Personal Philosophy Nursing Watson\'s Philosophy

Personal Philosophy Nursing

Watson's philosophy of nursing is a unique approach to nursing that states that "nursing is a human science that addresses the nature of human caring" (Alligood 2009). Watson is all about going back to the traditional values of nursing, focusing on the caring aspects. Watson introduces theoretical proposition for the human-to-human relationships of nursing and details ten carative factors to monitor the application of her work in nursing. Watson has seven assumptions about the science of caring. The basic assumptions of caring are, according to Watson: 1) caring can be effectively illustrated and acted out only in an interpersonal way; 2) caring is comprised of carative factors that end in the satisfaction of specific human needs; 3) effective caring promotes health and individual or family growth; 4) caring responses will accept people not for just how they are but as what he or she may become in the future; 5) a caring atmosphere is one that offers the potential for the person to development while, at the same time, offering an environment for the person to decide what is best for him or herself at that given time; 6) caring is "healthogenic" -- more so than "curative" and this "healthogenic" caring is more complementary to curing; and, 7) the practice of caring is central to the practice of nursing.

Watson's theory of caring is the best philosophical model when it comes to nursing because it focuses on the patient and the human relationship between nurse and patient. With Watson's curative factors, there are certain aspects that are meant to satisfy all of patients' needs. The idea that Watson's theory thinks about not only the patient in the moment, but also whom the patient will become in the future, is incredibly innovative, as it forces health care workers (i.e., nurses -- and doctors as well) to consider the human individual as opposed to simply considering a patient.

The ten primary carative factors of nursing are: 1) the formation of humanistic-altruistic system of values; 2) the installation of faith (or hope); 3) the cultivation of sensitivity to one's own self as well as others; 4) the development of a helping and trusting relationship; 5) the promotion and acceptance of the expression of positive as well as negative feelings; 6) the systematic use of the scientific problem-solving method for decision making; 7) the promotion of interpersonal teaching/learning; 8) the provision for a supportive and protective (as well as corrective) mental, physical, socio-cultural and spiritual environment; 9) assistance with the gratification of human needs; and, 10) the allowance for existential-phenomenological forces (Current Nursing 2010).

Watson believed that there are many different factors that go into treating a patient. There is so much more to nursing than just giving medication; Watson believed that a nurse had to develop a very human relationship with a patient -- and this relationship involved caring and understanding as well as trust.

For Watson, treating a patient as a nurse was not just about giving out medication, it was about caring for a patient. Caring became a phenomenon for Watson as opposed to just thinking about ways in which to make a person feel better. The aspect of caring is critical to treating patients and Watson was the one who found ways to assess and influence the issue of caring in the nursing field. The main problem with caring was how it was measured. Caring, as it is such an abstract notion, is quite difficult to measure as it can mean something different to every individual.

Talking about "caring" is difficult. How does a person measure caring? How does a person talk about or measure the caring elements of nurses in the field? Caring is invisible, for the most part. One can talk about caring; one can show caring; but, how does one measure what is caring and what is not -- or how much caring there is or how little of it there is?

The wording "caring" is complex in and of itself. Some have questioned whether caring is a moral concern or whether caring is simply an obligation that one must deal with. What comes with caring? Is it more about values and morals or duties and obligations? For every single person there may be a different answer.