Jean Watson Caring Theory
The field of nursing has a number of theories that promote its effectiveness in the delivery of the required services to patients. It is worth noting that my clinical practice is acute rehabilitation among elderly patients. Therefore, the practice involves dealing with traumatic brain injuries, patients suffering from stroke, and hip fractures. John Watson’s Caring Theory is utilized in this paper to understand how it informs this area of clinical practice. It is also vital to understand the direct application of the Caring Theory to the acute application of clinical practice. Such an understanding will lead to improved practice and effective care of patients suffering from different health problems.
The current essay explicates John Watson’s Caring Theory and its application in the clinical practice of acute rehabilitation among elderly patients.
Description of the Caring Theory
Jean Watson’s Caring Theory was published in 1988. It is crucial to acknowledge that this theory is based on seven significant assumptions and ten carative factors that lead to its understanding and application in the nursing practice. Fawcett and DeSanto-Madeya (2012) affirm that the assumptions of the theory include interpersonal demonstration and practice of care, carative factors lead to the satisfaction of particular human needs, effective caring leads to individual health growth, and caring responses accept an individual in the line of what he/she may become. Other significant assumptions of the theory include the following: a caring environment boosts the growth of potential while giving the individual an opportunity to make personal choices; caring is more “healthogenic” compared to actual curing; care is a key to the nursing practice. The ten carative factors outlined in the theory include the installation of faith and hope among patients, the development of human-altruistic system values, creation of sensitivity to self and others, and the existence of a relation of help-trust. According to Falk-Rafael (2005), other carative factors informing this theory include the application of the scientific problem-solving model to decision-making, the provision for interpersonal learning-teaching method, support in the gratification of human needs, promotion of support as well as protection, and the provision for existential-phenomenological forces. These assumptions and carative factors work together to promote the effectiveness of the Caring Theory and its application to the nursing practice. The theory also affirms that effective caring moments are characterized by spending uninterrupted time with the patient hence establishing effective human-human connections that promote the healing process of the patient in the nursing environment.
Foundation Personal Philosophy
The Caring Theory serves as a foundation for my personal philosophy of nursing because it transcends all the required elements that govern the activities of a nurse. Notably, the theory offers significant assumptions and carative factors that touch on every aspect of nursing hence ensuring that it forms the foundation for the personal philosophy of nursing. My personal philosophy of nursing is based on care and appropriate treatment of the patient-facing any kind of problem. Falk-Rafael (2000) opines that this theory serves, as a foundation for the philosophy of nursing because of its emphasis on the fact that caring is the only way to assist a patient. Curing alone cannot be effective in satisfying the patient. The theory’s reiteration on caring and establishment of a personal relationship with patients brings it out clearly, as a foundation for my personal philosophy of nursing that involves caring for elderly individuals with different problems, such as traumatic brain injuries, stroke, and hip fractures. It facilitates the delivery of quality services to all patients in my nursing career.
Critical Analysis and Evaluation
It is an undeniable fact that Caring Theory affects my clinical practice on a day-to-day basis. The theory affects my clinical practice through the establishment of caring relationships with patients. According to Davidson, Ray, and Turkel (2010), the theory has made it necessary for individuals working in this area to understand the manner in which to establish working relationships with their patients hence creating a sense of hope among them. It has been effective in leading to a quicker recovery process among patients. Additionally, the theory affects the clinical area of acute rehabilitation through its emphasis on unconditional acceptance. It emphasizes that all patients must be accepted unconditionally for the promotion of their future healthy growth. Such an application has ensured that all elderly individuals in my clinical field are accepted without consideration of their health condition. Falk-Rafael (2005) agrees that it has been effective in boosting their recovery process and ensuring that they feel appreciated in the nursing environment. Lastly, the theory has been widely applied in the promotion of health through knowledge and intervention. It is attained through its continuous emphasis on the utilization of the scientific model to problem-solving in health matters. We are always called upon to apply the scientific model to problem-solving hence ensuring that patients receive the required level of care and appreciation. Overall, the theory is relevant to my field of clinical practice and the healing process of patients.
Summary
In conclusion, this essay focused on John Watson’s Caring Theory and its relevance to the nursing practice. Specifically, the theory was analyzed in line with the clinical practice of acute rehabilitation, especially among elderly patients. The Caring Theory emphasizes the need of nurses to care for patients irrespective of their health. It forms my nursing philosophy because of its emphasis on care, which is considered a significant part of the nursing practice. It has been instrumental in ensuring that patients receive the required level of care that boosts their faith and hope in their recovery process. Its application has been undoubtedly successful in improving patients’ confidence in caregivers.