Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring

  Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring focuses on enhancing nursing practice, management, education, and research. Watson developed the caring theory based on the premise that nurses can care for patients if they also take care of themselves. Caring is a two-way street. “Watson believes that health professionals make social, moral, and scientific contributions to humankind and that nurses’ caring ideal can affect human development” (Watson, 2008, para 1). When patients and nurses share parts of themselves, these “caring” moments impact the patient’s and nurse’s lives permanently by healing, enhancing wholeness, and influencing what makes each of us human. The Theory of Human Caring is made up of 10 Caritas or processes that demonstrate aspects of caring (Watson, 2008, para 3): Practice of loving kindness Decision making Instill faith and hope Practice teaching and learning that meets the patient’s needs and learning styles Nurture individual spiritual beliefs and practices Holistic care Helping and trusting relationships Create a healing environment Promote expression of negative and positive feelings Miracles Address the following: Discuss Watson’s Theory of Human Caring. Choose two of the Caritas. Explain their meaning. Why are they important to nursing practice? Identify a caring moment from your nursing practice. Were any of the 10 Caritas used in this caring moment? If so, which ones? Discuss how the two chosen Caritas for this assignment can be used to enhance the caring moment. Discuss the importance of using theory in nursing practice.