Jean Watson’s
Philosophy and Science of
Caring
Megan Andrews
Julia Arnerich
Tonight we will discuss the. . .
History
Breakdown
Importance
Examples
Application
Evaluation of the theory
Background
Born in southern West Virginia in 1940
Attended the Lewis Gale School of
Nursing in Roanoke, Virginia from which
she graduated in 1961
Background
In 1961, moved to Colorado with her
husband, Douglas
Earned her BSN in 1964
MSN in psychiatric-mental health nursing
in 1966
Doctorate in educational psychology and
counseling in 1973
Theory Overview
The philosophy of caring and science
examines the relatedness of ALL and
includes, human science, human caring
processes, experiences, and phenomena.
Key Concept:
Caring is a moral ideal: mind-body-soul,
engagement with another
Evolution of Theory
The foundation for this theory was first
published in 1979
The original theory included 10 Carative
Factors
Carative Factors
1) Formation of a Humanistic-altruistic
system of values
2) Instillation of faith-hope
3) Cultivation of sensitivity to one's self and
to others
4) Development of a helping-trusting, human
caring relationship
Carative Factors continued…
5) Promotion and acceptance of the
expression of positive and negative feelings
6) Systematic use of a scientific problem-
solving caring process
7) Promotion of transpersonal teaching-
learning
Carative Factors continued…
8) Provision for a supportive, protective,
and/or corrective mental, physical,
societal, and spiritual environment
9) Assistance with gratification of human
needs
10) Allowance for existential-
phenomenological-spiritual forces
Clinical Caritas Process
As the theory evolved ,the carative factors
evolved into the caritas process
Caritas means ‘to cherish’
Caritas Process continued . . .
Formation of humanistic-altruistic system of values,
becomes: "Practice of loving-kindness and equanimity
within context of caring consciousness
Instillation of faith-hope, becomes: "Being authentically
present, and enabling and sustaining the deep belief
system and subjective life world of self and one-being-
cared- for“
Cultivation of sensitivity to one's self and to others,
becomes: "Cultivation of one's own spiritual practices
and transpersonal self, going beyond ego self"
Caritas Process continued…
Development of a helping-trusting, human caring
relationship, becomes: "Developing and sustaining a
helping-trusting, authentic caring relationship“
Promotion and acceptance of the expression of
positive and negative feelings, becomes: "Being present
to, and supportive of the expression of positive and
negative feelings as a connection with deeper spirit of
self and the one-being-cared-for"
Systematic use of a creative problem-solving caring
process, becomes: "creative use of self and all ways of
knowing as part of the caring process; to engage in
artistry of caring-healing practices"
Caritas Process continued . . .
Promotion of transpersonal teaching-learning,
becomes: "Engaging in genuine teaching-learning
experience that attends to unity of being and
meaning attempting to stay within other's frame of
reference“
Provision for a supportive, protective, and/or
corrective mental, physical, societal, and spiritual
environment, becomes: "Creating healing
environment at all levels, (physical as well as non-
physical, subtle environment of energy and
consciousness, whereby wholeness, beauty,
comfort, dignity, and peace are potentiated"
Caritas Process continued . . .
Assistance with gratification of human needs,
becomes: "assisting with basic needs, with an
intentional caring consciousness, administering
‘human care essentials', which potentiate alignment
of mind-body-spirit, wholeness, and unity of being
in all aspects of care“
Allowance for existential-phenomenological-
spiritual forces, becomes: "opening and attending
to spiritual-mysterious, and existential dimensions
of one's own life-death; soul care for self and the
one-being-cared-for
Assumptions
This theory makes the following
assumptions:
1) Caring can be effectively demonstrated
and practice only interpersonally
2) Caring involves carative factors that
result in the satisfaction of human needs
3) Effective caring promotes health and
individual family growth
Assumptions continued…
4) Caring responses accept the person as they are
now and as what they may become
5) A caring environment is one that offers the
development of potential while allowing the
person to choose the best action for his or herself
at a given point in time.
6) Caring is more “healthogenic” than it is curing.
7) The practice of caring is central to nursing.
Internal Criticism
Clarity: use of nontechnical yet
sophisticated language
Simplicity: theory draws on a variety of
disciplines, more easily understood with a
broad or liberal arts background
Internal Criticism
Generality: it encompasses all aspects of
the health-illness continuum increasing its
generality
Accessibility: Difficulty to study
empirically, though it does draw from
other disciplines
Internal Criticism
Scope: Grand Theory
Level: Situation Relating
The Commonplaces
Person: a valued person to be cared for,
respected, nurtured and understood and
assisted
Health: overall physical, mental and social
functioning, adaptability and the absence of
illness
Commonplaces
Environment: caring exists in all societies
and is passed by the profession as a unique
way of coping with the environment
Nursing: “ a human science of persons
and human health-illness experiences that
are mediated by professional, personal,
scientific, esthetic, and ethical human
transactions”
Importance to Nursing
This theory is important to nursing due to
the central concept of caring
This theory is grounded in the discipline of
nursing and nursing science but has
evolved to include a variety of other
disciplines increasing its relevance in a
variety of fields
Circle of Contagiousness
Currently this theory is being validated in
many clinical settings
Though many healthcare settings are
trying to incorporate the concepts of this
theory it is application is complicated by
hospital acuity, length of stay and
technology
Do we like this Theory
The framework and key concepts are
critical to compassionate nursing care,
however the complexity, abstract qualities
and lack of structure make this theory
difficult to apply to a wide variety of
healthcare settings
Application of Theory to Practice
Case study:
◦ A 48 year old woman has recently been
diagnosed with breast cancer. It is her first
evening in the hospital and she is scheduled
for a mastectomy in the morning. She is single
and her family lives out of state. A friend
came with her today to check in but had to
leave to take care of her own family.
Case study continued . . .
You are assuming care of the patient, after
reading the chart and getting report what
3 carative factors would you anticipate
using?
(click on sound clip for answers )
Case Study continued . . .
You walk into the room and find the
patient crying, what carative factors would
you apply?
(click on sound clip for answers )
Summary
Key concept:
◦ Caring is a moral ideal: mind-body-soul,
engagement with another
There are 10 carative factors that evolved
into the clinical caritas process
Jean Watson believes that “the core of
nursing is those nurse-patient relationships
that result in a therapeutic outcome”
Web CT Question
What is your overall opinion of this
theory?
Describe a situation in which you used or
could use the caritas process in practice.
References
Chinn, P.L. & Kramer, M.K. (2008). Theory and
nursing: Integrated knowledge development (7th ed.).
St. Louis, MO: Mosby.
Tomey, A.M. & Alligood, M.R. (2006). Nursing
theorists and their work (6th ed.). St. Louis, MO:
Mosby.
Current Nursing:
◦ http://
currentnursing.com/nursing_theory/Watson.htm
References
University of Colorado, Jean Watson
◦ http://
www.nursing.ucdenver.edu/faculty/caring.htm
Nurses Info:
◦ http://
www.nurses.info/nursing_theory_person_watson
