Boykin & Schoenhofer on Nursing As Caring

Summary

The video discusses the shift in nursing education from a systems-based approach to a more holistic, caring-based perspective. Founders of the Nursing as Caring theory, Dr. Anne Boykin and Dr. Savina Schoenhofer, explain how this approach focuses on understanding patients as whole individuals and emphasizes nurturing personhood through caring relationships. The theory challenges traditional medical approaches by promoting the idea that nursing is not about fixing patients but about supporting their unique expressions of caring. Nurses are encouraged to respond authentically to the needs of patients, fostering a compassionate, person-centered practice.

Takeaways

• 💡 The traditional systems approach to nursing is being complemented by more holistic, person-centered theories like the Nursing as Caring theory.
• 🌱 The Nursing as Caring theory emphasizes focusing on the person, moving beyond just medical science and nursing care to studying the discipline of nursing.
• 👥 Dr. Anne Boyin and Dr. Savina Schifer highlight that caring is central to nursing and essential for human connection in healthcare.
• 📚 Faculty at Florida Atlantic University began to incorporate caring theories into nursing education, challenging the traditional systems model approach.
• 🤝 Nursing as Caring views all persons as inherently caring by virtue of their humanness, which is an important assumption in this theory.
• 🧠 Nurses must acknowledge their own limitations in judgment to truly care for individuals, focusing on the person rather than their actions.
• ⏳ Caring is seen as a moment-to-moment expression, where each interaction shapes how both the nurse and patient grow in caring.
• 🛠 The theory challenges the medical model’s fix-it approach, instead seeing patients as whole and complete individuals in each moment.
• 🌟 Personhood is enhanced through nurturing relationships between the nurse and patient, highlighting the importance of connection in care.
• 🎭 The 'dance of caring persons' emphasizes the collective effort of all healthcare workers in supporting personhood, with each playing a unique role in the caring environment.

Q & A

What is the central idea behind the 'nursing as caring' theory?

The central idea of the 'nursing as caring' theory is that nursing is rooted in human caring, emphasizing that nurses should focus on the person as a whole and nurture their capacity for caring. It views persons as caring by nature and seeks to foster and support their growth in caring through nurturing relationships.

How did Dr. Anne Boykin come to develop the 'nursing as caring' theory?

Dr. Anne Boykin developed the 'nursing as caring' theory after feeling dissatisfied with traditional nursing models that were system-based and focused mainly on medical science. Her perspective shifted when she attended a conference on caring, where she realized that nursing needed to focus on the person and the discipline of caring itself.

Why did Dr. Boykin feel that traditional nursing education was lacking?

Dr. Boykin felt traditional nursing education was lacking because it focused too much on medical science and technical skills, while neglecting the core of nursing: caring for the person. She noticed that there was a void in focusing on the human aspect of nursing and sought to fill that gap through the study of caring.

What are the main assumptions underlying the 'nursing as caring' theory?

The main assumptions are: (1) All persons are caring by virtue of their humanness, (2) Persons live caring from moment to moment, (3) Persons are whole and complete in the moment, (4) Personhood is grounded in caring and enhanced through nurturing relationships, and (5) Nursing is both a discipline and a profession.

What does it mean that persons are whole and complete in the moment?

The assumption that persons are whole and complete in the moment means that, from the 'nursing as caring' perspective, individuals are not seen as broken or in need of fixing. Instead, nursing is about recognizing the person's wholeness and supporting their unique caring nature, rather than focusing on deficits.

How does the 'nursing situation' concept enhance the understanding of caring in nursing?

The 'nursing situation' refers to the shared, lived experience between the nurse and the person being cared for, where caring enhances personhood. It is in this interaction that nursing is created and known, making it a crucial concept for studying and understanding nursing as caring.

What is the significance of 'calls for nursing' in this theory?

'Calls for nursing' represent the needs or desires of the person being cared for, which the nurse hears and responds to in a nurturing way. These calls are unique to each situation and cannot be pre-defined, requiring the nurse to be fully present and responsive to the person's caring needs in the moment.

How does 'nursing as caring' differ from traditional medical approaches?

'Nursing as caring' differs from traditional medical approaches by focusing on nurturing the person's caring nature rather than fixing medical problems. It emphasizes the person's wholeness and the human relationship between nurse and patient, rather than seeing the person as an object to be treated.

What role does 'aesthetic knowing' play in the 'nursing as caring' theory?

Aesthetic knowing is essential in the 'nursing as caring' theory because it allows nurses to creatively express their understanding of caring through their lived experiences. By sharing stories and unique expressions of caring, nurses enhance their capacity to care in diverse and meaningful ways.

What is the 'dance of caring persons,' and why is it important?

The 'dance of caring persons' refers to the collaborative environment where all individuals involved in the care process (nurses, patients, doctors, and even support staff) contribute their unique caring. This concept highlights the collective effort in creating a nurturing environment for everyone involved.