The core principles of Jean Watson’s Theory of Human (Transpersonal) Caring are concerned with the values of kindness, equality, amiability, and spiritual care about the patients (Watson, 2013). To cultivate the understanding of Watson’s theory, the principle of mindfulness is suggested (Sitzman & Watson, 2014). Applying this theory to the health assessment process necessitates the understanding of the basic concepts of Watson’s method. The theory incorporates ten caritas processes developed by the author to describe her vision of caring moments (Jesse & Alligood, 2014). These ten caritas delineate the practical and philosophical basis for the nurses’ practice.
The basic points of the ten caritas include such aspects as maintaining humanistic and altruistic values, practicing sympathy and kindness, evolving and maintaining caring and loving relationships, encouraging the patients with hope and faith, letting them express their good and bad emotions, designing a healing atmosphere, respecting the patients’ dignity, organizing transpersonal education, and being open to unknown and spiritual things (Sitzman & Watson, 2014). The purpose of the application of these principles is the organization of the best caring and healing environment for the patients. The theory aims to enhance professional caring in healing techniques. Vandenhouten, Kubsch, Peterson, Murdock, and Lehrer (2012) define professional care as activities promoting healing, maintaining dignity, and showing respect towards the integrated nursing practice. Watson’s theory is employed by nurses all over the world to provide patients with humanistic care.
Watson’s theory to the health assessment process may be analyzed via its application in infertile women (Arslan-Özkan, Okumuş, & Buldukoğlu, 2014; Ozan, Okumuş, & Lash, 2015). Arslan et al. (2014) investigate the effect of nursing care based on Watson’s theory on the stress produced on women suffering from infertility. The authors remark that there are no unanimous care standards for women impacted by infertility. However, they make an effort to apply Watson’s theory in order to relieve the personal, social, and family burden in such women (Arslan et al., 2014). As a result of a randomized control trial performed by the scholars, the intervention and control groups demonstrated crucial divergences in accommodation levels, self-efficiency, and coping with infertility distress (Arslan et al., 2014). The intervention group’s self-efficacy level was raised by seven points and their accommodation level fell (in the positive direction) by seven points (Arslan et al., 2014). Furthermore, there was an essential decline in infertility distress in the intervention group, whereas there was no such decline in the control group.
The study by Ozan et al. (2015) also examines the outcomes of the application of Watson’s theory. The scholars investigate the impact of the theory’s principles on the infertile women who received in vitro fertilization treatment (Ozan et al., 2015). The authors conclude that the employment of the ten caritas helps the patients cope with their stress when they find out that the treatment did not produce a positive result.
Watson’s Theory of Human (Transpersonal) Caring is regarded as a valuable nursing practice that helps people cope with their physical and psychological health problems by encouraging them to believe in themselves and have a positive attitude. The nurses employing Watson’s theory need to have a variety of skills and features, such as cherishing the altruistic and humanistic values, practicing kindness, trust, and compassion, and stimulating the patients to have faith in their power to heal.
References
Arslan-Özkan, I., Okumuş, H., & Buldukoğlu, K. (2014). A randomized controlled trial of the effects of nursing care based on Watson’s theory of human caring on distress, self-efficacy and adjustment in infertile women. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 70(8), 1801-1812.
Jesse, E., & Alligood, M, R. (2014). Jean Watson: Watson’s philosophy and theory of transpersonal caring. In M. R. Alligood (Ed.), Nursing theorists and their work (8th ed.) (pp. 79-97). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier
Ozan, Y. D., Okumuş, H., & Lash, A. A. (2015). Implementation of Watson’s Theory of Human Caring: A Case Study. International Journal of Caring Sciences, 8(1), 25-35.
Sitzman, K., & Watson, J. (2014). Caring science, mindful practice: Implementing Watson’s human caring theory. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.
Vandenhouten, C., Kubsch, S., Peterson, M., Murdock, J., & Lehrer, L. (2012). Watson’s theory of transpersonal caring: Factors impacting nurses professional caring. Holistic Nursing Practice, 26(6), 326-334.
Watson, J. (2013). The theory of human caring: Retrospective and prospective. In Smith, M. C., Turkel, M. C., & Wolf, Z. R. (Eds.), Caring in nursing classics: An essential resource (pp. 237-241). New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.