Jean Watson's Theory Of Nursing Essay

Many nursing theories have progressed over time. Nursing theories provide us with a frame of reference, the capability to select concepts to study, and the philosophies that are within one’s practice (Cherry & Jacob, 2014, p. 77). Nursing theories are important because they provide nursing principles and it contributes to nursing knowledge to guide health care practices and research. The purpose of this paper is to choose a nursing theory or theorist and explain why it was chosen. The nursing theory that was chosen and will be discussed is the Philosophy and Science of Caring by Jean Watson. The focus of this theory will be discussed throughout this paper. The theory of caring focuses on the human being, their health, the environment, and the

An Accurate View on the World of Nursing This paper is going to reflect my thoughts on nursing as a profession and why I think the different aspects of nursing are so important. The purpose of the content in this paper is to give the reader a straightforward view on nursing and the different components of what makes up a nurse. I will do this through analyzing the theory of nursing created by theorist Jean Watson. Her ideas about nursing and mine flow so well together and the similarities are noted throughout the paper.

Dr. Jean Watson is a scholar, nurse, humanitarian and more. She is currently a professor at the University Of Colorado Denver School Of Nursing and has many distinguished titles such as Dean of nursing at the University Health Science Center as well as president of the National League of Nursing. She has earned her degrees, both graduate and undergraduate, in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing and has excelled to the point of receiving various prestigious awards and writing her own award winning books.

Watson’s Caring Theory and Advanced Practice Nurses The nursing profession is considered both an art and a science. An example of the science of nursing is the theory and evidence based practice guidelines (EBP), which influence a nurses practice. The art of nursing is fluid of bringing science and patient care into nursing practice.

The term nursing theory defines the body of knowledge given to specific aspects in the nursing profession. There are many theories that range from practice theories, mid-range theories, to grand theories. A theory refers to a group of related concepts, definitions, and statements that describe a certain phenomena from which to describe explain or predict outcomes. (Barnum) The theory guides the professional nurse in making clinical judgments based on evidence. It does so by using appropriate data, organizing, analyzing and developing connections to the patient. From there, nursing interventions can be planned appropriately and the outcomes can be evaluated in ensure proper intervention. (Black 267)

In the words of the late Virginia Henderson: “nurses help people, sick or well, to do those things needed for health or a peaceful death that people would do on their own if they had the strength, will, or knowledge.” Truer words were never spoken-- my personal nursing philosophy is much like Henderson’s in that I believe nurses do not simply follow physician’s orders, but utilize their knowledge, skills, and ability to think critically in order to help patients achieve a better quality of life.

I want my philosophy of nursing to reflect Jean Watson’s “Philosophy and Science of Caring Theory.” Jean Watson theorized that caring is central to nursing in that is encompasses all aspect of the patient including family, community and culture. She states that caring for patients enhance growth; in that a caring environment will accept an individual for who they are and what they will become (Nursing Theory, 2016). According to Watson’s theory (2016), caring exist in our every day lives, however caring in nursing is a way of coping with the environment. The four major concepts in Watson’s theory are: the human being, health, environment and nursing. Watson defines the human being as “...a valued person in and of himself to be cared for, respected, nurtured, understood and assisted (Nursing Theory, 2016).” Like Watson, I believe a human’s health includes the overall function of physical, mental and social well being, the ability to adapt and maintain a daily level of function and not merely the absent of

My philosophy of nursing focuses on making sure that nurses provide patient-centered care and to make patients feel like they are genuinely being cared for. Nurses must be guided by altruism. Nursing health care policies are rooted in the principle of altruism and nurses who take the initiative to take patients concerns seriously and show interest in their well-being, will only continue to grow and have satisfactory results. Watson viewed the individual as mind-body-soul and also, that there should be an internal balance between health and harmony (Zerwekh & Zerwekh Garneau, 2015). This is similar to how me and Watson see an individual because if a patient is not good in health, he or she will not be in harmony with oneself or others. There will not be an equilibrium with mind, body and soul, causing illness, depression and

This is demonstrated and practiced, caring is consists of curative factors promotes growth, a caring environment accepts a person as they are and looks to what the person many become, a caring environment offers development of potential, caring promotes health better than curing, prevention, and caring is central to nursing. Watson’s theory “ the goal of nursing is to help persons attain a higher level of harmony within the mind-body-spirit. Attainment of that goal can potentiate healing and health” (Masters, 2014, p.

Watson’s theory emphasizes the relationship between how patients receive care from nurses, how patients perceive the care they receive, and how nurses and other healthcare personnel perceive the roles that they are in and the care that they provide (Finkelman & Kenner, 2016, pg. 278). Watson believes that when a patient is able to experience a higher degree of harmony in the mind, body, and soul through a transpersonal caring relationship provided from the nurse that this enables the patient to heal more quickly (Ranhei et al., 2012,). The elements of the caring theory include the transpersonal caring relationship, caritas process, and caring occasion and caring moment. The caritas word comes from the Greek language meaning to cherish and to give special loving attention to. Watson thought that the nurse should use ten caritas as a guide on how he or she approached the patient. The ten caritas processes are 1) altruistic values and loving kindness; 2) faith, hope, and honor; 3) being sensitive to self and others; 4) helping, trusting, caring relationships; 5) promoting and accepting feelings; 6) problem-solving methods; 7) teaching and learning; 8) creating a healing environment; 9) assisting with human needs; and 10) openness to mystery and allowing miracles (Arslan-Ozkan et al., 2014, pg.