Jean Watson's Theory
“It is the surgeon who saves a person’s life ….it is the nurse who helps this person live” Florence Nightingale
Watson introduced the concept of clinical caritas processes. The word “caritas” originates from the Greek vocabulary, meaning to cherish and to give special loving attention. This approach highlights the uniqueness of both the person and the nurse, and also the mutuality between the two individuals, which is fundamental to the relationship. Here we are talking about a human connectedness, spirituality and love beyond the body and soul.
Watson is one of the few nursing theorists who consider not only the cared-for but also the caregiver. According to her the nurse should practice the art of caring, to ease patients’ and families’ suffering, and promote their healing and dignity while contributing towards the nurse’s own self actualization. The one caring and the one cared-for, both connect in mutual search for meaning and wholeness, and perhaps for the spiritual transcendence of suffering (Watson, 2001).
The ten primary carative factors
1. The formation of a humanistic- altruistic system of values.
2. The installation of faith-hope.
3. The cultivation of sensitivity to one’s self and to others.
4. The development of a helping-trust relationship
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
7. The promotion of interpersonal teaching-learning.
8. The provision for a supportive, protective and /or corrective mental, physical, socio-cultural and spiritual environment.
9. Assistance with the gratification of human needs.
10. The allowance for existential-phenomenological forces.
- In simple words the nurse’s role is to:
Establish a caring relationship with patients.
Treat patients as holistic beings.
Display unconditional acceptance.
Treat patients with positive regard.
Promote health through knowledge and
Watson introduced the concept of clinical caritas processes. The word “caritas” originates from the Greek vocabulary, meaning to cherish and to give special loving attention. This approach highlights the uniqueness of both the person and the nurse, and also the mutuality between the two individuals, which is fundamental to the relationship. Here we are talking about a human connectedness, spirituality and love beyond the body and soul.
Watson is one of the few nursing theorists who consider not only the cared-for but also the caregiver. According to her the nurse should practice the art of caring, to ease patients’ and families’ suffering, and promote their healing and dignity while contributing towards the nurse’s own self actualization. The one caring and the one cared-for, both connect in mutual search for meaning and wholeness, and perhaps for the spiritual transcendence of suffering (Watson, 2001).
The ten primary carative factors
1. The formation of a humanistic- altruistic system of values.
2. The installation of faith-hope.
3. The cultivation of sensitivity to one’s self and to others.
4. The development of a helping-trust relationship
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
7. The promotion of interpersonal teaching-learning.
8. The provision for a supportive, protective and /or corrective mental, physical, socio-cultural and spiritual environment.
9. Assistance with the gratification of human needs.
10. The allowance for existential-phenomenological forces.
- In simple words the nurse’s role is to:
Establish a caring relationship with patients.
Treat patients as holistic beings.
Display unconditional acceptance.
Treat patients with positive regard.
Promote health through knowledge and