Rea C.

Tubat
BSN1-A

Nursing Theorist: Jean Watson

Title of the Theory: Theory of Human Caring
Nursing Background
 Education
Watson ardently and quickly progressed through her nursing
education earning her bachelor’s degree in nursing in 1964, a
master of science in nursing in psychiatric and mental health
nursing in 1966, and a Ph.D. in educational psychology and
counseling in 1973, all from the University of Colorado at
Boulder. After Watson concluded her doctoral degree, she has served in both faculty and
administrative positions in the School of Nursing faculty, University of Colorado Health
Sciences Center in Denver. In 1981 and 1982, she pursued international sabbatical studies
in New Zealand, Australia, India, Thailand, and Taiwan.

 Nursing Experience
In the 1980s, Watson and colleagues established the Center for Human Caring at the
University of Colorado, the nation’s first interdisciplinary center committed to using
human caring knowledge for clinical practice, scholarship, and administration and
leadership. At the center, Watson and others sponsor clinical, educational, and
community scholarship activities and projects in human caring. These activities involve
national and international scholars in residence, as well as international connections with
colleagues around the world, such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, Korea, Japan, New
Zealand, the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, Thailand, and Venezuela, among others.
Activities such as these continue at the University of Colorado’s International Certificate
Program in Caring Healing, where Watson offers her theory courses for doctoral students.
Watson served as chairperson and assistant dean of the undergraduate program at the
University of Colorado School of Nursing. She was involved in planning and
implementation of the nursing PhD program and served as coordinator and director of
the PhD program between 1978 and 1981. From 1983 to 1990, she was Dean of University
of Colorado School of Nursing and Associate Director of Nursing Practice at University
Hospital. During her deanship, she was instrumental in the development of a post-
baccalaureate nursing curriculum in human caring, health, and healing that led to a
Nursing Doctorate (ND), a professional clinical doctoral degree that in 2005 became the
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree.
Between 1993 and 1996, Watson served as a member of the Executive Committee and
the Governing Board, and as an officer for the NLN, and she was elected president from
1995 to 1996. In 2005, she took a sabbatical for a walking pilgrimage in the Spanish El
 Camino. And in 2008, Watson created a non-profit foundation: Watson Caring Science
Institute, to further the work of Caring Science in the world.
Nursing Philosophy
Watson’s Philosophy and Science of Caring is concerned on how nurses express care to their
patients. Her theory stresses humanistic aspects of nursing as they intertwine with scientific
knowledge and nursing practice. The nursing model states that “nursing is concerned with
promoting health, preventing illness, caring for the sick, and restoring health.” It focuses
on health promotion, as well as the treatment of diseases. According to Watson, caring is central
to nursing practice, and promotes health better than a simple medical cure. She believes that a
holistic approach to health care is central to the practice of caring in nursing.
According to her theory, caring can be demonstrated and practiced by nurses. Caring for patients
promotes growth; a caring environment accepts a person as he or she is, and looks to what he or
she may become.

Metaparadigm
 Person
In Watson’s theory, the person is viewed holistically as a “unity of mind-body-spirit-
nature”, in which each part is a reflection of the whole, yet the whole is greater than, and
different from, the sum of the parts. According to her, a person is neither simply an
organism nor simply a spiritual being, but rather is embodied in experience in nature and
in the physical work; a person is also able to transcend the physical world by controlling
it, changing it, or living in harmony with it.

 Nursing
Nursing is viewed by Watson as both a human science and an art. She describes the
concept of nursing as reciprocal transpersonal relationship in caring moments guided by
carative factors and caritas processes-a human-to-human connection in which both
persons are influenced through the relationship and being together in the moment.

 Health
Health is defined as unity and harmony within the body, mind and soul; a harmony
between self and others, and between the self and nature; and openness to increased
possibility. According to Watson, illness is not necessarily disease, but rather a subjective
disharmony within spheres of the person.

 Environment
Watson’s definition of the environment has evolved over time. Her early definitions
included references to “supportive, protective, and corrective mental, physical, societal,
and spiritual environments”. She also identified the environment as a “field of
connectedness” at all levels. More recently, Watson’s definition of healing space and
environment has expanded to a nonphysical energetic environment, a vibrational field
integral with the person where the nurse is not simply in the environment but “the nurse
is the environment”.

Diagram of Watson’s Theory of Human Caring

Reflection on how the theory can be use in Life

Life is actually more fulfilling down below. Choosing intentionally to help others flips
life upside-down. In helping others rather then seeking our own gain, we find great
freedom. Happiness begins from the moment you do something for others. Those
who consistently help others, are happy, and do not come across any obstacles in
their lives.
Service to others results in liberty. We are able to say no to modern culture‘s games
of promotion and authority. We live lives of less stress, less anxiety, and less
frustration. We begin to feel more fulfilled, more complete, more alive. Those who
constantly strive for the top have misplaced their pursuits. But we don’t have to. We
can rush today to experience the lasting happiness of helping others. Throughout the
world, missions are taking place, changing lives forever and for the better. As people serve
in various places of the world, they can learn a lot, not only about themselves but also
about how one person can truly make a difference in another person’s life.