Jean Watson’s Theory of Caring

Summary

Gene Watson, born June 10, 1940, in West Virginia, is a renowned nursing theorist, founder, and author. She developed a passion for nursing at age 10 and went on to establish the Center for Human Caring and the Watson Caring Science Institute. Watson's theory of human caring emphasizes a transpersonal approach, focusing on the interconnectedness of nurses and patients. Her 10 Caritas Processes guide nurse-patient interactions, promoting self-actualization and holistic healing. Watson has authored over 30 books, received numerous accolades, and her work continues to transform healthcare through compassionate, patient-centered care.

Takeaways

• 😀 Gene Watson is a theorist, founder, and author who has made significant contributions to the field of nursing and caring.
• 🏠 Born in West Virginia, she was the youngest of eight children and had a strong family influence.
• 👩‍⚕️ At age 10, witnessing a seizure sparked her interest in nursing, which she pursued after graduating from nursing school.
• 🎓 She furthered her education with degrees from the University of Colorado, including a PhD in educational psychology and counseling.
• 🏥 In 1986, she founded the Center for Human Caring at CU's Health Sciences Center, focusing on human caring in clinical settings.
• 🌟 In 2010, she established the Watson Caring Science Institute, a non-profit aiming to transform healthcare through caring and healing.
• 📚 Watson is a prolific author, co-authoring over 30 books on caring and healing, earning accolades such as the American Journal of Nursing's Book of the Year award.
• 🏅 She was honored as a Living Legend by the American Academy of Nursing in 2013, recognizing her outstanding contributions to the field.
• 🌐 Her theory of human caring is transpersonal, emphasizing the interconnectedness of nurses and patients, and the importance of spiritual factors in care.
• 🔟 The 10 Caritas Processes outline her approach to nursing, focusing on values, faith, sensitivity, relationships, feelings, artistry, teaching, environment, basic care, and allowing for miracles.

Q & A

Who is Gene Watson and what is her background?

Gene Watson is a theorist, founder, and author who was born on June 10, 1940, in a small town in West Virginia. She is the youngest of eight children and had a strong family influence. She decided to become a nurse at the age of 10 after witnessing her sister's friend having a seizure.

What significant event in Gene Watson's life led her to her career path?

At the age of 10, Gene Watson decided to become a nurse after seeing her sister's friend experience a seizure, which was a significant event that influenced her career path.

What is the Center for Human Caring and when was it founded?

The Center for Human Caring was founded by Gene Watson in 1986 at CU's Health Sciences Center. It focuses on using human caring in the clinical setting.

Can you describe the Watson Caring Science Institute and its mission?

The Watson Caring Science Institute is a non-profit organization founded by Gene Watson in 2010. Its mission is to translate the model of caring, healing, and curitas into more systemic programs and services to transform healthcare.

What are some of the honors and awards Gene Watson has received?

Gene Watson has received numerous honors, including the American Journal of Nursing's Book of the Year Award and being selected as a Living Legend of the American Academy of Nursing, which is the highest honor for contributions to nursing, awarded in 2013.

What was the turning point in Gene Watson's life that led to the development of her theory?

The turning point in Gene Watson's life that led to the development of her theory was a series of personal tragedies, including an accidental injury that resulted in the loss of her left eye in 1997 and the death of her husband in 1998.

What is the core belief of Gene Watson's theory of human caring?

Gene Watson's theory of human caring is centered on a transpersonal approach, emphasizing that nurses are affected by their patients and vice versa. She believes that caring is a fundamental aspect of nursing that connects the human and spiritual factors, and that nurses should act as peacemakers.

What are the 10 Caritas Processes in Gene Watson's theory?

The 10 Caritas Processes in Gene Watson's theory are: 1) Formation of a humanistic-altruistic system of values, 2) Installation of faith and hope, 3) Cultivation of sensitivity to self and others, 4) Development and sustaining of a helping-trusting authentic caring relationship, 5) Promotion and acceptance of expressing positive and negative feelings, 6) Engagement in the artistry of caring-healing practices, 7) Promotion of transpersonal teaching and learning, 8) Provision for a supportive protective environment, 9) Sacred acts of intentional basic care, and 10) Allowing for miracles.

How does Gene Watson's theory apply to patient care?

Gene Watson's theory applies to patient care by promoting self-actualization and the idea that nurses can only provide the greatest care if their own needs are met. It emphasizes the importance of a personalized and human approach to care, aiming to promote healing from within and preserve a patient's dignity, humanity, wholeness, and inner harmony.

What are the five perspectives of caring as discussed in the script?

The five perspectives of caring are: 1) Human trait, which is an innate ability to care, 2) Moral imperative, viewing caring as a right or wrong decision, 3) Affect, the feelings one has towards others, 4) Interpersonal interaction, where caring is an exchange between people, and 5) Therapeutic intervention, a nursing intervention to achieve goals.

What are the eight factors of patient-centered care mentioned in the script?

The eight factors of patient-centered care are: 1) Respect for patient preferences, 2) Coordination and integration of care, 3) Information, education, and communication, 4) Physical comfort, 5) Emotional support, 6) Involvement of family and friends, 7) Continuity and transition, and 8) Access to care.

Outlines

00:00

👩‍⚕️ Life and Achievements of Jean Watson

Jean Watson, born on June 10, 1940, in West Virginia, is a renowned nursing theorist, founder, and author. As the youngest of eight children, she was inspired to become a nurse at the age of 10 after witnessing a seizure. After nursing school, she married Douglas Watson and moved to Colorado, where her career took off. In 1986, she founded the Center for Human Caring at CU's Health Sciences Center, focusing on human caring in clinical settings. In 2010, she established the Watson Caring Science Institute, a non-profit aiming to transform healthcare through systemic programs and services. Watson is a founding member of the International Association for Human Caring and has authored over 30 books on caring and healing, earning accolades such as the American Journal of Nursing's Book of the Year Award and being named a Living Legend by the American Academy of Nursing in 2013.

05:01

📚 Watson's Theory of Human Caring

Jean Watson's theory of human caring is grounded in a transpersonal approach, emphasizing the interconnectedness between nurses and patients. She believes that nurses are affected by their patients and vice versa, and that nursing work should integrate caring with human and spiritual factors. Watson's theory promotes self-actualization and posits that nurses can provide the best care when their own needs are met. The theory is built on 10 Caritas factors that guide nurse-patient interactions, such as forming a humanistic system of values, cultivating sensitivity, and engaging in the artistry of caring practices. The goal is to tailor care to individual patients to promote healing from within, enhancing dignity, humanity, wholeness, and inner harmony.

10:02

🤝 Application of Caring Behaviors and Patient-Centered Care

The application of caring behaviors in nursing includes providing presence, touch, listening, knowing the client, spiritual caring, and involving the family. These behaviors aim to build rapport, offer comfort, and respect patient's preferences and values. The concept of patient-centered care is also discussed, emphasizing respect for patient preferences, coordination of care, information education, physical and emotional comfort, involvement of family and friends, continuity and transition, and access to care. These elements ensure that care is respectful and responsive to individual patient needs, guiding all clinical decisions.

Keywords

💡Gene Watson

Gene Watson is a central figure in the video, described as a theorist, founder, and author. She is noted for her significant contributions to the field of nursing, particularly in the area of human caring. Born in West Virginia, Watson's journey from a small-town background to becoming a pioneer in nursing theory is highlighted, showcasing her as a role model for aspiring nurses and a testament to the impact of caring in healthcare.

💡Center for Human Caring

Established by Gene Watson in 1986 at CU's Health Sciences Center, the Center for Human Caring is a pivotal concept in the video. It signifies Watson's commitment to integrating human caring into clinical settings, emphasizing the importance of compassionate care in the healing process. The center serves as a practical application of Watson's theories, aiming to enhance patient outcomes through a more caring approach to healthcare.

💡Watson Caring Science Institute

Founded by Watson in 2010, the Watson Caring Science Institute is a non-profit organization that continues her mission of transforming healthcare through caring practices. The institute's goal to translate the model of caring, healing, and curitas into systemic programs and services underscores the video's theme of caring as a foundational aspect of nursing and healthcare.

💡Theory of Human Caring

Gene Watson's theory of human caring is a core concept in the video, detailing her belief in the transpersonal approach to nursing. This theory posits that both the nurse and the patient are affected by their interactions, emphasizing the importance of a caring relationship in healthcare. Watson's theory is deeply personal, born out of her own experiences with grief and loss, and it serves as the philosophical backbone of her work.

💡Transpersonal Caring

Transpersonal caring is a key aspect of Watson's theory, suggesting a connection that transcends the physical and engages the spiritual aspects of care. It is about creating a deep, meaningful connection with patients that goes beyond the routine tasks of nursing. The video illustrates how this approach can lead to more profound healing experiences, aligning with the video's message of the transformative power of caring.

💡Caring-Healing Curitas

Caring-healing curitas is a term used in the video to describe the holistic approach to care that Watson advocates. It encompasses the idea that caring is not just an action but a way of being that promotes healing on multiple levels—physical, emotional, and spiritual. The video suggests that this approach can lead to more effective healthcare outcomes by addressing the whole person.

💡10 Caritas Processes

The 10 Caritas Processes are a set of guidelines for nurse-patient interactions that stem from Watson's theory. They provide a framework for nurses to engage in caring behaviors that foster healing. The video discusses each process, from forming a humanistic system of values to allowing for miracles, highlighting how these processes can be applied in practice to enhance patient care.

💡Self-Actualization

Self-actualization is a concept in Watson's theory that suggests nurses must meet their own needs to provide the best care for their patients. The video uses the metaphor 'you can't pour from an empty cup' to illustrate this idea, emphasizing the importance of nurses' well-being in delivering quality care. This concept is integral to the video's exploration of the caregiver's role in the healing process.

💡American Academy of Nursing

The American Academy of Nursing is mentioned in the video as the organization that honored Gene Watson as a 'Living Legend' in 2013. This accolade is the highest honor for contributions to nursing and serves to underscore Watson's impact on the field. The mention of this honor in the video highlights her legacy and the esteem in which her work is held.

💡Patient-Centered Care

Patient-centered care is a philosophy of healthcare that is defined by the Institute of Medicine and discussed in the video. It involves respecting and responding to individual patient preferences, needs, and values. The video connects this concept to Watson's theories, suggesting that her approach to caring is inherently patient-centered, aiming to ensure that care is tailored to the unique needs of each patient.

💡Caring Behaviors

Caring behaviors are actions that nurses can take to provide presence, touch, listening, knowing the client, spiritual caring, and family care. These behaviors are explored in the video as practical applications of Watson's theories, demonstrating how nurses can engage with patients in a way that fosters healing and comfort. The video uses examples from nursing practice to illustrate how these behaviors can be implemented.

Highlights

Gene Watson is a theorist, founder, and author born on June 10, 1940, in West Virginia.

She is the youngest of eight children and aspired to be a nurse at the age of 10.

After nursing school, she moved to Colorado with her husband Douglas, where her career began to flourish.

In 1986, she founded the Center for Human Caring at CU's Health Sciences Center.

The Watson Caring Center Institute, a non-profit, was founded in 2010 to translate caring models into systemic programs.

She is a founding member of the International Association for Human Caring.

Watson has co-authored over 30 books on caring and healing, earning the American Journal of Nursing's Book of the Year Award.

In 2013, she was selected as a Living Legend of the American Academy of Nursing.

Her theory of human caring is centered on a transpersonal approach, emphasizing the connection between nurses and patients.

Watson's theory promotes self-actualization and the idea that caring fuels nursing capabilities.

The 10 Caritas Factors provide guidelines for nurse-patient interactions based on her theory.

Her theory aims to tailor care to individual patients, promoting healing from within.

Caring behaviors include providing presence, touch, listening, knowing the client, spiritual caring, and family care.

The five perspectives of caring include human trait, moral imperative, affect, interpersonal interaction, and therapeutic intervention.

The eight factors of patient-centered care are defined by the Institute of Medicine, emphasizing respect for patient preferences.

Gene Watson's work has had a significant impact on nursing practice, focusing on humanizing healthcare.

Transcripts

gene watson

who is gene watson gene watson is a

theorist a founder and an author she was

born june 10 1940 in a small town in

west virginia and there she was the

youngest of eight children and grew up

surrounded by family and extended family

and at the age of 10 she realized that

she wanted to be a nurse when she saw

her sister's friend having a seizure

and after graduating nursing school she

found her husband douglas watson and

from there they moved to colorado

together and that's kind of where her

career began to take off

she founded the center for human caring

at cu's health sciences center in 1986

and they focused on using human caring

in the clinical setting

she also founded the watson caring

center institute in 2010 and that's a

non-profit organization

and their mission is to translate the

model of caring healing curitas into

more systemic programs and services

which can continue to transform health

care one nurse one practitioner one

educator

one system at a time

and she's also the founding member of

international association and in human

caring and other organizations

she was also she's also an author and

the co-author of over 30 books on

research and philosophies of caring and

healing

in her works i have received the

american journal of nursing's book of

the year award

and she was also selected as a living

legend of the american academy of

nursing and that's its highest highest

honor for country

contributions to nursing and that was in

2013 so she's had a very successful

career

jean is a scholar so like katherine said

jean was from a small town in west

virginia and she finished high school

and after that she attended lewisgale

school of nursing in 1961.

after that she moved to colorado with

her husband douglas and attended the

university of colorado there she

received her bsn in 1964 her msn in

psychiatry and mental health nursing in

1966 and her phd in educational

psychology and counseling in 1973

after receiving all of her doctorates

and other degrees she continued working

with patients

and soon after she became the dean and

director of the university of colorado

health sciences center in denver

what is her theory and how did it come

about

as we know gene was the youngest of

eight children and after seeing her

older sister's friend have a seizure her

dreams of becoming a nurse transpired

in 1961 she moved to colorado with

douglas and unfortunately

in 1997 she suffered an accidental

injury that resulted in the loss of her

left eye and soon after this she

suffered another traumatic event

of losing her husband in 1998.

sadly her husband was not only her best

friend and her husband but also someone

who kept her physically and spiritually

grounded however through this grief

process she

created her theory and a direct quote

from gene is attempting to integrate

these wounds into my life and work one

of the gifts through the suffering was

the privilege of experiencing and

receiving my own theory through the care

from my husband and loving nurse friends

and colleagues

so jean's theory of human caring was

centered upon a transpersonal approach

so

she believed that the nurse

is affected by her patients and that the

patients are affected by nursing care

um her quote in the middle there just

talks about how she believes that her

work and that the work of nursing

connects both

caring and like the human as a whole but

then also

spiritual factors and that we as nurses

are supposed to be peacemakers

um the foundation of her theory was to

promote self-actualization

professionally and personally

uh watson claims that caring fuels and

determines our capabilities as nurses

her theory is centered upon the stigma

that nurses can only provide the

greatest patient care if their needs are

met so the whole you can't pour from an

empty cup idea

the 10 carat of factors just provide a

guideline guideline for nurse patient

interactions and they stemmed off of her

theory so the first one is the formation

of a human humanistic altruistic system

of values

second is the installation of faith and

hope

third is the cultivation of sensitivity

to oneself and to others so just making

sure that we are present with our

patients and we take care of them and

that we're not just like oh your arm's

broken that sucks like you know being

personable with them and having

compassion for them um

four is developing and sustaining a

helping trusting authentic human caring

relationship

five is the promotion and acceptance of

expressing positive and negative

feelings as a connection with the deeper

spirit of self and the one being cared

for so authentically listening to our

patients and then six is to engage in

the artistry of the caring healing

practices

and then finding creative solutions

seven is the promotion of a

transpersonal engaging teaching and

learning that attends to the unity of

the person so

um

making sure that when we provide patient

teaching and helping them learn that

we're doing so in a manner that they can

understand

so we kind of have to dump things down

sometimes

um eight is the provision for a

supportive protective environment that

mentally physically

societally and spiritually heals

um providing wholeness comfort dignity

and peace

and then

9 is the sacred acts of intentional

basic care involving wholeness unity and

spirituality

10 is allowing for miracles

so the purpose of this theory is to

tailor our care to each individual

patient

and the goal of doing that is to promote

this sort of healing from within

and so that's

caring healing through consciousness

which is like the idea of having

interactions that aren't robotic or copy

and paste but that are human and unique

and personalized to that individual

patient

and the hope is that by doing that and

like demonstrating that sort of

consciousness it's going to provoke

provoke this sort of inner healing

that protects enhance and preserves a

person's dignity humanity wholeness and

inner harmony

like the little picture right there

and then application of caring behaviors

there's providing presence which means

being there so like if a patient is

anxious before a procedure you can

go in the room and check on them and let

them know it's gonna be okay

there's touch which is task oriented is

like taking vital signs

caring is giving a

hand on the shoulder or on the hand to

let them know that you're there and

protective to prevent them from falling

there's also listening which is that

sort of consciousness so like not

extracting information from them all the

time but actually having a conversation

with them

and then knowing your clients so

building that sort of rapport

their interests and hobbies if you

know that they like to go on walks like

before they came to the hospital you

could go on a walk with them around the

halls

and then spiritual caring which is where

they get like their comfort relaxation

or even their religious beliefs so if a

patient asks you to pray and that's

something that you do you can do that

with them

and family care which is involving their

family so

introducing them having com introducing

yourself to them having conversations

with them and interacting

is an extension of your patient

the five perspective perspectives of

caring um there's a number of theorists

that explore the concept of caring

um and this is how the five perspectives

came about

number one is human trait that is

thought that a person is born with

ability care more of like an innate

ability

um two would be moral imperative so that

would be

looking at caring as a right or wrong

decision and this is usually affected by

the environment we grow up in and the

people who influence us

three would be affect and that's a

feeling you have or get about someone um

this usually is harder to describe but

universally everyone kind of understands

what it feels like to have feeling

towards others

four would be interpersonal interaction

caring is viewed as an exchange between

two or more people there has to be an

actual interaction going on for this

theory to work and like affect

the feelings and then five would be

therapeutic intervention this is unique

to nursing because it is a nursing

intervention performed

to achieve goals and outcomes

and these perspectives you can choose to

just

view one theory or you can blend them

together

and then the eight factors of

patient-centered care so the institute

of

medicine defines patient-centered care

as providing care that is respectful of

and responsive to individual patient

preferences needs and values and

ensuring that patient values guide all

clinical decisions

so the first one would be respect for

patients preferences so you don't always

have to agree but just being respectful

of the decisions they choose to make

or i'm really cold do you think i get a

blanket

yeah here you go

thank you

you're welcome

all right two would be coordination and

integration of care

three would be information education so

always making sure that your patient is

in the loop and when teaching points

are applicable

definitely use that

hey kenna i noticed that you're smoking

a cigarette and i have a pamphlet here

about a smoking cessation

so uh would you like this because

smoking is really bad for your health in

this case some information on that

thanks you're welcome

four would be physical comfort

oh man i'm really thirsty

do you need some water

yes please okay here you go

thank you

five would be emotional support

six would be involvement of family and

friends so really making it easy and

accessible for

support system to come and visit or

to call them especially we're in covid

right now so that is more of a normal

thing

and then seven would be continuity and

transition

so when a patient is being moved from

different areas

of the hospital making sure the

transition is smooth and the comfort the

patient is comfortable

and then eight would be access to care

so making sure patients know how to

access the care they need in case of

emergency questions or just concerns

that is gene watson and her theory and

these are our resources thanks for

listening