Connections in nursing theory and practice

Watson Human Care Theory

The Significance of Watson Human Care Theory in handling dying patients

It is imperative to integrate a psychosocial treatment strategy in handling dying patients. This is based on the knowledge that dying patients could have lost hope leading to depreciation of an illness. In any case, most of the acute illnesses could have been contained at the primary stage of development. Healing or ailing is primarily managed by the mind and not the techniques applied in the medical arena. This study is critical in proving the essentiality Jean Watson's theory of human caring. I will heavily relate to the study to respond to necessities of a dying patient. In particular, the discussion will analyze how the theory is significant in exploring the comfort levels required in the general treating and healing process.

An example

I replicate my approach from an article I adopted from the Danish Council of Ethics. The nurse in charge was attending to an 89-year-old dying patient. The patient was admitted to a medical ward with conditions of diarrhea and vomiting. The patient was suffering from type diabetes, and based from his much octogenarian age, his chances of survival were trivial. Unfortunately, after five days of hospitalization, the patient contracts fever with an irritating inflammation from the Urethra. This comes after the nurse in charge goes for live. On the seventh day, the patient was paralyzed and facial nerve occurs. On the eleventh day, doctors tapped the patient on dopamine drip. The patient was now on constant tube feeding. The condition remained unchanged until on the fifteenth day. On the sixteenth day, the patient could not hold any longer and dies. The initial nurse used Watson human care theory to respond to ever degenerating conditions. The patient successfully survived the first week, since the responsive nurse kept the patient checked. The patient condition began degenerating after the nurse inspired by Watson philosophy went on leave (Danish Council of Ethics, 2006).

My commitment to a dying patient

Human caring entails the humanitarian science of offering professional services to a needy human. This is based on the consideration that professional nursing services entail phenomena, experience, and knowledge. Watson Caring theory is derived from moral-ethical and philosophical foundation as integral prerequisites in the nursing disciplinary level (Chesnay & Anderson, 2008). As the caregiver, I will endeavor to combine science, humanities, art, and spirituality in enhancing the mind-body-spirit healing concept to respond to my dying patient. The prowess of the theory is based on Watson notion that the theory is essentially practical and nurses should not rely on the philosophical aspect alone. Instead, I will interact with the theory on personal level while nursing my patient. Watson (2011) emphasizes on the importance of a practical approach as seen from his argument that human nature in nursing cannot be ignored. He advocates that the nurse must develop intrinsic relationship with the patient. Previous research has shown that the relationship of nurses and patients is based on synergy: the treatment and healing processes are enhanced at optimal levels (Byrne & Byrne, 1992).

The description provided has been substantial in assessing the importance of Watson theory in improving the general quality nursing practice. Primarily, I recognize that nursing practice stretches from technical skills to the deeper psychosocial relationship between the nurse and the patient. This is facilitated by the development of intrinsic methodology that requires the inherent communication between my dying patient and me at various levels of treating and maintenance. A dying patient is considered to have lost any hope in healing and the only option left is euthanasia as a reliever of mental or physical pain.

The element of hope is centered on hope for cure, hope for treatment, hope for prolonged life, and hope for a peaceful death. This self-understanding is based on the knowledge that my patient is undergoing the five stages of grief. These stages graduate to various instances of anger, denial, bargaining stages, depression, and acceptance. Essentially, Watson theory facilitates the various stages leading to the crucial stage of acceptance (Brunjes, 2012).

A patient not aided by Watson theory will stick predominantly on the third stage of depression. This stage challenges any effort of collective medication. I will be required to apply Watson theory while interacting with various psychiatric levels of the dying patient. This prompts me to understand the various stages facing the patient during the general healing process. In fact, I will be able to redirect the psychiatric stages so that acceptance comes first; the oxytocin factor is primarily responsible in relieving anxiety, digestive problems, restless, insomnia, and hormonal conditions (Crockett, 2009).

Despite gross hardships in nursing practice, I often find it necessary to offer quality services, which can be technical or social in nature. Watson's theory acts as a tool of developing efficacy levels that I apply inversely. Efficacy is primarily essential in equipping the nurse into developing advanced problem-solving and caring process coupled with coherent psycho-feelings addressing both positive and negative feelings from the patient's family (Watson, 2011). The goal is to aid the patient and the family to achieve the acceptance process before the illness takes an irrevocable stage.

For Watson theory to mature, I am obliged to integrate the concept of clinical caritas (cherish and offer of special attention). This methodology will enable me to develop moral authenticity belief that is subjective to the life of the patient. Firstly, my patient will feel accommodated in the general society. Besides affecting the healing process, my patient's friends and relatives will understand the nature of the patient thereby aiding the patient's acceptance process. Secondly, the caritas tool will facilitate me to develop intrinsic spiritual practices and transpersonal self. This is imperative since it will ensure that I develop compassion and sensitivity towards the general treating-healing process. Thirdly, the tool will assist me develop supportive expression grounded on positivity and slight negativity. The patient should not be made to feel as if he/she is a special case or deserves 'exclusive' attention.