Dr. Kristen M. Swanson is a register nurse that is renowned for the development of the Swanson Theory of Caring (1991) that is a middle-range theory used to educate, guide research, and nurse practice. Swanson defined the caring concept as a process for growth and for producing health that associates someone that is appreciated or matters to other, toward whom they feel passion and accountability. The definition can be used in all caring relationships such as nurse to nurse, or with a client, and also nurse to themselves, but Swanson (1993) specifies that the purpose of the theory is applied to and restricted to nursing. Swanson's Theory of Caring provides the client the opportunity to learn, practice, and develop their self-care. As a …show more content…
The themes or concepts are abstract terms. Kalfoss (2015) Systematic Review reports that over the years theory of caring concepts have remained consistent and have also developed with the significance and experience given by the client. The theory of transpersonal caring presented by Jean Watson reflects similarity with the caring concept and sometimes they are cited together. which provides more veracity to Swanson's Theory of Caring. For example, as Swanson defined Knowing, Watson’s provides emphasis in the idea that caring starts with ourselves and it has to performed with respect and dignity (Clark, …show more content…
- The nurse has to preserve the client’s dignity and care about the well-being of client.
- The nurse also helps to improve their health.
Theory Applied to Clinical Area of Nursing Practice
Swanson's Theory of Caring has an impact on the practice of nursing. The theory framework sustains the concepts definition. An example for theory application in the clinical area of nursing practice: A 34 year old woman suffered a car accident and the ambulance moved her with her husband and 2 year old baby to the Emergency Room (ER) because she had head bleeding. The nurse assists in the process of an electroencephalography test and tried to calm her husband. The doctor confirms she is a comatose client due to head trauma.
Knowing
The nurse touched the client’s husband’s shoulder for human contact and indicated that the electroencephalography did not register any brain activity. The husband referred that he wanted his wife to wake up as soon as possible. The nurse, without judging, helped the husband and the family to understand the appropriate hospital and home health care that has to be provided to the wife to improve her status and her quality of life.
Being
A nursing theory that has influenced my professional nursing practice is Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring. In this theory she addresses how nurses care for their patients. Caring is the essence of the nursing profession and is a relationship formed between the nurse and the patient. In Watson’s theory she believed that caring could assist the patient to gain control in their own health care, become educated, and in the end find health. Watson focused on the patient’s mind, body, and soul and this is the aspect of her theory that I try to use in my professional practice. As a new nurse straight out of nursing school I focused more on protocols and procedures to make sure I was doing everything right. My patients had good outcomes but I was amazed when I started thinking about the patient as a whole and not just thinking about the illness they had and how to treat it. Many times just treating the patient’s
A basic part of modern age humanity is dignity. It is self-imposed pride that is susceptible to damage through the verbal and physical actions of others. Hospital and clinical settings can leave a client’s dignity vulnerable. It is where people, now clients, are weak and in some cases unable to function like they once did. This can wound their dignity, but it is the duty of nurses to preserve it. Through respect, support, and by relieving pain and suffering, nurses work to preserve the dignity of their clients. Likewise, nurses are able to easily damage the dignity and integrity of their clients through inappropriate behaviour, a lack of respect, and being irresponsible while on the job. A passage published by a hearing tribunal from the College
According to Fawcett and DeSanto-Madeya (2013), Watson’s Theory of Human Caring can be categorized as a middle- range theory due to its focus on the relation between use of the clinical caritas processes and the building of a transpersonal caring relationship within the context of caring occasion and caring consciousness. Theory of Human Caring honors the unity of the whole human being, while also attending to creating a healing environment (Watson, 2006). Caring is acknowledged as transpersonal, in that it goes beyond the ego-oriented human; it involves the one caring as well as the care receiver, and is mutual, intersubjective, and reciprocal (Watson, 2006). The integrity and usefulness of the theory will be evaluated based on Fawcett’s (2005) criteria. Why it can be argued that the Theory of Human Caring meet the Fawcett’s evaluation criteria, there is evidence of confusion and lack of simplicity.
The caring theory was grounded on a humanitarian perspective and is found on a humanistic approach toward human caring programs and experiences. It acknowledges that life with individuals and their community to the surrounding environment are somehow connect and affects wellbeing of everything involved. The nature of the theory caring implies that it embraces reflective investigations as well subjective and interpretative inquiries. The nursing profession uses nursing theories as the framework and foundation for practice. Many people find nursing theories to be meaningless and of no use to the
Without nursing history, nursing would not be the same. For example, Nightingale’s thirteen tenets set the basis of nursing. All these tenets become apparent while promoting health, preventing illness, and while providing care for clients. Additionally, Carper’s four fundamental ways of knowing allows us, as nurses, to think critically, provide holistic care (also apart of Waton’s theory), build therapeutic relationships, follow the code of ethics, and also encourage us to extrapolate data effectively. Nonetheless, Paterson and Zderad, as well as Leininger, set the foundation for nurses to care for each client as their own, using a humanistic, existentialistic, and culturally sensitive approach. Generally, each of these theories allow nurses to acquire new knowledge and skills, altering thoughts and emotions, ultimately enabling us to apply our newfound knowledge into real life situations, which will prove useful in clinical placements next
The purpose of this paper will be to discuss the major philosophies that have shaped the nursing profession, how epistemologies have informed nursing science, the development of nursing philosophy, and the theoretical knowledge that has advanced the nursing body of knowledge. I will discuss how this new knowledge has influenced my perspective of the nursing profession, and how this will inform my theory-guided and reflective practice as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). Furthermore, I will articulate the concepts and ideas of my personal nursing philosophy and paradigm, and the congruence to the theoretical concepts and elements of Dr. Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring (Watson, 1979).
Kristen M. Swanson’s Caring Theory is the solution in bridging the gap between nursing practice and theory. It offers an explanation of the links between patient well-being and the caring process (Tonges & Ray, 2011). Swanson explained that nurses should be able to demonstrate that they care about their patients, and that caring about their wellbeing is as important as their patients’ current medical problem (Tonges & Ray, 2011).
The two theories that have helped to form my personal perspective on nursing are Erickson; and Rogers. Helen Erickson’s model is based on caring for an individual patient based on their own unique needs and perspective (Nursing Theories and Models, 2017). Erickson’s model took concepts from several other theorists such as Maslow, Padget, Seyle, and Lazarus and combined them to create a nursing model that takes care of each individual patient based on their needs ( Reed, 2017). This theory helps me to be more cognizant of the individual needs of my patient, not all patients regardless of disease process are the same. Each patient may have different underlying factors or circumstances that affect their health and current situation. Rogers’ theory is broader, viewing nursing as both an art and science, promoting health and wellbeing to patients regardless of where they are (Nursing Theories and Models, 2017). The science of nursing involves the knowledge and research of nursing, and the art is applying that science for the betterment of the patient. This theory views an individual as part
Swanson’s Middle Range Theory of caring suggests five therapeutic processes that define caring: Knowing, being with, doing for and making belief (Swanson, 1991). Swanson’s theory explores the concept of caring both from the mother and the nurses’ perspective (Swanson, 1991). The first therapeutic process in Swanson’s Middle Range caring theory is
Dr. Swanson determined five caring processes that encompass her theory. In her more recent discussions of her theory, she not only elaborates on the five caring processes but also describes subcategories/subdimensions that are contained within the concepts (Swanson, 1998).
Therefore, in determining a nursing theory in which GRMC could implement a professional practice model, it is pertinent to review the mission and vision statements in order to determine a common concept by which to follow. The apparent theme to the organizational mission in which to establish a theory-based nursing practice is- caring. Caring is noted at the beginning of the mission statement as providing care and compassion for all patients and is repeated through out these statements as quality care, cooperative spirit, and compassionate service (GRMC, 2009). Jean Watson’s Caring Theory would be an excellent choice in
This theory explains, describes, guides, and supports nursing practice. It gives language to the unspoken beliefs and perspectives of the nursing profession. This allows the nursing professionals to better envision, realize, and articulate their unique role in healthcare (Green & Robichaux, 2009). Human caring is the basis of therapeutic relationships between human beings (Wade & Kasper, 2006)
This patient had suffered an intraventricular hemorrhagic stroke. Since this patient lived alone, she was found by her son unconscious; however, it was unknown how long she had been unconscious. When she arrived at the hospital, she was a GCS of three and had not improved since then. Three weeks later, when I returned to neuro-ICU I again cared for this patient and her status had remained unchanged. Therefore, an ethics consult was made with the family to recommend comfort care. However, since the patient had undergone an ischemic stroke a few years back and fully recovered, the family had hope the patient would fully recover again. Although, it was explained that the strokes were different and the amount of damage to the brain was irreversible they still were not accepting the reality of the patient’s condition. These situations are difficult since the patient’s family is in denial, but you must respect their decision and continue to provide care for the patient (What do I do now? Ethical dilemmas in nursing and health care, 2013). Overall, whatever ethical dilemma you may encounter as a nurse, it is important that you continue to provide the best possible care despite your
Caring is a term that is very essential to nursing practice. It is a science and an art that is practiced and perfected by nursing professionals. Jean Watson is a well-known American theorist that created the Philosophy and Science of Caring. Caring in nursing is the important connection between the nurse and the individual that seeks care. Watson’s theory of caring is based on the concept of human relationships and consists of carative factors that should embody the nurse. This paper will take a closer look at the theory of caring and explore the dimensions of how it applies to nursing practice.
The nursing theories that are available today all have good reasoning to their practices. Each one individualizes the needs of the patients and what should be done to provide care for each patient. However, in my recent research of nursing theorists I have been interested in the theory by Patricia Benner. Her book titled From Novice to Expert explains Benner's view that caring is a necessary component in the theory of skill acquisition. She describes nursing as an "enabling condition of connection and concern" (Marriner-Tomey, 1989, p.192) which implies a high level of emotional involvement in the nurse-patient relationship (Benner, 1984). Benner speaks of the "power" of caring and describes the caring role as involving the concepts of transformative power, integrative caring, advocacy, healing power, participative/affirmative power, and problem solving (Benner, 1984). She takes a stand in her belief that that nursing care is more than the application of mere skill; it is relational and