Nursing: Jean Watson's Human Caring Theory Jean Watson's Human Caring Theory

Caring science is a branch of science that appreciates unity of life and explores individuals' duty of care to themselves, others, the environment, the world, and the universe. Jean Watson's human caring theory is one of the key building blocks of caring science -- it explores the practice of care in the nursing profession, or rather, how nurses ought to demonstrate care to their patients. Watson suggests that the practice of caring is central to the nursing profession because it enhances growth and creates an accepting environment, where everyone is accepted for who they are (Nursing Theory, 2013). She posits that effective caring requires nurses to incorporate spiritual dimensions into their practice and their interaction with patients so that they are in a better position to understand their patients' perspectives and consequently, nurture a mutual bond.

Watson divides his practice of care in nursing into four metaparadigm concepts -- the human being, health, nursing, and the environment (Nursing Theory, 2013). He defines the human being as a valuable person who deserves to be assisted, understood, nurtured, respected, and cared for. Every human being is unique, with different viewpoints, needs, and perspectives; and a nurse has a...

The second concept, human health, is defined as an individual's overall social, mental, and physical well-being (Griffin & Landers, 2014). Nurses ought to care for their patients, not as a way of eliminating illness and disease, but a way of ensuring that their overall health (the social, mental, and physical function) is maintained at all times (Griffin & Landers, 2014). In other words, a nurse ought to continue expressing care to their patient even in the absence of illness. This could involve educating them on how to maintain proper nutritional habits and how to make proper lifestyle choices to maintain good health. The third component, nursing, governs human care transactions as required by ethical, personal, and professional standards guiding the nursing profession (Griffin & Landers, 2014).
Watson does not define the forth metaparadigm concept; nonetheless, he identifies ten carative processes that nurses could adopt to be able to respond effectively to these metaparadigms as a whole:

i) Practicing loving kindness with others and with self; and embracing altruistic values in the nursing practice

ii) Honoring and instilling hope in others

iii) Nurturing individual practices…