Jean Watson
Jean Watson’s Theory of Transpersonal Caring
Michelle Larson
Gardner-Webb University
Concepts in Professional Nursing
Ms. Joyce Rogers, RN MSN
Who is Jean Watson and what is her contribution to the nursing profession? Jean Watson is a Distinguished Professor of Nursing and holds the Murchinson-Scoville Endowed Chair in Caring Science at the University of Colorado, Denver College of Nursing and Anschutz Medical Center Campus. She earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in nursing and psychiatric-mental health nursing, and a Ph.D. in educational psychology and counseling. She has received several national and international honors and honorary doctoral degrees. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and is Founder and Director of the Watson Caring Science Institute in Boulder, Colorado (www.watsoncaringscience.org a non-profit foundation established to further the work of Caring Science in the world. Dr. Watson has published numerous works on her philosophy and theory of human caring. Her theory is used to guide transformative models of caring and healing practices around the world (Cara 2003). This paper will explore the elements of Jean Watson’s theory of caring. It will explain how her theory can be applied in the clinical setting, and how it has impacted the nursing profession and influenced healthcare.
Nurses define caring in various ways depending on their level of education, professional experience, personal values and professional focus. The concept of caring is central to the nursing profession. As Jean Watson proposed, regardless of their specialty area, nurses have awareness of the interconnectedness of all beings and share the common goal in supporting healing from both scientific and philosophical perspectives. This goal is referred to as the caring-healing consciousness (Sitzman, 2007 p. 9).
Jean Watson’s theory of Transpersonal Caring (or Theory of Human Caring) was originally developed in 1979 but has
Michelle Larson
Gardner-Webb University
Concepts in Professional Nursing
Ms. Joyce Rogers, RN MSN
Who is Jean Watson and what is her contribution to the nursing profession? Jean Watson is a Distinguished Professor of Nursing and holds the Murchinson-Scoville Endowed Chair in Caring Science at the University of Colorado, Denver College of Nursing and Anschutz Medical Center Campus. She earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in nursing and psychiatric-mental health nursing, and a Ph.D. in educational psychology and counseling. She has received several national and international honors and honorary doctoral degrees. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and is Founder and Director of the Watson Caring Science Institute in Boulder, Colorado (www.watsoncaringscience.org a non-profit foundation established to further the work of Caring Science in the world. Dr. Watson has published numerous works on her philosophy and theory of human caring. Her theory is used to guide transformative models of caring and healing practices around the world (Cara 2003). This paper will explore the elements of Jean Watson’s theory of caring. It will explain how her theory can be applied in the clinical setting, and how it has impacted the nursing profession and influenced healthcare.
Nurses define caring in various ways depending on their level of education, professional experience, personal values and professional focus. The concept of caring is central to the nursing profession. As Jean Watson proposed, regardless of their specialty area, nurses have awareness of the interconnectedness of all beings and share the common goal in supporting healing from both scientific and philosophical perspectives. This goal is referred to as the caring-healing consciousness (Sitzman, 2007 p. 9).
Jean Watson’s theory of Transpersonal Caring (or Theory of Human Caring) was originally developed in 1979 but has
References: Cara, C. (2003). A pragmatic view of Jean Watson 's caring theory. International Journal for Human Caring, 7(3), 51-61. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.gardner-webb.edu Clarke, P., Watson, J., & Brewer, B. (2009). From theory to practice: Caring science according to Watson and Brewer. Nursing Science Quarterly, 22(4). doi: 10.1177/0894318409344769 Fawcett, J. (2002). The Nurse theorists: 21st-Century updates. Nursing Science Quarterly, 15(3), 214-219. doi: 10.1177/089431840201500307 George, J.B. (2002). Nursing theories the base for professional nursing practice (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc. Ryan, L. (2005). The journey to integrate Watson 's caring theory with clinical practice. International Journal for Human Caring, 9(3), 26-30. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.gardner-webb.edu Sitzman, K. (2007). Teaching-learning professional caring based on Jean Watson 's Theory of Human Caring. International Journal for Human Caring, 11(4), 8-16. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.gardner-webb.edu Watson, J. (2010). Watson’s Caring Science Institute website. Retrieved from www. watsoncaringscience.org/j_watson/index.html