Human Caring Theory Jean Watson

Jean Watson’s Human Caring Theory
Nursing models provide an important basis for nursing work. They provide nursing practitioners with values and principles they can employ in their work to enhance patient outcomes and ensure a more gratifying professional journey. Jean Watson’s theory of human caring is one such theory. Indeed, the theory is one of the widely appreciated theories of nursing. This paper provides an analysis of this theory. The paper specifically describes the background of the theory, key assumptions, strengths and weaknesses, as well as its application in clinical practice.
Jean Watson developed her nursing theory in the late 1970s. The development of the theory was primarily influenced by Watson’s personal views, experiences, studies, and participation in the nursing curriculum (Watson, 2012). More specifically, her encounters with caregivers and patients as well as the loss of her eye and her spouse through suicide substantially shaped her personal and professional journey. By developing the theory, she aimed to redefine the meaning of nursing. Her theory has without a doubt transformed nursing practice in the last four decades or so.
Watson’s theory is based on a number of principles: authentic presence (deep belief in others), practice of love and kindness, forging a caring-healing environment, cultivating spiritual practice, and allowing miracles or inexplicable events. The theory is premised on the following assumptions: caring is practised more effectively only interpersonally; effective caring involves satisfying certain human needs; effective nursing improves individual health and family wellbeing; caring interventions embrace an individual’s present and future status; effective caring entails involving the individual in the care process; caring is complementary to curing; and caring is the heart of the nursing profession (Watson, 2007). These principles and assumptions make Watson’s model especially unique compared to other nursing models.
Conceptually, Watson’s theory is characterised by three major elements: 1) carative factors; 2) transpersonal relationship; and 3) caring moment (Watson, 2012). Carative factors constitute a particularly crucial component of nursing practice. Also referred to as caritas processes, the concept of carative factors essentially denotes the combination of love and kindness in the nursing process. This means that the practice of nursing goes beyond specialty, treatment interventions, procedures, clinical setting, functional tasks, and other ordinary processes or activities. The model identifies 10 carative factors: development of humanistic, altruistic values; inspiring faith and hope; sensitivity to self and others; formation of a helping-trusting caring relationship; systematic employment of problem solving concepts in the caring process; cultivation of interpersonal teaching-learning; allowing the portrayal of both positive and negative emotions; facilitating the fulfilment of human needs; allowing existential-spiritual forces; and offering a supportive physical, mental, social, and spiritual environment.
The love-kindness equanimity facilitates a transpersonal caring relationship – a caring relationship that focuses on not just physical health, but also other elements of wellbeing such as spiritual and emotional wellbeing (Watson, 2007). Such a relationship occurs when the nurse and the patient come together in a human-to-human exchange, creating a caring moment (Watson, 2012). The caring moment becomes the focal point of nursing – it defines the nursing experience.
Consistent with Florence Nightingale’s model of nursing, Watson’s theory offers not only a theoretical and practical approach, but also a philosophical, intellectual, and ethical approach to nursing practice. This is one of the major strengths of the theory. It offers valuable guidelines for clinical practice, moral conduct, nursing curriculum development, nursing research and inquiry, as well as administrative management within the context of nursing (Pajnkihar, McKenna & Stiglic, 2017). In addition, the model views nursing as a far broader phenomenon, encompassing not just physical health, but also social, psychological, and mental wellbeing. More importantly, the theory advocates for person-centred care. As individuals posses unique personalities, backgrounds, and characteristics, the importance of personalised care cannot be overemphasised. Also, the theory is logical, straightforward, generalisable, and strongly premised on developmental, psychological, humanistic, and philosophical theory. Even so, some limitations are worth noting. Chief among these weaknesses is that the theory appears to place little emphasis on biophysical needs – more attention is paid to social, emotional, mental, and spiritual needs.
Watson’s theory is broadly applicable in clinical practice. Personally, my professional practice revolves around labour and delivery as well as neonatal intensive care. The theory is immensely relevant to this setting. The experience of labour and delivery as well as the placement of infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) can be scaring, traumatising, and distressing for mothers and their loved ones. Providing transpersonal care can make the experience more fulfilling for patients. Care that surpasses biological dimensions can make mothers in delivery and NICU units to be more satisfied with care. Transpersonal care in this context means caring for the infant while at the same time helping the mother fulfil her social, emotional, mental, and spiritual needs. In my experience, nurses can achieve transpersonal care by listening to and addressing the mother’s doubts and anxieties, demonstrating compassion during the labour process, helping the mother overcome pain, involving the mother’s family in the care process, and ensuring constant presence in the NICU. Transpersonal care in maternity and NICU settings can also be achieved by incorporating the mother’s socio-cultural background in the care plan and preparing mothers for the delivery experience.
On the whole, despite its limitations, Watson’s theory of human caring has important implications for nursing practice. The model essentially advocates for a holistic, person-centred approach to nursing. Such an approach can lead to the achievement of better patient outcomes such as improved patient satisfaction and healthier nurse-patient relationships.


References
Pajnkihar, M., McKenna, H., & Stiglic, G. (2017). Fit for practice: Analysis and evaluation of Watson’s theory of human caring. Nursing Science Quarterly, 30(3), 243-252.
Watson, J. (2007). Watson’s theory of human caring and subjective living experiences: Carative factors/carita processes as a disciplinary guide to the professional nursing practice. Texto Contexto Enferm Florianópolis, 16(1), 129-35.
Watson, J. (2012). Human caring science. 2nd ed. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.