Jean Watson
Jean Watson 's Caring Theory
Evelyn Corda
Saint Joseph 's College
February 02, 2013
Jean Watson 's Caring Theory
Changes in health care delivery have increased nursing workloads and responsibility. Patients have increased acuity levels and nurse patient ratios have increased partly due to the shortage of professional nurses. There has been a shift from the medical model to a patient centered or family centered care model. This shift has been influenced by hospitals needs to increase patient satisfaction and patient safety. The goal is to involve patients and families in the decision making of all aspects of care and to empower patients. This requires communication and collaboration with all disciplines and embodies Watson’s caring theory and the concepts of Holistic nursing and wholeness.
1. What concepts and definitions does this nurse theorist describe that support a holistic paradigm? Holistic health has been defined as the health and harmony of the body, mind, and spirit that create a higher, richer state of health that would be achieved with attention to just one part instead of health directed at achieving holism (Eliopoulos, 2010). Watson believes the person has three elements which are mind, body, and soul. Her theory is about maintaining harmony in the mind, body and soul so that the person is congruent with the “real self” (Watson, 2009). The following components of Jean Watsons Caring Theory support the holistic nursing paradigm: She believes care of emotional and spiritual needs should be meshed with clinical care. Her theory promotes a transpersonal caring relationship where the nurse and patient mutually search for meaning and wholeness. Watson caring theory acknowledges the importance of caring moments where uninterrupted time is spent with the patient to make a human to human connection. 2. Are the hypotheses of the selected theories consonant with wholeness? The definition of wholeness related to nursing concepts basically states we
Evelyn Corda
Saint Joseph 's College
February 02, 2013
Jean Watson 's Caring Theory
Changes in health care delivery have increased nursing workloads and responsibility. Patients have increased acuity levels and nurse patient ratios have increased partly due to the shortage of professional nurses. There has been a shift from the medical model to a patient centered or family centered care model. This shift has been influenced by hospitals needs to increase patient satisfaction and patient safety. The goal is to involve patients and families in the decision making of all aspects of care and to empower patients. This requires communication and collaboration with all disciplines and embodies Watson’s caring theory and the concepts of Holistic nursing and wholeness.
1. What concepts and definitions does this nurse theorist describe that support a holistic paradigm? Holistic health has been defined as the health and harmony of the body, mind, and spirit that create a higher, richer state of health that would be achieved with attention to just one part instead of health directed at achieving holism (Eliopoulos, 2010). Watson believes the person has three elements which are mind, body, and soul. Her theory is about maintaining harmony in the mind, body and soul so that the person is congruent with the “real self” (Watson, 2009). The following components of Jean Watsons Caring Theory support the holistic nursing paradigm: She believes care of emotional and spiritual needs should be meshed with clinical care. Her theory promotes a transpersonal caring relationship where the nurse and patient mutually search for meaning and wholeness. Watson caring theory acknowledges the importance of caring moments where uninterrupted time is spent with the patient to make a human to human connection. 2. Are the hypotheses of the selected theories consonant with wholeness? The definition of wholeness related to nursing concepts basically states we
References: Eisinberg, D. (1998). Trends in alternative medicine.JAMA, 280, 1569-1575.