Watsons Theory of Human Caring Essay Example for Free

Watsons Theory of Human Caring Essay A caring moment can be defined in many different ways by many different people. To me a caring moment between a patient and a nurse is when a nurse gives the patient their undivided attention. The nurse should take the time to listen to the patient and provide appropriate feedback reassuring the patient that they are being heard and the information as well as them are important. If the patient will allow the nurse to touch them this can be a very comforting gesture even if it is just a brief touch to the hand. Also repeat what the patient stated letting them know that you understood (Watson, 2009). Jean Watson, a nurse, who through personal experiences, beliefs, values and, higher education states that the focus of nursing is human caring, According to Lukose (2011) Caring and the healing task is more heart-centered than conventional nursing practice and extends to examine self and others. The major concepts of Watsons theory of human caring in the caring-healing process has expanded over the years, but based off her theory that it is According to Lukose (2011) connected with the high energy of the universe. Watsons states that the nurse creates a healing environment through forgiveness, compassion and love. Also that by using carative factors and a transpersonal relationship the nurse will be able to treat the whole patient (mind, body, and soul). For a couple of years I was the diabetic nurse at a county jail. I had a diabetic patient that was new to the jail and I was seeing the patient for the first time. I always tried to make my patients feel comfortable by having them sit in a chair and I did the same so we would be on the same level. This particular patient was very angry and did not want to speak about his disease process. Every time I would ask him a question trying to obtain some sort of history he would give answers like I dont care or none of it matters anymore. I continued to see him on a weekly basis trying to find a way to help him start caring again. I would get a little information from him, but I did start to discover that he had been going through some very hard times. The things that had happened to him led him to start drinking alcohol and using drugs which was how he ended up in jail. I continually would try to get him to take his diabetic medications. He also had hypertension and hyperlipidemia and would not take the medications for those either. This went on for two months with him telling me to just leave him alone he is not worth the trouble. I would order laboratory studies he would refuse, I would order medications and he would also refuse those. I usually tried to have face to face visits with the diabetic patients at least twice a week and had one day where I had quite a few patients to see. This patient was on my schedule but not until later in the day. It seemed like everyone was having a bad day almost every patient that I saw was angry and taking it out on me and I was feeling very frustrated. By the time I got to this patient I was fed up, only to hear him tell me how I was wasting my time he was not going to change his mind. So I just looked at him and said I do not even know why I continue to do this, nobody cares anyway as I said this I had tears in my eyes and told the patient he could just go ahead and leave, and he did. I, of course, continued to work as the diabetic nurse but my heart was not in it at all. The next week came and I had another face to face with this patient. When he came into the examination room he was different, I had his medication record and a record of his vital signs and blood glucose checks but had not looked at them. He started to talk before I had a chance, he told me that when he left from the previous visit that he went back to his room and prayed the entire night. He said that God told him that he needed to start following his treatment plan. I than looked at his records and saw that he had been taking all of his medications and that blood pressure and blood glucose numbers were decreasing. I could not believe it, I just looked at him dumbfounded. The patient told me he felt great and that I needed to keep continue what I was doing because I really did make a difference and had changed his life. I must have looked so silly because I was crying and smiling at the same time. He said that he just could not believe that someone cared that much about what happened to him. I continued to see that patient for several more months, and he would tell me how he had started to repair all of the relationships in his life through understanding, forgiveness and god. I learned that I should continue to care for the whole patient with love and accept them for who they are (Caruso, Cisar, Pipe, 2008). Continuing to show this patient how much I cared through my perseverance made a difference in both of our lives. I created a healing and caring environment in an environment that could be harsh with a lack of positive human to human connection. I should not let my frustration be so apparent or voiced the that I did not even know why I became a nurse, it was not professional. I often wonder if that patient had not seen the effect he had on me that he may have never realized that I truly did care. In a different environment I would have been able to enhance this caring moment by being able to give more of my time to the patient and provide even more education. The nursing metaparadigm applied to this patient and I was unaware of it at the time. As I am learning about nursing theories I can see it. I had individualized the nursing care for this person. I identified the mental and physical problems this patient was facing and tried to implement the appropriate measures. I used my critical thinking skills to establish the patients plan of care. I also got to know the patient and the patients lifestyle and used this in the plan of care (Sitzman, 2002). I had also utilized carative factors without any knowledge of them at the time. According to Vanenhouten, Kubusch, and Peterson (2012) Cultivation of sensitivity to ones self and others, through my own spiritual practices I was putting the patients needs before my own. According to Vanenhouten, Kubusch, and Peterson (2012) Development of a helping, trusting, human caring relationship, I continued to try to help the patient by gaining his trust and proving that I cared. According to Vanenhouten, Kubusch, and Peterson (2012) Promotion and acceptance of the expression of positive and negative feelings, I supported the patient and understood the barriers he was facing, and was able to make a connection with the patient that turned both of our negative feelings into a very positive experience for the both of us. According to Vanenhouten, Kubusch, and Peterson (2012) Promotion of a transpersonal teaching and learning, I took into account the patients current situation and developed his plan of care as well as all of the education I provided around his level of understanding and the barriers he faced being in jail. I reflect on this situation a lot and have told the story many times when I have come across a nurse that is feeling like giving up. A nurse really can make a difference in someones life when they are caring for a patient with their heart. Whether or not it is physical or mental a nurse can save someones life with a caring nurse-patient relationship. Caring and healing, I believe that one cannot exist without the other. Lukose, A. (2011, Jan). Developing a practice model for Watsons theory of caring. Nursing Science Quarterly, 24(1), 27-30. Caruso, E., Cisar, N., Pipe, T. (2008, April/June). Creating a healing environment: An innovative educational approach for adopting Jean Watsons theory of human caring. Nursing Administration Quarterly, 32(2). Vanenhouten, C., Kubusch, S., Peterson, M. (2012, Nov/Dec). Watsons theory of transpersonal caring Factors impacting nurses professional caring. Holistic Nursing Practice, 26(6), 326-334. Morris, D. L. (2006). Encyclopedia of nursing research (2nd ed.). Retrieved from http://search.proquest.comezproxy.apollolibrary.com.docreview/189451612?acciuntid=458. Morris, D. L. (2006). Encyclopedia of nursing research (2nd ed.). 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