Application of Theoretical Concepts to Research – Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring

Application of Theoretical Concepts to Research – Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring

Theoretical concepts are significant in the nursing profession as they influence nursing actions and thinking (Hansen & Dysvik, 2022). In this regard, a significant theory in clinical practice, particularly in mother-baby postpartum care, my field of specialty, is Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring. Accordingly, this paper discusses the background of Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring, its description, an evaluation of the theory, and its application in clinical practice.

Background

Theorist’s Background  

Jean Watson is a notable nurse theorist who came up with the Theory of Human Caring to underscore the humanistic aspect of nursing, blending compassionate care with scientific knowledge (Alligood, 2021). Watson was born in West Virginia and later pursued nursing education and received her PhD, which gave her a strong foundation for her research. Her motivation to develop a theory that prioritizes the humanistic elements of healthcare came from her professional experiences, during which she observed mechanistic approaches to patient care. Jean Watson’s professional and personal journey significantly influenced her commitment to a holistic approach to nursing that she explained in her theory (Alligood, 2021).

Phenomenon of Concern  

The fundamental phenomenon of concern in the Theory of Human Caring is the caring concept itself. Caring is a significant element of nursing, an issue for patients and nurses, and a key goal for managers, patients, and healthcare policymakers (Ghanbari-Afra et al., 2022). Nursing care is the responsiveness of the nurses to the patient’s psychological, physical, social, emotional, spiritual, and social needs so that patients bounce back to their regular healthy lives and the patients’ and nurses’ satisfaction is achieved. Respect for human values and the human nature of care are part of the main characteristics of the caring concept. Human caring is defined as a process that involves the efforts of the nurse to protect the human existence of the patient, empower patients, and bring them to a higher degree of harmony between spirit, body, and mind (Ghanbari-Afra et al., 2022). Further, caring entails a deep connection between the nurse and patient, emphasizing trust, empathy, and holistic well-being. In the field of postpartum care, this phenomenon focuses on the psychological and emotional support offered to mothers and their infants, satisfying the immediate needs of the two through a compassionate, caring approach (Ghanbari-Afra et al., 2022).

Theory Description

Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring is categorized as a grand theory since it focuses on caring in the nursing discipline. Watson describes human caring as a supreme moral practice that entails the special use of self through emotions, movement, and touch to attain unity of two parties, in that the patient gets healed, and their self-control and inner strength flourish (Bagheri et al., 2023). In addition, it integrates ten carative factors that direct the nurse-patient interaction, aiming at health promotion, illness prevention, and well-being restoration (Bagheri et al., 2023). These carative factors include the establishment of ‘humanistic-altruistic value systems’, the cultivation of sensitivity, and the encouragement of transpersonal learning-teaching. The holistic approach of the theory makes it a significant tool for tackling the complex needs of newborns and their mothers. As a result, a caring environment is promoted that supports both emotional bonding and physical recovery (Bagheri et al., 2023).

Concepts

The theory mainly involves three conceptual elements, which include a caring relationship, carative factors, and caring moments (Alligood, 2021). First, the concept of carative factors directs the nursing practice and evolves around clinical Caritas processes. According to Watson, ten carative factors provide a focus for nursing care. Also, the theory describes “clinical Caritas” as transpersonal caring that moves caritas from carative. The ten carative factors are transformed into corresponding Caritas processes (Alligood, 2021).

The second concept is a transpersonal caring relationship. Watson describes transpersonal caring as the foundation of the Theory of Human Caring. She further described it as a “special kind of human care relationship—a union with another person and their being in the world” (Alligood, 2021). Transpersonal relationship development and maintenance are achieved through the implementation of the ten Caritas processes that direct the relationship and set the basic principles for the caring-loving relationship crucial for the nursing practice. The last concept is a caring occasion or caring moment that is described as the exact instances where the nurse and patient nurse work together in a manner that surpasses the physical interaction, forming a healing experience that is meaningful (Alligood, 2021).

Diagram

Figure 1

Watson’s Theory of Human Caring

Note. From “Jean Watson’s Middle Range Theory of Human Caring: A Critique,” by K. N. Alharbi and O. G. Baker, 2020, International Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Scientific Research, 3(1), p. 6 (https://doi.org/10.31426/ijamsr.2020.3.1.3011)

Relationships

The concepts mentioned above are related. The foundation of a transpersonal caring relationship is formed by carative factors, which, in turn, enables the formation of caring occasions (Alharbi & Baker, 2020). These caring occasions, as defined earlier, are significant moments in which the presence and engagement of the nurse may significantly affect the patient’s outcomes and experiences. Every concept supports and promotes others, forming a synergistic effect that enhances holistic well-being (Alharbi & Baker, 2020).

Evaluation

Weaknesses

Watson’s theory is broad and abstract, making it difficult to operationalize in particular clinical settings. The main focus of the theory is the spiritual and emotional aspects of care, which may be challenging to measure and quantify. Also, the theory does not give explicit direction on what should be done to achieve a true caring-healing relationship.

Metaparadigms

The theory encompasses the four nursing metaparadigms. First, Watson defines nursing as an art and a science that focuses on health promotion, caring, illness prevention, and health restoration (Alligood, 2021). Second, the patient is pictured holistically, around mind, body, and spirit. Third, the environment entails the physical environment and the nurse’s presence and attitude (Alligood, 2021). Even though the theory does not clearly cover all aspects of these metaparadigms, it offers a comprehensive framework that brings them into a combined approach to care (Alligood, 2021).

Application

Studies That Used the Theory

One study that used this theory aimed to examine the effect of nursing care based on Watson’s Human Care Model on anxiety, dyspnea control, and life quality in palliative care patients (Seven & Sert, 2023). Guided by the framework of the model, the participants increased their quality of life, and patients received care physically, psychologically, and socially with a holistic approach (Seven & Sert, 2023). The study findings were that patient anxiety was reduced after the interventions guided by Watson’s Human Caring Theory (Seven & Sert, 2023).

The second study aimed to investigate the effect of a health promotion program founded on Watson’s Human Caring Theory on the sense of logic among caregivers of schizophrenia patients (Bagheri et al., 2023). Based on the carative factors, interventions improved the health status of the caregivers of schizophrenia patients. The caregivers received counseling, problem-solving, stress management, time management, decision-making, self-care, coping skills, communication skills, and schizophrenia management to meet their needs. The study findings showed that the health promotion program improved the sense of well-being and coherence among the caregivers (Bagheri et al., 2023).

Area of Practice

Watson’s Theory of Human Caring can be of benefit in caring for mothers and newborn babies. Using carative factors in postpartum care, nurses may form a supportive environment that encourages bonding between children and mothers, enhances emotional well-being, and helps in physical recovery (Tajik et al., 2024). For instance, nurses may use transpersonal teaching-learning to empower new mothers about newborn care through education while offering emotional support to address stress and anxiety. Implementation of these concepts involves the creation of personalized care plans that tackle the special needs of each baby and mother, guaranteeing a holistic approach to postpartum care.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring provides a framework for promoting the quality of postpartum care. While focusing on the humanistic element of nursing, it promotes a compassionate and caring approach that addresses both the emotional and physical needs of new mothers and their newborns. Integration of Watson’s principles into nursing practice may result in increased satisfaction, improved patient outcomes, and a more satisfying nursing experience. As such, Jean Watson’s theory has the potential to transform postpartum care, encouraging a nurturing environment that promotes the well-being and health of mothers and infants.

References

Alharbi, K. N., & Baker, O. G. (2020). Jean Watson’s middle range theory of human caring: A critique. International Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Scientific Research, 3(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.31426/ijamsr.2020.3.1.3011

Alligood, M. R. (2021). Nursing theorists and their work e-book. Elsevier Health Sciences.

Bagheri, S., Zarshenas, L., Rakhshan, M., Sharif, F., Sarani, E. M., Shirazi, Z. H., & Sitzman, K. (2023). Impact of Watson’s human caring-based health promotion program on caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia. BMC Health Services Research, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09725-9

Ghanbari-Afra, L., Adib-Hajbaghery, M., & Dianati, M. (2022). Human caring: A concept analysis. J Caring Sci, 2022(4). https://doi.org/10.34172/jcs.2022.21

Hansen, B. S., & Dysvik, E. (2022). Expanding the theoretical understanding in advanced practice nursing: Framing the future. Nursing Forum, 57(6). https://doi.org/10.1111/nuf.12827

Seven, A., & Sert, H. (2023). Anxiety, dyspnea management, and quality of life in palliative care patients: a randomized controlled trial. Florence Nightingale Journal of Nursing, 31(Supp1), S13–S21. https://doi.org/10.5152/fnjn.2023.23016

Tajik, F., Mahmoodi, M., Azodi, P., & Jahanpour, F. (2024). Nurse-mother communication and support: Perceptions of mothers in neonatal units. Heliyon, 10(8), e29325. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29325

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Week 4 Project

Your “Application of Theoretical Concepts to Research” Paper is due this week. Your paper should contain the following sections:
• Background: contains two subsections, which includes a brief description of the theorist and the phenomenon of concern in the theory. Theory Description: a description of each of the concepts in the theory, a diagram of the theory, and a description of how the concepts are related.
• An Evaluation of the Theory: a description of the theory’s weaknesses and how the metaparadigms are described in the theory. Application of the Theory:
•
。 Describe two studies that used the theory as a framework for their study, including a description of how they operationalized the concepts.
。 How could you use the theory to research a phenomenon in your area of clinical practice? How would you operationalize the concepts? You MUST use the attached template here to complete your paper.
The paper is to be thoroughly researched and well documented, with relevant material from the nursing theorists presented incorporated into the paper. Use the current edition of the APA Manual throughout the paper. Sources-should focus on references from nursing theory but may also include conceptual and theoretical material from other professional domains. The paper, excluding references or appendices, is to be limited to 3-5 pages. Writing should be succinct and well organized, as it is impossible for the facilitator to evaluate form and content separately.

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