Watson's Theory of Human Caring
Theory of Human Caring
The theory of human caring containing art and scientific components was introduced by the distinguished professor Jean Watson, who highlights the importance of nursing in addressing patients’ basic needs. In her study, the renowned theorist urges caregivers to provide sick people with authentic care considering their health status. In order to accelerate healing, physicians should take into account patient’s mind, body, spirit, and other specific medical conditions. The clinical application of human caring theory is accompanied by the promotion of trust, hope, and spirituality, thereby improving people’s health, easing and strengthening clinical practice in an acute care unit https://original-essays.org
In my opinion, Watson highlights the importance of nursing paradigm and role of human-being in it. She does not support a vision that a man should be treated as an object; instead, she views a person as an integral part of universe, nature, and environment. In her study, Watson pays particular attention to the latter, considering it peaceful, beautiful, and comfortable, and regards caring as a moral ideal that engages soul, body, and mind. Nursing is one of the humanities performing aesthetical, ethical, and scientific functions. Human caring ensures harmony, balances between patient’s health and his/her disease, and makes everything possible to reach healing.
Sanaya Kumar is a 25-year-old housewife from Muslim culture; she is currently living in Miami, Florida. Sanaya is a faithful person, who highly respects religion and beliefs. She has been married for five years, and her in-laws expect grandchildren. It is common for a Muslim woman to give birth to gain respect and status; otherwise, she will be blamed and stigmatized as barren. After failed attempts to get pregnant, Sanaya Kumar began the IVF treatment. Despite seemingly successful fertilization process, pregnancy did not occur. Therefore, a young woman and her husband decided to come to the clinic and take a special test. Physicians will provide relevant options based on the results. It is the critical moment for every woman, particularly one, who receives IVF treatment. Nurses and physicians have to be present while informing results.
Medical specialists have approved a plan and decided to apply the theory of human caring in Kumar’s case. They have carried out interviews. The Muslim infertile couple starts the IVF treatment aiming to achieve pregnancy. As the treatment process is challenging, female patients have to be provided with supportive nursing care accompanied by establishing helpful and trustful relationship between women and providers. Unfortunately, Sanaya has received negative test and was very disappointed. Therefore, the main goal of a qualified medical specialist is to calm, provide support, and inspire hope and optimism.
The theory is useful as it helps to establish the integrated humanistic and philanthropic system of values, promote faith and hope, and help nurses be more sensitive, responsive and delicate to their patients. Watson’s study also enables medical specialists to express positive and negative feelings overcoming possible obstacles on their way (Smith & Parker, 2014). In order to ease their practice, nurses are encouraged to widely apply this theory, particularly if a case is hopeless. Its application in acute care units has already brought success. Only the establishment of supportive and protective environment will help to appropriately satisfy patients’ needs. The close interaction between patients and doctors is a key to success and desired outcome in clinical practice.
To conclude, in addition to treating diseases and easing entire nursing process, caregivers also explore, share experiences, transform the system, and educate patients on how to act in specific cases. The nurse theorist also highlights importance of listening to sick people, their stories, experiences as well as concerns and uses all expertise to help a person reach healing in the shortest terms. It is also vital to get a clear representation of health status. In general, the practical application of Watson’s theory is crucial as it helps to inspire hope for favorable outcome.
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