The Definitions Of Caring And Life Restraining By Halldorsdottir

Caring is the central focus of the nursing profession that ensures healing and human growth and well-being. According to Halldorsdottir (1989, 1990), the five mode of being with another entails biogenic (life-giving), bioactive (life-sustaining), biopassive (life-neutral), biostatitic (life-restraining), and bioacid (life destroying) and the biostatic mode (life restraining) (Halldorsdottir, 1991). Apathy which means lack of interest, concern or enthusiasm can be explained in the biopassive mode (life-neutral). It involves inattention, insensitivity and lack of care on the part of the nurse to a patient’s complains and needs. The biopassive mode is where one does not affect life in the other. This mode may lack real effect but when experienced

In this article, he cites these studies, as well as the experiences of his co-researchers in interactions with nurses. While discussing different modes, he gives examples of when a nurse may have activated that mode. The biocidic mode (life-destroying) involves transference of negative energy, destruction of the joy of life and depersonalizing a person (Halldorsdottir, 1991). It results in a feeling of harm despair, hurt and pain. It is demonstrated by behaviors such as depersonalization of the other, abuse, aggression, dominance hatred, threatening, manipulation, humiliation, and cold-heartedness. Due to their vulnerability, the biocidic mode can be very destructive to the health of patients (Halldorsdottir, 1991). It leads to despair and helplessness. Patients unanimously concur that encounters with uncaring nurses have a long-lasting effect more than encounters with a caring nurse. Patients in hospital settings can be sensitive and therefore easily affected by mistreatment which leads to further distress and decline in their health, slowing down their healing process. A onetime experience of the biocidic mode should however not destroy the perception and reputation of the entire healthcare system. The extent of the uncaring feeling can also increase by the fact that the patient is physical and emotionally sensitive and vulnerable as a result of