Bookmark this RN Journal Article or Manuscript

Digg Facebook Google Bookmarks Stumbleupon Livejournal Twitter

Caring and the Professional Practice of Nursing

by Teresa Vance, RN

Caring and nursing have always been thought of synonymously. Most individuals choose nursing as a profession because of their desire to care for other individuals. Caring as a central concept has led to the development of several caring theories. Two well known theories were developed in the 1970’s, Leininger’s Theory of cultural care and Jean Watson’s Theory of human caring (McCance, McKenna, Boore 1999).

Jean Watson defines caring as a science. She states; Caring is a science that encompasses a humanitarian, human science orientation, human caring processes, phenomena, and experiences. Caring science includes arts and humanities as well as science. A caring science perspective is grounded in a relational ontology of being-in-relation, and a world view of unity and connectedness of all. Transpersonal Caring acknowledges unity of life and connections that move in concentric circles of caring-from individual, to others, to community, to world, to Planet Earth, to the universe. Caring science investigations embrace inquiry that are reflective, subjective and interpretative as well as objective-empirical; Caring science inquiry includes ontological, philosophical, ethical, historical inquiry and studies. In addition, caring science includes multiple epistemological approaches to inquiry including clinical and empirical, but is open to moving into new areas of inquiry that explore other ways of knowing, for example, aesthetic, poetic, narrative, personal, intuitive, kinesthetic, evolving consciousness, intentionality, metaphysical-spiritual, as well as moral-ethical knowing. Caring science is an evolving new field that is grounded in the discipline of nursing and evolving nursing science, but more recently includes other fields and disciplines in the Academy, for example, Women/Feminist studies, Education, Ecology, Peace Studies, Philosophy/Ethics, Arts and Humanities, Mindbodyspirit Medicine. As such, caring science is rapidly becoming an Interdisciplinary Transdisciplinary field of study. It has relevance to all the health, education human service fields and professions (Watson 2003).

Caring behaviors are defined as; Behaviors evidenced by nurses in caring for patients.
The top ten caring behaviors, derived from nursing literature are; attentive listening, comforting, honesty, patience, responsibility, providing information so the patient can make an informed decision, touch, sensitivity, respect, calling the patient by name (Taber’s 1993).

Some Caring behaviors are evident in other professions. Law enforcement is noted for their honesty and respect. Psychologists are comforting and require attentive listening skills to help their patients. Teachers must possess patience, attentive listening, sensitivity, and great responsibility to mold our children into productive adults. The lists of professions are endless.

Madeleine Leininger subscribed to the central tenet that “care is the essence of nursing and the central, dominant, and unifying focus of nursing” (Leininger 1991). Watson describes nursing as a human science, with the major focus being the process of human care for individuals, families, and groups. Her theory is based on a form of humanism and has its origins in metaphysics (philosophy of being and knowing) (McCance, Mckenna, Boore 1999).

The goal of nursing with Watson’s theory is centered around helping the patient gain a higher degree of harmony within the mind, body, and soul. It is achieved through caring transactions. Watson’s ten carative factors, referred to as interventions of the theory, are presented in table one. (McCance, McKenna, Boore 1999). It also involves the transpersonal caring relationship. Transpersonal caring is demonstrated in an event or actual caring occasion.

Transpersonal conveys a concern for the inner life. The patient is viewed as whole and complete, regardless of illness or disease (Watson 2003). The transpersonal nurse seeks to connect with, embrace the spirit or soul of the patient, through the processes of caring and healing (Watson 2003).

                                                                        Cont'd

Back to Top

Bookmark this page

Digg Facebook Google Bookmarks Stumbleupon Livejournal Twitter