Transpersonal Caring Science Theory

Watson's Theory of Human Caring Karen Monico Vidal NUR/403 May 28, 2013 University of Phoenix Watson's Theory of Human Caring According to Watson a “caring moment” encompasses the following: the nurse and patient make contact, the nurse enters the patient’s room, a feeling of expectation is created, through the nurse’s attitude and competence, a patient’s world can become larger or smaller, brighter or dull, threatening or secure. She also believes these moments transform both the patient and nurse and that they are linked. (Watson). Watson’s theory has four major concepts: human being (personhood), health, environment/society, and nursing. According to Watson, the three major elements of her theory are the carative factors, the transpersonal caring relationship, and the caring occasion/caring moment. Watson views the carative factors as a guide for the core of nursing. As she continued to evolve her theory, Watson introduced the concept of clinical caritas processes, which have been replaced by her carative factors. My caring moment goes back to the time when I provided hospice care to Mr. Williams. Mr. Williams was a 90- year- old pleasant man. He had been under hospice care for exactly 11 months and my patient for the past three months. I first met Mr. Williams during my initial assessment at the assisted living facility where he resided. I had already received a report from other nurse’s that had cared for him in the past. They had described him as polite, receptive to care, and seemed lonely, and sad at times. Watson uses interchangeably the terms human being, person, life, personhood, and self. She views the person as “a unity of mind/body/spirit/nature” (pg 99). I entered his room and noticed that he seemed sad as he looked to the patio area through a window. I introduced myself, explained who I was and why I was there, I proceeded to