned on ways we can improve our responsibility to the patients, their families and the environment. They have different ideas but they are all aiming towards achieving the same goal, which is patient satisfaction and safety. Their differences are in their areas of

Barbara Dossey is truly a visionary in the holistic nursing movement and her theory is able to further the development of holistic nursing in its entirety as well as bolster patient outcomes. The context in which the theory was developed was in relation and connection to the products and ideas of Ken Wilbur, in an attempt to fortify the fundamental concept of healing (Dossey & Keegan, 2003). Dossey's four quadrant model in certain respects is a reaction to and influenced by the work of Wilbur, namely that his volumes stress that no particular or sole researcher, philosopher or theorist can describe, establish or clarify the constituents of reality (Dossey & Keegan, 2003). Dossey and Keegan emphasize that the obstacle and objectives in nursing is to bolster one's integral awareness while boosting one's overall strengths and abilities in nursing in general (2003). Ultimately, the theory developed in the context of the belief that healing occurs when the delicate balance and harmony of body and mind and spirit is successfully addressed and how ancient ideas can be effectively integrated in the realm of caring for patient in everyday living (Dosseydossey.com).

Jean Watson’s Theory of Caring has six explicit assumptions. The first assumption is, ontological assumptions emphasizing on the oneness or the connectedness of the human beings. The nurse’s experiences and values are key points to the first assumption. The second is an epistemological assumption which states that there are many ways of knowing. This includes topics as oneself and patients to abstract topics and concepts in nursing. The third assumption mentions that there are diverse methods of knowing and that the collection of information is in various forms. This includes learning about cultures, talking to patients etc. The fourth assumption makes the diverse perspectives explicit in the caring model.

Those two theories are Florence Nightingale’s theory of the important of the environment and Katharine Kolcaba’s theory of comfort. Both of these theories are lacking in the emergency room because of the lack a therapeutic environment for these patients. The goal for most emergency room physician is to keep the patient safe until the patient can be moved to an inpatient pscyharitic unit (Nicks & Manthey, 2012, p. 2). By the physicians having this mentality, it does not allow the patient to start his or her healing process in the emergency room while the patient is boarding waiting for an inpatient bed to become available. With the implementation of both of the nursing theories mentioned above this writer believes that it will change the environment that the patient is in and will teach the physicians to start to treat these patients and in turn, it will provide the patients with the quality care that he or she

Florence Nightingale’s nursing theory is probably the most well known in the nursing profession. “Patients are to be put in the best condition for Nature to act on them. It is the responsibility of nurses to reduce noise, to relieve patients’ anxiety, and to help them sleep” (Theories of Florence Nightingale, 2012). This theory emphasizes that environmental factors and adaptation is the basis of holistic nursing care. This theory is important in my opinion because it ensures that the center of focus is on the patient. When patients are hospitalized making them comfortable in a new and strange environment is important to me. Eliminating noise at the nursing station and turning down the lighting in the hallways at night are just a few ways that nurses can improve the environmental factors surrounding patients. During hospitalizations I strive to eliminate any anxiety that my patient may be experiencing. Upcoming procedures and treatments can cause tremendous stress. Simply by providing sufficient information regarding treatments or procedures can be beneficial in reducing anxiety or

Nursing care incorporates not only a compassionate attitude but passion for care of patients. The caring component of nursing cannot be measured, rather dissected through theory within the clarification of what nurses do. Systemically this is all supported through abundant theories and theorist. The nursing profession emphasizes on holistic care which is defined as treatment of the whole person. Within this skill is the admittance of problems that are biomedical but also opportune clarification of the well-being and health of a human that introduces added indicators of disease that are non-visualized (Powers, 2011).

When asked to develop a personal nursing philosophy caring was found to be the main component. Jean Watson’s Caring Science as Sacred Science reflects this philosophy in which caring is the predominate component needed in nursing. This paper will provided basic information on the Caring Science as Sacred Science Theory. The paper will further provide a personal example of a patient experience in which this theory shaped the care and healing of the patient. The personal experience to be shown in this paper involves a patient with complex chronic illness. The patient had been hospitalized for over a month. Patients with chronic illness and in the hospital often experience feeling powerless, scared, distant, and confined (Kay Hogan & Cleary, 2013). When these feelings persist they overcome the patient and do not allow the patient to concentrate on healing or being an active member of the healthcare team. Patients in this situation need caring and psychosocial support before moving on with medical care. However, this can often be hard for the healthcare team. When a patient has complex complications often treating these issues is all the team has time for due to patient load and institutional demands. Jean Watson (2009) recognizes this in her work Caring Science and Human Caring Theory: Transforming Personal and Professional Practices of Nursing and Health Care. Watson (2009) recognizes nurses are often torn between values of human caring

Jean Watson is a nurse born on Jun 10, 1940 in West Virginia, Southern United States. She developed her human caring theory which focuses on providing quality nursing care in the hospital setting. The main focus of her theory revolves around the principle of caring. Watson stated in her theory, disease is cure, but illness would remain because without caring, health cannot be attained (Dr Hicks lecture 2016). Watson believes caring is the essence of nursing and connotes responsiveness between the nurse and the person. The nurse becomes a coparticipant with the client. In Watson’s theory there are four concepts which are highlighted, and they are as follow: person, health, environment, and nursing (The Seven Assumptions). Watson stated

Jean Watson is one of the most influential nurse theorists of the 21st century. Her development of Caring Science/Human Caring Theory have put greater importance of a patient as a whole being, and a nurse’s role in care. Through her 10 caritas process, Watson has developed ways for nurses to foster a positive, caring relationship with their patients to aid in healing and development. The Watson Caring Science Institute as well as the Watson Caring Science Center continue the development and integration of these theories into the workplace, thus allowing nurses to provide better patient-centered care.

Jean Watson’s Caring theory has been used in the development of many nursing conceptual models (Fawcett & DeSanto Madeya 2013). One of the tools derived from this theory is the daily goals sheet used in a variety of ICU’s around the country (Fawcett & DeSanto Madeya 2013). The daily goals sheet was derived as a way to improve patient care by keeping the patient safe, provide reliable care, improve communication between doctors and nurses, and help the nurse plan for the day (Rehder, Uhl, & Mistry, 2012). According to Fawcett and DeSanto Maydeya (2013), the goal of Watson’s theory is to help nurses become more “nursing-qua-medicine,” where nursing “needs to emerge as mature health profession, capable of interfacing with the medical profession” (2013 p. 405-406). An interdisciplinary care team was used to implement a time with no interruptions between providers. This time was used to discuss the care of the patient, include families, and ensure that all members agree of the care to be provided (Rehder, Uhl, & Mistry 2012). By having the nurses be a part of this team, they are able to interact and be a member of the team, which is the goal of Watson’s caring theory (Rehder, Uhl, &Mistry 2012). If there is teamwork, and all the members of the team understand the goals, then the daily goals can help decrease length of stay (LOS) in ICU’s, decrease hospital acquired infections

The purpose of this paper is to analyze and summarize the philosophy of nursing and how nursing theory guides this nurse’s practice. Information used to do this paper was retrieved from the online database, Nursing and Allied Health Source and CINAHL through the SJR State Library. Our textbook, The Conceptual Foundations and the Merriam- Webster Dictionary website was also used. Some of the search phrases used were Jean Watson theory of human caring, philosophy of nursing, and Watson’s philosophy and theory of human caring in nursing on the online database. The word philosophy was also searched on the Merriam- Webster Dictionary website. There was an abundance information throughout my research on

Watsons theory describes excellent nursing practice as a caring nurse and a caring environment being vital nursing practices to support the healing process. According to Watson showing a caring attitude can explain the increase of health and equilibrium (Cherry & Jacob, 2014). Utilizing this nursing theory predicts excellent nursing practice by incorporating a holistic approach

The nursing theory consists of four major concepts including person, health, environment, and nursing. According to the Fundamentals of Nursing, these four concepts “… give nurses a comprehensive perspective that allows you to identify and treat patient’s health care needs at all levels and in all health care settings.” (Potter & Perry, 2009, p. 40) Florence Nightingale’s theory was one of the first models for nursing. The focus of this theory was that nursing consists of caring through the environment and helping the patient overcome their symptoms and changes in function related to their prevailing illness. It also focuses on the manipulation on the environment for the potential benefit of the patient. Florence “… had always seen to the heart of things- that the real nurse must be a dedicated being- that

Jean Watson's theory of nursing is based on the ideas of a number of philosophers and psychologists, including Carl Rogers, most specifically on his "phenomenological psychology and philosophy" (Tourville and Ingalls, 2003, p. 21). Her theory evolved over at least two decades of diverse experiences. Watson's theory is referred to as Transpersonal Caring because it emphasizes unity in the world (Tourville and Ingalls, 2003). Watson proposed that caring is a natural act for humans and it becomes a moral principle at the point when a patient and a nurse share a caring experience (Watson 2007). According to Watson, the goal of nursing is to help the patient achieve harmony of mind, body and spirit (Watson, 2007).