Introduction
Nursing practice has continually improved over the recent years due to the integration of theoretical frameworks that advocate for more involving learning strategies and nursing process (Billings and Halstead, 2009, p.4). Furthermore, the embracement of community oriented and consumer driven system and its incorporation in learning has led to improvement in the nursing care. Mission statements in the institutions have regularly been reviewed in order to strike a balance between the teaching, research and eventually into service (De Young, 2009, p.12). The research paper will contrast and compare the mission statement of VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System and Loma Linda University (LLU) with regard to Jean Watson theory.
Comparison
VA southern Nevada healthcare system is renowned for its service in the improvement of the general health for over 240000 former military service personnel for many years. The facility envisages providing exceptional health care services aimed at improving their well being through integration of research and education and patient centered and community oriented services to veterans. Loma Linda University is one of the most respected Christian training institution that specializes in educating, expanding knowledge and providing comprehensive health that is in line with the ministry of Jesus Christ. Involvement of the students, staff, church and patients have driven the agenda of the facility thereby making it achieve its goals. Jean Watson theory is mainly interested in science of caring where she espouses 10 carative factors that are imperative in the satisfaction of human needs in nursing practice (Cara, n.d, para 10).
The mission statements of the two institutions share several similarities with regard to the principles spelt out in the Jean Watson theory in nursing practice. LLU and the VA southern Nevada healthcare system advocates and instills hope and faith in the lives of their patients and students. LLU is vocal in its provision of compassion services targeting the development of the whole person through the students and experienced faculty. In tandem with the global mission of LLU and VA southern Nevada, integration of spiritual and social growth dimensions is given priority as espoused in Watson nursing theory. The incorporation of these dimensions are vital since enhance the capabilities and courage of the nurses to offer carative and other curative processes (Morphew & Hartley, 2006, p. 459).
The provision of research and education is fundamental in the carative and curative process. In line with this, LLU has put tangible measures that enhance ethical education and expansion of knowledge by way of instruction from the professionals. Likewise, VA southern Nevada system incorporates a culture of education and research that has enhanced its role as the best provider of exceptional health services to the war veterans. Their mission statements are in line with the tenets spelt out in the Watson theory and are a reflection of the paradigm shift in the running of training and medical facilities especially in modern times (Cara, n.d, para 17; Morphew & Hartley, 2006, p. 459).
The integration of liberal arts is imperative in the development of humanistic philosophies and values. Liberal arts enhance the functioning of the health systems through ensuring efficacy in communication and delivery of services occurs. The respect the cultural and ethnic backgrounds of the students and the staff has received priority in LLU due to its far reaching implications in the transfer of knowledge, values, and appropriate skills and behaviors. UV southern Nevada has high regard for excellence, commitment and to larger extent compassion particularly when delivering nursing care to the war veterans. Compassion to the sick helps boost their morale and instill hope in the curing process (Cara, n.d, para 17)..
The caring environment provided offers encouragement and motivation to the staff since it unlocks their potential thereby allowing them to diversify into many areas of the nursing profession. Likewise, LLU provides a very important avenue for career development through provision of holistic teaching strategies and clinical settings. Efficacy of medication is overly dependent on the caring process thus the need to improve its quality (Cara, n.d, para 17). The values of the two institutions support the development of appropriate values as espoused by Watson in her theory. The nurturing of these humanistic policies has resulted in the overall betterment of the recovery process while boosting the quality of life of the patients. Both institutions acknowledge the need to utilize systematic scientific techniques through embracement of research.
Contrast
While the two institutions share several similarities, some differing perspectives exist particularly with regard to the Watson theory. According to Watson, a certain stage in life reaches where the curing process looks set to fail regardless of its degree of effectiveness (Billings & Halstead, 2009, p. 49). The spiritual component comes into play whereby the patient requires hope and faith that they can make it. LLU acknowledges the role played by spirituality by aligning all their activities with the doctrines of the seventh day Adventist while seeking to address the demands for health professionals with Christian backgrounds. While the LLU mission statement unequivocally advocates this idea, the UV southern Nevada does not give it much emphasis. Its failure is contrary to the assertions by Watson that faith is essential in offering a sense of hope and wellbeing through meaning beliefs to the affected individuals.
Watson’s theory espoused that cultivation of sensitivity to the caring environment, one self and the other individuals is paramount in the delivery of effective nursing care (Cara, n.d, para. 23; DeYoung, 2009, p.56). In this case, the nurses are supposed to explore several ways that will enhance their experiences during the nursing process. Achievement of the sensitivity requires the integration of all component of social life including the spiritual aspect that plays a major role especially during the onset of treatment failure. LLU has made several steps towards the actualization of this component that presents a major agreement with Watson theory.
The mastery of social and spiritual backgrounds is imperative when taking care of patients thereby offering golden opportunities for them to develop superb interpersonal relationships. However, the UV southern Nevada health system is overly interested in improving quality and financial integrity without necessarily taking into account the impact of spirituality in their achievement. The contrasting approach may be useful in explaining any differences in health outcomes especially in patients exposed to the two types of environment during their recovery period (Billings & Halstead, 2009, p. 46)
Conclusion
Watson theory is useful to the nursing process since it provides invaluable concepts in practice and education. The broadness and thoroughness of the theory makes it easily adaptable to mission statements of various training and medical facilities. LLU and UV southern Nevada health system mission statements reflects majority of the principles and assertions made by Watson thereby making them centers of excellence in their own right. More importantly, the usage of Watson assertions is imperative since it offers an opportunity to the institutions to provide quality healthcare services to the patients.
Reference list
Billings, D.M. & Halstead, J.A. (2009). Teaching in Nursing: A Guide for Faculty. St. Louis: Elsevier Sanders.
Cara, C. (u.n). A Pragmatic View of Jean Watson’s Caring Theory. Web.
DeYoung, S. (2009). Teaching Strategies for nurse educators, (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Morphew, C & Hartley, M. (2006). Mission Statements: A Thematic Analysis of Rhetoric across Institutional Type. The Journal of Higher Education, 77(3), 456-471.