Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring as presented in the notes.

Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring

A nursing framework that centers caring, transpersonal relationships, and a healing environment, proposing that nursing is about more than technical tasks and is guided by the metaparadigm of person, environment, health, and nursing.

Transpersonal Caring Relationship

A deep, authentic nurse–patient connection that integrates mind, body, and spirit and forms the foundation of Watson’s theory.

Caritas-Veritas

A combination of Caritas (love and caring) and Veritas (truth and values) that guides nursing ethics and practice.

Caritas

The caring, loving aspect central to Watson’s nursing praxis.

Veritas

Nursing’s moral commitment to timeless values and truth guiding behavior and relationships.

Metaparadigm of Nursing

The four core concepts that frame nursing: person, environment, health, and nursing.

Person

Unity of mind, body, and spirit; a valued being deserving care; personhood includes the soul beyond time/space.

Environment

Surroundings that influence health; includes internal and external contexts and healing spaces.

Health

Positive state of physical, mental, and social well-being; harmony and congruence between self-perceived and experienced self.

Nursing

The knowledge, values, philosophy, and actions of the nursing profession; commitment to caring.

Center for Human Caring (CHC)

University of Colorado interdisciplinary center established to apply caring knowledge to practice, scholarship, and leadership.

Watson Caring Science Institute (WCSI)

Non-profit organization advancing caring science globally, evolving from CHC.

Embrace

Sustaining humanistic-altruistic values by practicing loving-kindness, compassion, and equanimity toward self and others.

Inspire

Being authentically present and fostering faith, hope, and belief to promote holistic care.

Trust

Cultivating self-awareness and spiritual practices to enable transpersonal presence with patients.

Nurture

Developing and sustaining loving, trusting caring relationships; includes congruence, empathy, warmth, and effective communication.

Forgive

Allowing expression of positive and negative feelings; listening authentically without judgment.

Deepen

Creative problem solving using multiple ways of knowing (creative, intuitive, aesthetic, ethical, personal, spiritual).

Balance

Transpersonal teaching/learning within the context of caring relationships, staying within the patient’s frame of reference.

Co-create

Creating a healing environment at all levels by recognizing internal and external factors affecting health.

Minister

Respectfully assisting with basic needs as sacred arts, sustaining human dignity.

Open

Opening to spiritual mystery and unknowns, allowing for miracles; acknowledging limits of rational knowledge.

I-Thou Relationship

Martin Buber’s concept of mutual respect and empathy, seeing the patient as a person with feelings.

I-It Relationship

Treating the other as an object in a transactional way, lacking deep personal connection.

Mind-Body-Spiritual Framework

A holistic view that humans comprise mind, body, and spirit, guiding caring practice.

Healing Spaces

Environment that facilitates healing through caring relationships and supportive surroundings.

Ontological Competencies

Skills for understanding the nature of being and providing holistic, compassionate care.