Jean Watson’s Theory and Patricia Benner's Skill Theory

Application of Theory to the Practice Problem of Nurse Staffing
Nursing theories are important in shaping how practitioners discharge their duties or make decisions related to the service delivery in healthcare. The following study explores and applies a middle range theory to an identified problem in nursing. Theory can be applied to solve nursing challenges especially in the management of nursing care services. The study will demonstrate the benefits of applying theory to solve a nursing dilemma. Jean Watson’s human caring theory and Patricia Benner's Skill Acquisition theory have been applied to examining and addressing the problem of nursing shortage.
A Brief Summary of the Problem
Nursing shortage is a common problem in many nations, and the United States suffers from the same problem. Sometimes, retired nurses have been approached to cover the gap in various health facilities (Grant, 2016). The shortage is characterized by a few nursing staff who are forced to work extra hours to fill the gaps of vacant positions. The literature on this topic indicates that adequate nursing staff leads to quality care for patients (Kritek & Hickey, 2011). However, lack of adequate nurses adversely affects patient outcomes and satisfaction. The nursing shortage does not only relate to adequate numbers some of whom are lost because of injuries, burnout, and overwork. The problem extends to the effect on patient care and the nursing workforce when caring, and compassionate care is lacking and its impact on both the nurse and the patient (Grant, 2016). Healthcare organizations have tried to use traditional methods such as retention plans and financially based strategies to address the issue without any success. Nevertheless, application of nursing theories to the identified problem can help give insights and interventions, which could help support the nurses, improve care delivery and patient outcomes.
The Applicable Middle-Range Theory to Curb Nursing Shortage Problem
Jean Watson’s human caring theory and Benner’s model are grand theories, which contribute to the existential practice of nursing (Schmidt & Brown, 2015). The human caring theory emphasizes on caring for the whole patient. Therefore, nurses must care about a patient’s body, mind, and spirit for the healing process to occur at an optimal level. Watson believes that caring is a science which goes past an intellectualization of the issues (Schmidt & Brown, 2015). Therefore, she invites us to revisit the phenomenon of the human condition. This theory is appropriate to the identified problem because applying such abstract concepts of spirituality, love and caring to the practice of nursing will help stratify the idea of human caring.
In contrast, Benner’s model will help us address the current issue by applying the ideas of education. For instance, it is important to identify the learning and performance needs of nurses and classify them as per the five levels of skill acquisition (Smith & Liehr, 2014). The process will help in identifying experts who could serve a mentoring and teaching role to nurses who are still in the novice to beginner stages. By understanding the skill level of nurses, healthcare facilities will prepare their nursing staff in the education role properly.
The Theory's Origins
Jean Watson proposed the human caring theory in 1979 (Watson & Watson, 2012). Her interest to develop this theory stems from her personal experiences, studies, and view regarding the nursing curriculum. Her personal misfortunes such as losing her husband and her eye shaped her journey regarding developing this theory. The primary focus of her theory is to give a deep meaning to nursing through what she calls the carative factors (Smith & Liehr, 2014). Benner developed the skill acquisition model because of applying the Dreyfus model that was proposed in 1984 (Schmidt & Brown, 2015). His model proposes five phases of skill acquisition namely novice, beginner, competent, proficient and expert.
Previous Application of the Middle-Range Theory
The two theories have been widely applied to education research, psychology, and medicine. Numerous studies have been undertaken with the focus of using these theories. They generated positive outcomes for both the caregiver and the patient. For instance, a study conducted in Turkey reveals that these theories improved patients’ quality of life and psychological health. This study involved 20 patients newly diagnosed with cancer, which had nurses, educated in Watson’s theory and Benner’s theory check their blood pressure regularly. After the research duration, the patients reported a decrease in mean blood pressure and an increase in their perception regarding the quality of life (Watson & Watson, 2012).
The Application of the Middle-Range Theory on Addressing Nursing Shortage
The human caring and skill acquisition theories will be applied to address the practical problem of nurse staffing. Combining the two theories to address this issue offers an opportunity to generate real and long-term changes, which will shape caring nurses and patient care environments (Watson & Watson, 2012). To be specific, applying the human caring theory will demonstrate how a caring foundation offers a moral framework for organizational effectiveness and nursing management. This theory serves a framework that nurse leaders can utilize to restore the value-guided vision of nursing care. In turn, this allows leaders to care for the patients and nurses while promoting healing, wholeness and allowing nurse leaders to restore their vocation. Combing both Benner’s and Watson’s concepts, healthcare facilities can offer a moral and ethical support to overcome numerous practice challenges in the delivery of quality patient care. Nurse staffing cannot be ignored in the provision of patient care. Although most hospitals waste many resources trying to manage the workflow, improve throughput and optimize staffing hours, much can be learned regarding the skill acquisition and caring sides of nursing (Smith & Liehr, 2014). Their effect on patient satisfaction, nurse retention, and care delivery economics must be emphasized.
Modifying My Practice by Incorporating the Theory
Incorporating Watson’s theory of human caring into my nursing practice can help address the current problem of nurse staffing in various ways. One way to implement the Caritas to influence nurse staffing would be for me to support nursing staff in self-care activities and exercise love and kindness for self and others (Schmidt & Brown, 2015). Creating and enforcing policies, which guarantee healthy work practices, offering healing support and restricting call/work hours will help me, operationalize this practice. Therefore, incorporating Watson’s theory even with the slightest chance will greatly affect my work environment as a nurse as well as change my perception of being treated (Kritek & Hickey, 2011). As a nurse leader, I must start demonstrating this theory since it could open doors for nursing staff to start thoughtfully incorporating caring in their daily practice to improve their nurse-patient interactions.
The connection between patients, nurses and the management will be understood by applying Benner’s Model. This model focuses on examining connectedness and consciousness in human psychology, and its concepts seek to support nursing theory related to human caring. Currently, nurse leaders face the challenge of nurse staffing shortage. Therefore, application of Benner’s Model is one of the positive strategies to furnish a holistic approach to solve the causes of the problem at hand. By implementing Benner’s five stages of skill acquisition: novice, advanced beginner, competent, proficient, and expert, I may profit from understanding the interconnectedness of decisions made by the healthcare facility and the effect on patients and nursing staff.
Benner’s model will help me offer appropriate nursing care to my patients. This model provides me with the necessary skills to attend to my patients’ needs. Therefore, I will be acquiring knowledge and expectations in the progressions of various diseases. By applying the domains of this model, I will be in the majority of the functions including teaching, coaching, monitoring and administering interventions. While providing the care, my patients will be comfortable despite their ailments.


References
Grant, R. (2016). The U.S. Is Running Out Of Nurses. The Atlantic. Retrieved Oct. 21, 2017, from https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/02/nursing-shortage/459741/
Kritek, P. B. & Hickey, M. (2011). Change leadership in nursing: How change occurs in a complex hospital system. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company
Schmidt, N. A., & Brown, J. M. (2015). Evidence-based practice for nurses: appraisal and application of research. Jones & Bartlett Publ. Incorporated
Smith, M. J., & Liehr, P. R. (2014). Middle range theory for nursing. New York: Springer.
Watson, J., & Watson, J. (2012). Human caring science: A theory of nursing. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.