Jean Watson’s Theory of Caring

Jean Watson's Theory of Caring Jean Watson's Theory of Caring Dr. Jean Watson developed a theory of human caring that has become essential in nursing. Caring is at the core of nursing and is vital in providing positive patient outcomes. Watson’s theory of caring can be applied to patient situation and his or her environment. She based her theory upon human caring relationships and experiences of human life. She acknowledges a caring relationship and a caring environment preserve human dignity, wholeness, and integrity and to restore the person’s harmony it is the nurse’s responsibility to assist an individual to establish meaning in illness and suffering (Cara, 2003). Nurses have a responsibility to evaluate the patient’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Watson developed her theory in 1979 and revised it in 1985 and 1988. The majority of the revisions was made to her carative factors that she believes is the concept for the core of nursing (Cara, 2003, p. 52). According to Sulimann, Welmann, Omer, and Thomas, (2009), Watson’s theory suggests that, â€Å"Caring is a different way of being human, present, attentive, conscious, and intentional. Nursing is centered on helping the patient achieve a higher degree of harmony within mind, body, and soul, and this harmony is achieved through caring transactions involving a transpersonal caring relationship† (p. 294). The major parts of Watson’s theory are the carative factors, the transpersonal caring relationship, and the caring occasion caring moment (Cara, 2003, p. 51). Watson has 10 carative factors, and she uses the word carative to contrast the word curative used in conventional medicine (Cara, 2003, p. 52). Watson believed that caring and curing were independent of each other (Bailey, 2009, p. 18). Cara (2003) indicates carative factors attempt to, â€Å"Honor the human dimensions of nursing’s work and the inner life world and subjective experiences of the people we serve (p. 2). The 10 carative factors are the formation of a humanistic-altruistic value system, instillation of faith and hope, cultivation of sensitivity to self and others, development of helping-trusting relationships, expression of positive and negative feelings, creative problem-solving caring process, promotion of transpersonal teaching and learning, supportive, protective, and corrective mental, physical, societal, and spiritual environment, assistance with human needs, and allowance for existential-phenomenological-spiritual forces (Cohen, 1991, p. 906). Looking at these carative factors, I can see how Watson sought to address aspects of the patient to make it more of a holistic approach with the concept of caring at the core. These carative factors was used by Watson to develop her transpersonal caring relationship, this relationship describes how the nurse goes beyond an objective assessment, showing concern toward the person’s subjective and deeper meaning regarding his or her own health care situation (Cara, 2003, p. 53). The nurse’s caring consciousness becomes essential to connect and establish a relationship with the cared-for to promote health and healing. The nurse has a moral commitment to the patient to protect and enhance his or her human dignity as well as his or her deeper self. One of the carative factors of developing a trusting relationship has to be in a place for a transpersonal relationship to occur. In the transpersonal relationship, a mutual instilling of faith and hope are present as described in one of Watson’s carative factors. Developing a transpersonal relationship with the patient’s has to involve a cultivation of sensitivity toward the patient’s and being able to support and protect him or her in the environment is essential for this kind of relationship to occur. I do not believe in the ability with patient care to have a transpersonal relationship with patients if the nurse cannot first use the carative factors with patients. Watson developed seven assumptions in her caring model to incorporate the humanistic value system with scientific knowledge. Watson believed that practice and knowledge are essential for building a caring-healing framework (Bailey, 2009, p. 18). If we just do one without the other, I personally do not think we will obtain the same results. We need to be caring toward our patients and show them we care; but we also need to do medical interventions that will bring the caring and healing together, Watson’s seven basic assumptions of the science of caring as follows: 1) Caring can only be effectively demonstrated and practiced interpersonally. 2) Caring consists of carative factors that lead to the satisfaction of certain human needs. 3) Effective caring health and growth for the individual and family. 4) Caring responses accept a person the way he or she is no matter how he or she may change in the future. ) A caring environment allows the patient to choose the best action for him that offers the development of potential at any time. 6) Caring is more healthogenic than curing. Caring is complimentary to the science of curing. 7) The practice of nursing is central to nursing (Bailey, 2009, p. 18). The last assumption that Watson made is that nursing is central to nursing (Bailey, 2009, p. 18). To understand what she meant by this, it is important to see how Watson views nursing. She views the focus of nursing as the interaction between nurse and patient. She views the goal of nursing as a science where the health and illness experiences are mediated by different transactions such as professional, personal, scientific, and ethical. Last she views the uniqueness of nursing as the spiritual growth of people within these interactions. They can release feelings, and help gain self-healing (Cohen, 1991, p. 906). I have seen how she viewed different aspects of nursing and how they convert over to caring moments with our patients. I recently had a caring moment with a patient who contributed to my own self-actualization. My patient was a 78-year-old male admitted to the hospital with pneumonia and a collapsed lung. Two chest tubes was placed in his left lung and chest x-rays was obtained showing the presence of a cancerous tumor. Upon hearing the results he and his family was devastated. He was afraid of dying and what was going to happen to his wife of 60 years. I had a caring moment with him as I sat and listened to him express his feelings about death and dying, and he shared how he was feeling. I allowed him to discuss his beliefs of the dying process and how he viewed them. He said he felt much better having someone listen to him express his feelings. He believed he could face death and that he needed to look deep into himself and trust that his wife would be all right. This was a caring moment with this elderly gentleman in which I showed my patient he was worth my time. He could go very deep because of the trust we had been building. Watson defines the person as a being in the world comprised of body, mind, and spirit. These are influenced by the concept that oneself is unique and free to make choices. She sees a person as one that needs to be accepted for whom he or she is and who he or she may become (Cara, 2003, p. 55). With my patient, I operated in this view of the person as I demonstrated several of the carative factors of Watson’s theory with my patient. I could help him find a sense of faith and hope that his wife would be taken care of after his death. I allowed him to express his positive and negative feelings about dying. I used transpersonal teaching and learning with him as I taught him some of the details of what happens as he dies as well as I learned much about him as a person and how he sees life and death. I met his physical needs by keeping him comfortable and I offered support for his mental, physical, and spiritual environment. With his permission, I arranged a visit with the chaplain, to offer more spiritual support for him. Watson’s definition of health is a person’s subjective experience, and one of her assumptions about health is that caring will promote health with the patient or the family (Cara, 2003, p. 56). I believe that each individual person has his or her own idea of what health means to him or her. We need to discover how each patient defines health for his or her own situation. In this moment with my patient, I worked with him to promote health. This was not the health that immediately comes to one’s mind. This was not health as an absence of illness. This patient was not going to get better in his physical health. I tried to promote health with him in the spiritual and emotional parts of the patient. He began to release the worries about his wife and find a more healthful attitude to continue in after our conservation. The caring environment that Watson describes is her assumption allows the person to choose the best actions for him at any time, and the nurse can help facilitate the environment that the patient desires. My patient wanted some time alone with his wife in the room and did not want to offend his other family members. I told him not to worry about it that I would take care of that for him, and he could focus on having some time with his wife. This was important for him and I could facilitate this change in environment for my patient. He made the decision, but I helped to facilitate it. Watson’s caring theory really affected me and the area of nursing that I am currently working. I am working on an intensive care unit where my patients come in near death situations daily. These patients need a nurse who understands what it means to care and develop a transpersonal relationship. These patients are coming to grips with the facts that they are about to lose their lives and what happens when they die. They begin questioning everything about this life and what happens to them when they die. These patients really need to be seen as unique individuals with specific needs of their own. My caring moment with my patient who seems like his life was greatly fulfilled prior to death leads me to believe that it is very possible to implement Watson’s theory in day-to- day nursing practice. Through the research on Watson’s theory of caring, it provided me with the ability to learn the essential elements of her theory and apply them to clinical situation in the work environment. References Bailey, D. (2009). Caring defined: a comparison and analysis. International Journal for Human Caring, 13(1), 16-31. Retrieves from CINTAHL Plus with Full Text database. Cara, C. (2003). A pragmatic view of Jean Watson’s caring theory. International Journal for Human Caring, 7(3), 51-61. Retrieved from CINAHL Plus with Full Text. Cohen, J. (1991). Two portraits of caring: a comparison of theorists, Leininger and Watson. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 16(8), 899-909. Retrieved from CINAHL Plus with Full Text. Suliman,W. , Welmann, E. , Omer, T. , & Thomas, L. (2009). Applying Watson’s Nursing Theory to Assess Patient Perceptions of Being Cared for in a Multicultural Environment. Journal of Nursing Research (Taiwan Nurses Association). 17 (4), 293-300. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database

An Analysis of Mother and I, Walking by Lorna Crozier

Known for her sensibility as a poet and as a writer, Lorna Crozier's Mother and I, Walking presents a touching story of a little girl's torment with the absence of her father but is consoled by the presence and love of her mother. Essentially, Mother and I, Walking argues the need of children to be loved by their parents and that the absence of one (in this case, the father) needs to be compensated by the devotion and greater love given by the parent who is there for the child (in this case, the mother). The sense of belongingness and security versus the isolation and the coldness experienced by the child in the story shows how Crozier views the psychological struggle of having only one parent during a child’s developmental years. Consisting of four unequal stanza of free verse poetry, Mother and I, Walking true to its title talks about a little girl traveling with her mother one cold night and reflecting on the absence of father leaving her tormented. Similar to the childhood of Crozier who had an alcoholic and absentee father, the little girl is besieged by the need and melancholy of her father’s absence seeping through her heart but is warmth by the realization that her mother is beside her walking side by side- seeing her through. The absence of a father image through the pronouncements of the little girl through the statement â€Å"father is gone again† (I, 1) and â€Å"everyone is inside† the first stanza shows how the little girl perceives the differences of having a father. With a father, the girl and her mother could have been inside their home just like â€Å"everyone is inside† (II, 3). At this early stage, the girl already knows the role that father plays in their lives: if the father is with them, they would not have been walking in the empty streets and instead, she and her mother could have been tucked inside their homes. However, the absence of the father forces them to stay in the street in the coldness of the night possibly coming from work. This pictures the longing and the melancholy of the girl- unlike other families, she is left with her mother needs to provide for her food and shelter and at the same time take care of her. The emotional emptiness of the girl is further explored in the second stanza with words like â€Å"the cold cries† (II, 6) indicating the coldness she is feeling within her heart. Apparently, the little girl is aware of the differences between having a father and not having one. Curiously, she wonders what could have changed if her father is there. However, despite the longing for a father, the little girl is very much aware of her mother's love. While she feels vulnerable by the â€Å"push(ing)† and pull(ing)† she is experiencing, the little girl realizes that she is powerless to change her fate. However, the pulling of her mother's coat and belly does not only warms her but also compensates for the lack of father's love. What is shown in the last stanza is the realization of the little girl, the warmth of her mother's belly demonstrates the ample love that her mother bestows upon her. With the security she has felt the little girl begins to see the brighter side of things: she looks at their path and she sees â€Å"tracks of one animal† (1, 17) indicating that as long as they are one and together, they can thread through more cold nights walking. The cold and in essence, the absence of the father no longer bothers the little girl. Finding comfort in the love of her mother, the little girl realizes that there is no need for her to look for other things, when all that she needs is beside her. Ultimately, what Mother and I, Walking shows is an unusual bond and the security provided by a mother's love to young girl's mind and heart. From the wordings of Crozier, we know that this memory will last and will mold the little girl on what she would become in the future. Reference Crozier, Lorna. â€Å"Mother and I, Walking.† Angels of Flesh, Angels of Silence Toronto:  Ã‚  Ã‚   McClelland and Stewart, 1988.               

Relations of the mind to the body

A definite relationship exists between the mind and the body.   Some theorists express this relationship as the mind-body connection, and many continue to debate about whether the mind controls the body or whether the body controls the mind.   â€Å"The body-mind problem concerns the relationship between minds, or mental processes, and bodily states or processes.   Philosophers aim to explain how a supposedly non-material mind can influence a material body and vice-versa,† (Philosophy of the Mind, n.d.). Although it may be difficult to explain, there is evidence that people experience this mind-body connection on a regular basis.   Throughout history people have used their minds to control their bodies.   For example, â€Å"using ancient meditation techniques, Tibetan monks have demonstrated to scientists their ability to raise their own body temperature and hold it high enough that they are able to dry out wet cold sheets wrapped around their body, even in a chilly room,† (Bridger, 2006). Our bodies respond to our minds, the way we think, and to our emotions.   What happens in our minds greatly affects our bodies, as there is a definite relation between the two.  Ã‚   However, many people don’t realize the extent of this connection.   For example, â€Å"poor emotional health can weaken your body’s immune system, making you more likely to get colds and other infections during emotionally difficult times,† (American Academy of Family Physicians, 2006).   If you want to change your body, you have to change your thoughts.   â€Å"We do not realize that little ordinary negative thoughts we have throughout the day have the power to create substantial changes within our bodies.   Negative thoughts wreak havoc on your body and will age you at a greatly accelerated rate,† (The Mind Body Connection, n.d.). I believe in the body-mind relation because I have experienced the connection.   When I have allowed myself to think bad thoughts, I have noticed that my body feels weak like those thoughts have somehow sucked the energy out of my body.   I have also allowed myself to think negative thoughts to the point of getting a headache, or feeling sick to the stomach.   I don’t think we can separate our minds from our bodies.   When I think happy thoughts I feel more energetic. Science and medicine will never be able to prove every aspect of the mind-body connections, and that is not really important because I doubt that every reality of life can be proven.   But I know there is a strong relation between the mind and body and it is beneficial for us to learn more about this connection.  Ã‚   Knowing that our thoughts affect our bodies is a motivating factor in helping me pay more attention to what I think, and to focus on thinking positive thoughts. References American Academy of Family Physicians (2006). Mind/Body Connection: How Your Emotions Affect Your Health.   Retrieve April 1, 2007 from http://familydoctor.org/782.xml Bridger, D. (2006).   How Much Can Your Mind Control Your Body?   Retrieved April 1, 2007, from http://www.mindpowernews.com/127.htm Philosophy Of The Mind (n.d.).   Retrieved April 1, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy_of_mind The Mind Body Connection (n.d.).   Retrieved April 1, 2007 from http://www.quantumhealthandfitness.com/mind-muscle-connection.htm   

Procter&Gamble Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Procter&Gamble - Essay Example ledge and learning, discipline and thoroughness are part of Procter and Gamble’s ideals of best practice.By implementing profit sharing, the company reinforces loyalty for the company, mutual respect and trust between management and workers. Among the principles and values are a deep commitment towards customers’ best interests, social service, employees’ welfare and business operations that are simple, direct and transparent. (Dyer et al, 2004: ix, 46, 305). Increasing intense competition from Unilever, Johnson and Johnson, Kimberly-Clark, L’Oreal and other companies is weakening the company’s position in the share market. Further, demand for consumer goods is impacted by the soundness of the United States economy and particularly by corporate profits. Also, investigators have uncovered the fact that animal testing is being done by the company in harsh conditions for its cosmetic and drug manufacturing units (Swasy, 1994: 196). Since consumers are aware of the ethics behind production and the need for corporate social responsibility, this may affect the marketability of its products. Acquisitions such as the recent one of Gillette prove to be mutually beneficial (Hannon, 2008: 46). Further, developing the different markets which are opening up opportunities for P & G to establish itself has to be done with priority product categories, and the organization to be developed to carry out the strategies have to be planned (Conklin, 2006: 189). Technological advances have made it possible to increase the rate of production several times, thus reducing overhead costs (Swasy, 1994: 97). With the aging population all over the world increasing in proportion, as compared to a decade earlier, the growing need for skin care and pharmaceutical products along with research development has opened up new opportunities in these spheres. Competitors have been devoting more research funds to cosmetics than to detergents or other products, with higher profit margins

Genders at work Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Genders at work - Essay Example t like the article of tools for resolving conflicts, Ury, offers simple and elegant ways of creating agreement in difficult situations from the conflicts of the family to worldwide wars (Goodwin & Griffith, 2007). The story of Ury guides us on how to resolve conflicts and wars. According to the article, sharing stories is regarded as an effective instrument for social justice and peace. This relates to a William piece of work where he negotiated peace in worldwide conflicts and choosing various stories that will make a difference globally. The article focusses on the negotiation psychology as a principled negotiation that is important in finding acceptable solutions by finding the needs that are fixed and flexible to negotiators. Just like in the Ury’s speech the tools effectively for conflict resolution include separating people from problems, focusing on interest not positions, working together in creating opinions that will satisfy the two parties, and negotiating successfully with those who are more powerful, refusing to play by the rules or resorting to dirty tricks (Goodwin & Griffith,

Taxation Law Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Taxation Law Assignment - Essay Example However, this section also puts a discretionary element into the ATO's or the Judge's determination because the expenditure has to be necessary to the actual capital gain, which brings into question the validity of the expenses that are preparatory in nature or for other purposes rather than the actual construction. The key point that this judgment made is that the determination of this and subsequent cases is in reference to all circumstances, which includes an examination of the taxpayer's purpose or intention in incurring the expenditure. If it is necessary to apportion a loss or outgoing, the appropriate apportionment will depend on the facts of each case. The method taken must be fair and reasonable as per the case of Ronipibon Tin NL v Tongkah Compound NL v FC of T [1949] (78 CLR 47). The expenditure to be deductible if it necessarily incurred for the particular income producing purpose in question, which can include limiting to an the income for just a particular year as per t he case of Fletcher v Federal Commissioner of Taxation [1991] (173 CLR 1). In this case of the vacant land that was leased in the aforementioned ATO decision the owner did not purchase the land for leasing, rather private purposes so in the original sale there was no allowable deduction. Now the owner is using the land to bring in income, therefore the owner is allowed a deduction in the tax year that is expended up to the amount of the income earned but not exceeding this. In the case of the swimming pool that BLW have built on the vacant land that they own they are sure to be allowed certain expenditures on the land as allowable deductions. The first thing to identify is that the improvement and expenditure outlaid is not for private purposes, because if it were the costs would not be deductible. As the purpose of the expenditure is to build a swimming pool for the community, which will cost to enter then it is classed as a business venture and therefore valid deductions are possible from the income of $60,000 from Mulga Council. It needs to be noted that the whole profit is counted as no GST was paid because in this dealing of the monies going to BLW from the council there was a tax exemption. In relation to the $660, 000 to the builder of the pool one has to consider whether this is deductible or as this is the contractual duty that BLW owed to Mulga to get the $600,000 then it is not a deductible cost because it is the work that needs to be complet ed to get the $60,000. Therefore under Section 8-1 of the ITAA it is not a deductible costs; however for the other costs that are mentioned they may be deductible. Also in respect to deduction and depreciation under CGT and cost bases this property fulfills the requirement, which is that the land is improved to enhance the value of the

Is leadership something that comes naturally Essay

Is leadership something that comes naturally - Essay Example (1999) are of the opinion that leaders are made since extensive training is needed in any case, therefore those who thinks that leaders are born will be unable to explain why then training and development sessions are held in order to make a leader more successful. Eric Garner (2005) is against the saying that leaders are born. It takes certain efforts in order to become a leader. Garner are of the opinion that it is not enough to be born with certain qualities, a person also has to be aware of how these could be used in order to produce results. Wally Bock (2006) adopted a balanced approach while expressing his views on the subject. He says leadership comes both naturally and with education and experience. He says that it cannot be just one of the two, otherwise we would have had leaders who have no educations at all and they would be very successful or in the other case we would have had leaders who are alike since they have received the same education and were trained to become a model leader. A vast majority of writers are agreeing with the opinion of Bock. They, however, argue about which qualities have to be inborn and which qualities should come with education and experience. They say that anyone can learn to become a leader. However, there are some qualities that cannot be taught, the so called intangible ones, and the ones that cannot be measured and explained, for instance, natural decision making, complex problem solving, and self-development and group development. On the other hand, there are many qualities that can be learned, for instance, time and task management, communication skills, negotiation skills, ways how information can be presented, debating and most importantly motivating. Without developing the abilities that are even inborn apart from learning new ones a leader will never become successful. Duggan and fellows (2007) suggest that for becoming successful in profession, leaders must focus on self-development, therefore, be quite