Jean Watson: Theory of Human Caring 1940 – present

Jean Watson: Theory of Human Caring 1940 – present

Biography of Jean Watson

• Born on June 10, 1940, in West Virginia.

• Graduated from the Lewis Gale School of

Nursing in 1961, earned her bachelor’s degree

in 1964, a Master’s degree in psychiatric and

mental health nursing in 1966, and a Ph.D. in

educational psychology and counseling in

1973.

• Dean of Nursing at the University Health

Sciences Center

• President of the National League for Nursing

• Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing

Nursing

Having to move educationally in the two areas of stress and developmental

conflicts to provide holistic health care, which she believes is central to the

practice of caring in Nursing. She asserts that nursing’s social, moral and

scientific contributions to humankind and society lie in its commitment to

human care ideals in theory, practice, and research.

In further writings, she defines nursing as “...a human science of people

and human health-illness experiences that are mediated by professional,

personal, scientific, aesthetic, and ethical human care transactions.”

Person

Human being is a valued person to be cared for, respected, nurtured,

understood, and assisted; in general, a philosophical view of a person as a fully

functional integrated self. Human is viewed as greater than and different from

the sum of his or her parts.

Health

is the unity and harmony within the mind, body, and soul; health is

associated with the degree of congruence between the self as perceived and

the self as experienced. It is defined as a high level of overall physical,

mental, and social functioning; a general adaptive-maintenance level of

daily functioning; and the absence of illness, or the presence of efforts

leading to the absence of illness.

Environment

Watson states:

“Caring (and nursing) has existed in every society. Every society has had

some people who have cared for others. A caring attitude is not transmitted

from generation to generation by genes. It is transmitted by the culture of the

profession as a unique way of coping with its environment.”

Philosophy and Theory of Transpersonal Caring

• The nursing model states that “nursing is concerned with promoting

health, preventing illness, caring for the sick, and restoring health.”

It focuses on health promotion, as well as the treatment of

diseases. According to Watson, caring is central to nursing

practice, and promotes health better than a simple medical cure.

She believes that a holistic approach to health care is central to the

practice of caring in nursing.

• According to her theory, caring can be demonstrated and practiced

by nurses. Caring for patients promotes growth; a caring

environment accepts a person as he or she is and looks to what he

or she may become.

Actual Caring Occasion

involves actions and choices by the nurse and

the individual. The moment of coming together in a caring occasion

presents the two persons with the opportunity to decide how to be in

the relationship – what to do with the moment.

transpersonal

concept is an intersubjective human-to-human

relationship in which the nurse affects and is affected by the person of

the other. Both are fully present in the moment and feel a union with

the other; they share a phenomenal field that becomes part of the life

story of both.

Carative Factors

1. “The formation of a humanistic-altruistic system of values”

2. “The instillation of faith-hope”

3. “The cultivation of sensitivity to oneself and to others”

4. “Development of a helping-trust relationship” became

“development of a helping-trusting, human caring relation” (in 2004

Watson website)

5. “The promotion and acceptance of the expression of positive and

negative feelings”

6. “The systematic use of the scientific problem-solving method for decision

making” became “systematic use of a creative problem-solving caring process”

(in 2004 Watson website)

7. “The promotion of transpersonal teaching-learning”

8. “The provision of supportive, protective, and (or) corrective mental, physical,

societal, and spiritual environment”

9. “The assistance with gratification of human needs”

10. “The allowance for existential-phenomenological forces” became

“allowance for existential-phenomenological spiritual forces” (in 2004 Watson

website)

Clinical Caritas Processes

1. Practice of loving-kindness and equanimity within the context of caring consciousness

2. Being authentically present and enabling and sustaining the deep belief system and

subjective life-world of self and one being cared for.

3. Cultivation of one’s own spiritual practices and transpersonal self going beyond the ego self

4. Developing and sustaining a helping trusting authentic caring relationship

5. Being present to, and supportive of, the expression of positive and negative feelings as a

connection with deeper spirit and self and the one-being-cared for

6. Creative use of self and all ways of knowing as part of the caring process; to engage in the

artistry of caring-healing practices

7. Engaging in genuine teaching-learning experience that attends to unity of being and

meaning, attempting to stay within others’ frame of reference

8. Creating healing environment at all levels (physical as well as nonphysical, subtle

environment of energy and consciousness, whereby wholeness, beauty, comfort, dignity, and

peace are potentiated)

9. Assisting with basic needs, with an intentional caring consciousness, administering ‘human

care essentials,’ which potentiate alignment of mind body spirit, wholeness, and unity of

being in all aspects of care

10. Opening and attending to spiritual-mysterious and existential dimensions of one’s own life-

death; soul care for self and the one-being-cared for

Lower Order Biophysical Needs or Survival Needs

- include the need for

food and fluid, elimination, and

ventilation.

Lower Order Psychophysical Needs or

Functional Needs

- include the need for

activity, inactivity, and sexuality.

Higher Order Psychosocial Needs or Integrative Needs

- include the need for

achievement, and affiliation.

Higher Order Intrapersonal-

Interpersonal Need or Growth-seeking

Need

- is the need for self-actualization.

Practice

Watson is an eternal optimist, and she writes from a deep place about the personal

as well as the sacred. This philosophy invites to explore one’s curiosities about the

origins of his/her call to care.

Education

Watson defines her intent to describe the core of nursing (those aspects of the

nurse-patient relationship resulting in a therapeutic outcome) rather than the trim of

nursing (the procedures, tasks, and techniques used by various practice settings).

With this focus, the framework is not limited to any nursing specialty.

A study of Watson’s framework leads the reader through an inspiring experience by

emphasizing deep inner reflection and personal growth, communication skills, use

of self-transpersonal growth, attention to both nurse and patient, and the human

caring process that potentiates human health and healing.

Research

Patient outcomes in caring transactions are a potential area for studies. Research

and practice shall focus both on subjective and objective patient outcomes to

determine whether or not caring is needed the truest essence of nursing.