Application of Jean Watson theory of Human Caring to clinical Practice
Introduction
The Jean Watsons theory of human caring explains the role of nursing and related caring actions taken by those in the profession as well as how they interact with others. The theory is based on values and assumptions to explain human caring from a metaphysical existence and spiritual perspective. These values include the sense of respecting the life of beings and recognizing the ability of humans to change giving regard to the spiritual component of an individual and the integrated power of a person to develop and transform and having the drive to assisting a person to become more knowledgeable have self-control and effectively self heal irrespective of the state of health the person is in. The theory is based on assumptions touching on human life the science of nursing and the nursing process. According to Watson human life is centered on the power of the soul which is not subject to space or time determinants. This means that no matter the surrounding circumstances affecting the outer body internally or externally the soul shapes its own parameters of time and space. She also describes nursing as a human science and the interactions with health-illness experiences that are dealt with from a professional ethical scientific personal and esthetic dimension. She also argues that the nursing process is not about diagnosis and treatment but a consolidated effort to provide human care (Watson & Watson Caring Science Institute 2009).
The author Jean Watson is a distinguished professor of nursing at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Centre. She is also a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. She has previously served as dean of Nursing at the University Health Sciences Center and President of the National League for Nursing. She holds an undergraduate and graduate degree in nursing and psychiatric-mental health nursing and PhD in educational psychology and counseling. Her research has been in human caring and loss (Fawcett Watson Neuman Walker & Fitzpatrick 2001).
The purpose underlying assumptions primary concepts and the theory model structure
The major concept of Watsons theory of human caring revolves around transpersonal human caring. This concept of human caring may be analyzed on three perspectives and these are life illness and health. In this context human life entails the mental spiritual and physical being. The illness does not necessarily mean disease but is any form of disharmony within a person or his/her soul and may be affecting the individual consciously or sub consciously. Health under this concept is described as the well being or harmony of the three spheres of human being which is the body mind and soul (Chantal 2006).
Based on this theory the core aim of human caring entails a giving-receiving model in which the nurse and the patient interact and experience each other through the mental physical or spiritual contacts or a combination of all three spheres (Chantal 2006).. This means the ultimate purpose or goal of the nursing profession is to give the patient relative level of coordination or harmony within themselves so as to achieve self-healing and the ability to provide care to them based on the acquired knowledge (Chantal 2006).
The theory is based on several assumptions that describe nursing on a totally different platform from the conventional concept of providing treatment to the unhealthy. These assumptions state that the care offered by the nurses to the patient can only be successfully useful if the basis is interpersonal interaction. This means the nurse and the patient can freely interact and understand each other on a personal level. This creates a platform for nurse to offer all the help the patient requires to ensure he/she achieves internal harmony which is the recipe for enhanced self-healing (Chantal 2006). Another assumption is that the definition of an effective caring environment is one that gives room for the person to choose the most appropriate of actions that make them comfortable and allow them to achieve optimum personal satisfaction. The environment should also be supportive of the individuals potential development. The theory also assumes that the process of caring should encompass accepting the patient without basing the care only on the condition he/she is in currently but also what this individual may become later (Chantal 2006).
The theory goes on to argue that caring is only effective if it promotes the health of the individual the family and societal growth. According to Watson caring is about the entire health well being as opposed to the curative perspective. This means that the nursing profession does not only concern itself with getting the patient cured from a disease but focuses on the patient becoming healthy and regaining the harmony of the mind soul and spirit. In this perspective therefore she states that the science of caring goes hand in hand with the science of curing. The nursing professions agenda based on Watsons assumptions should be categorically offering care. This care entails considering all the carative factors that make the individual achieve satisfaction in the needs they pursue in life (Fawcett Watson Neuman Walker & Fitzpatrick 2001).
How the Watsons theory model addresses the concepts of person environment health and nursing