Watson's Theory of Human Caring
Watson's Theory of Human Caring
Watson's Theory of Human Caring
THEORY OF
HUMAN CARING
Abstract
According to Watson (1997), the core of the Theory of Caring is that “humans cannot
be treated as objects and that humans cannot be separated from self, other, nature, and
the larger workforce”. Her theory encompasses the whole world of nursing; with the
emphasis placed on the interpersonal process between the care giver and care
recipient. The theory is focused on “the centrality of human caring and on the caring-
to-caring transpersonal relationship and its healing potential for both one who is
caring and the one who is being cared for” (Watson, 1996). Watson’s hierarchy of
needs begins with lower-order biophysical needs, which include the need for food and
fluid, elimination and ventilation. Next are the lower-order psychophysical needs,
which include the need for activity, inactivity, and sexuality. Finally are the higher-
order needs, which are psychosocial. These include the need for achievement,
affiliation, and self-actualization.
Introduction
Nursing is defined by caring. At Redlands Community Hospital, nursing has
embraced the theory of Jean Watson’s Caring Science. Caring Science helps us
to embrace the positive energy that flows from an integrated mind, body and
spirit and is mutually rewarding to both the patient and the nurse. Forged by
the vision of Florence Nightingale who asserted that the “”role of nurse is to
put her patient in the best position to be able to self-heal”, nurses are optimally
positioned to be the heart of healing. By actively engaging in caring through
authentic presence and intentionality, nurses is able to optimize her patient’s
ability to heal from within.
Background of Jean Watson
Jean Watson is an American nurse theorist
and nursing professor who is best known
for her Theory of Human Caring. She is
the author of numerous texts, including
Nursing: The Philosophy and Science of
Caring. Watson’s research on caring has
been incorporated into education and
patient care at hundreds of nursing schools
and healthcare facilities around the world.
Early Life
Watson was born on June 10, 1940 in Williamson, West Virginia. Jean
Watson graduated from the Lewis Gale School of Nursing in Roanoke,
Virginia in 1961. She continued her nursing studies at the University of
Colorado at Boulder, earning a B.S. in 1964 and M.S. in psychiatric and
mental health nursing in 1961, and a Ph.D. in educational psychology and
counseling in 1973. She has been awarded nine honorary doctoral degrees in
six countries.
Academic Appointments
Watson is a Distinguished Professor of Nursing at the University of
Colorado, where she formerly served as a Dean of Nursing.
Leadership Achievements
She is a past president of the National League of Nursing.
Honors and Awards
1999: Norman Cousins Award, Fetzer Institute.
Caring Theory
Watson developed the Theory of Human Caring. She founded the non-profit Watson Caring
Science Institute in 2008. The ten primary carative factors are:
1. The formation of a humanistic-altruistic system of values
2. The instillation of faith-hope
3. The cultivation of sensitivity to one’s self and to others
4. The development of a helping-trust relationship
5. The promotion and acceptance of the expression of positive and negative feelings
6. The systematic use of the scientific problem-solving method for decision making
7. The promotion of interpersonal teaching-learning
8. The provision of a supportive, protective and/or corrective mental, physical, socio-
cultural, and spiritual environment
9. Assistance with the gratification of human needs
10. The allowance of existential-phenomenological forces
1. The formation of a humanistic-altruistic system of values
• Begins developmentally at an early age with values shared with the parents.
• Mediated through ones own life experiences, the learning one gains and
exposure to the humanities.
• Is perceived as necessary to the nurse’s own maturation which then promotes
altruistic behavior towards others.
2. Health
Watson adds the following three elements to WHO definition of health:
• A high level of overall physical, mental, and social functioning.
• A general adaptive-maintenance level of daily functioning.
• The absence of illness ( or the presence of efforts that leads its absence).
3. Environment/Society
According to Watson, caring (and nursing) has existed in every society.
• A caring attitude is not transmitted from generation to generation.
• It is transmitted by the culture of the profession as a unique way of coping
with its environment.
4. Nursing
• “Nursing is concerned with promoting health, preventing illness, caring for
the sick and restoring health”.
• it focused on health promotion and treatment of disease.
She believes that holistic health care is central to the practice of caring in nursing.
She defines using as:
• “A human science of persons and human health-illness experiences that are
mediated by professional, personal, scientific, esthetic and ethical human
transactions.
Watson’s Theory and
Nursing Process
Nursing process contains the same steps as the scientific research process.
They both try to solve a problem. Both provide a framework for decision-
making.
1. Assessment
Involves observation, identification and review of the problem; use of
applicable knowledge in literature.
Also includes conceptual knowledge for the formulation and conceptualization
of framework.
Includes the formulation of hypothesis; defining variables that will be
examined in solving the problem.
2. Plan
It helps determine how variables would be examined or measured; includes a
conceptual approach or design for problem solving. It determines what data
would be collected and how on whom.
3. Intervention
It is the direct action and implementation of the plan.
It includes the collection of the data.
4. Evaluation
• Analysis of the data as well as examination of the effects of interventions
based on the data.
• Includes the interpretation of the results, the degree to which positive
outcome has occurred and whether the result can be generalized.
• It may also generate additional hypothesis or may even lead to the
generation of a nursing theory.
Watson’s Theory and the
Characteristics of a theory
• Logical in nature
• Relatively simple
• Generalizable
• Based on phenomenological studies that generally ask questions rather than
state hypotheses.
• Can be used to guide and improve practice.
• Supported by the theoretical work of numerous humanists, philosophers,
develop mentalists, and psychologists.
Strengths
• This theory places client in the context of the family, the community and the
culture.
• It places the client as the focus of practice rather than the technology.
Limitations
• Biophysical needs of the individual are given less important.
• The ten carative factors primarily delineate the psychosocial needs of the
person.
• Needs further research to apply in practice.
Conclusion
Watson provides many useful concepts for the practice of nursing. She ties
together many theories commonly used in nursing education. The detailed
descriptions of the carative factors can give guidance to those who wish to
employ them in practice or research.