Theory Critique of Jean Watson

Theory Critique of Jean Watson

Introduction and Historical Context

Jean Watson developed the theory of transpersonal caring or the theory of human caring in the year 1979. The theory points at the humanistic characteristics of nursing in relation to the scientific knowledge in the world. Watson developed this theory with the aim of communicating meaning, and making nursing a unique health profession. We consider caring as the core responsibility to nursing; therefore, we must be ready to preserve human caring within activities; within our administrative stations, within the clinic, at our educational facilities and during research work. The theory has evolved over time, but the concepts remain the same (Earle, 2010). Various changes in the health care strategies and systems have intensified the need of nursing responsibilities. Nurses have to look after patients with care and concerning their healthcare situation. Jean Watson's theory tries to explain how nurses cope with the ever-increasing challenges they undergo as they dispense their service.

Jean Watson's theory allows nursing profession to focus at their roots; considering the values and professional roots of nursing as a profession. The theory represents features of an ideal nurse. Roles of nurses are the establishment of a relationship with patients. The role of a nurse is committed to treating a patient as a holy being; body, spirit and mind. A nursing professional should display a spirit of unconditional acceptance since Patients develop a feeling of care expectation in the nursing practice. Nurses commit to treating patients with positive regard. Through knowledge acquisition, nursing professionals should promote health through knowledge application and interventions (George, 2011). Moreover, nursing professionals should spend time with their patients' uninterrupted. This technique, "the caring moments" is essential in nurse-patient interaction.

Caring is the identity of the nursing profession, where the nursing professional focuses on the humanistic aspects of patients in relation to care giving. Watson's theory looks at the needs of the patients as well as the needs of the caregivers. Humanistic values of the nurse are constantly, challenged and questioned to upholding care value of the profession. Nursing is not only a job but also an art where the caregiver strives to ease families' and patient suffering. The process of caring promotes healing and preserves dignity and promotes development of nurses self-actualization. According to Watson (2009), the theory has three major concepts: the carative factors, the transpersonal caring relationships and the caring moments.

Transpersonal Caring Relationship

Transpersonal relationships go hand in hand with the relationships between a nurse and a patient. It concerns something more than just the ego needs of the nurse. The theory embraces the inner feeling of life world. This subjective meaning penetrates beyond the given meaning. Participants reach at deep beyond connections of ego and self-actualization to a spiritual level. The spiritual level promotes healing of patients. The theory tries to embrace the functionality of the spirit, through healing and caring of patients. This promotes Authentication and solves existing problems. Nurses consciousness, promote moral standing of the nurse and help to communicate in order to preserve the honor the spirit embodied. Patients are moral objects and should be treated so rather than just objects. Consciousness of a nurse and the interaction has the potential healing. The approach looks at the unique qualities of the patient and the nurse their mutual benefit. The caregiver and the affected connect in search of meaning and wholeness. A deeper spiritual connection promotes healing and provides comfort to a patient's inner feelings (Watson, 2009).

Caring Moment

Caring moment as a phenomenon comes about when a nurse and the patient meet. The union of the two promotes human caring. The phenomenon broadly features personal experiences, personal perceptions, environmental conditions and understanding of personal meanings, in relation to the present, historical or hypothesized future. The caregiver should authenticate their presence of being in the moment of caring with patients. The caregiver must also be aware of his consciousness that is crucial for healing. Both parties make choices based on the relationships thereby becoming part of one's history through influence. Caring becomes transpersonal when one allows a spiritual interaction. Nurses using these phenomena promotes healing and in the development of healing strategies.

Carative factors

Jean Watson developed the carative phenomena in the year 1979. This concept tries to honor the humanistic contributions of nurses in nursing work. The theory looks at the experiences of the people we serve as nurses (Watson, 2009). The concepts require a nurse to have the following qualities and personality: a nurse should be sensitive to others, should be trusted and willing to help others, should always express their positive and negative feelings, solve problems, promote transpersonal teaching- learning and be protective and supportive. Additionally, nurses should be able to attend to the spiritual needs of patients in relation to their needs to promote healing.

Method of testing

The theory tested through initiation of a phenomena research study. It starts with problem definition the sample chosen, research designs and study tools developed. Interview is the best style of data collection. The health professional inquires about personal experiences of the patients; a personal relationship develops where the nurse offers positive and negative feelings and at time promotes spiritual relationship, the goal of patients and what they wish to gain. Results from data collection test the strength of the program and corrective actions are done. This method is very important in studying the patient needs and helps in healing (Watson, & Smith, 2002).