The science of caring theory has strengths and weakness as a theory and as it applies to nursing practice. The major components of the science of caring enhances the nurse-patient interaction and improve practice for patients. It is personal in nature and based on the value system of the individual. An additional strength of the theory is that it places the client in the context of the family, the community and the culture. Nursing practice becomes personalized while at the same time less generic and technical in nature. The client becomes the focus of care and not the technology available for treatments (http://currentnursing.com/nursing_theory/Watson.html). Caring science empowers patients to take control and maintain their health.
The weaknesses of Watson's theory are that the biophysical needs of the patient are given less importance and the main focus is on the psychosocial needs of the individual. This is more limiting in that health still has a physiological component that needs to be addressed. These guidelines of psychosocial practice are just one component of multifaceted nursing (http://currentnursing.com/nursing_theory/Watson.html). The science of philosophy is open to interpretation which allows many ambiguities that may lead to hard implementation in practice. The more psychosocial the theory the less practical it becomes to every day nursing practice (http://nursing-theory.org/nursing-theorists/Jean-Watson.php).
Watson’s theory provides a generalized framework for nurses that can be applied in many different situations and places the patient in the context of culture, family and community allowing the nurse to adapt care to individual patients. Watson's theory is especially applicable in mental health settings and areas where biophysiological methods of care are no longer as effective such as in oncology and critical care environments. As the population ages and the health care system is more taxed, Watson's theory will remain a key factor for all nurses to study and apply as they provide care for their patients.
Watson's theory can be utilized by advanced practice nurses in several ways. First, her theory has been shown to be very
useful in academic programs and educational settings (McEwen & Wills, 2007). Nurse educators can help empower nursing students and promote their psychosocial wellness by utilizing caring science theory. Clinical Nurse Leaders can also use
caring science to engage the nurses on their unit and help promote the developement of trusting relationships between both nurse leaders and clinical nurses as well as nurses and their patients.
Dr. Watson modified and broadened her theory of caring science which was published in 2005. She contributes two major
life changes in a short time to influencing her more advanced theory of caring science in nursing; the loss of her left eye in an accident in 1997 and the loss of her husband of thirty seven years in 1998 (Kuuriku, 2010). Dr. Watson’s updated the relationship of the theory providing further understanding of human caring and spirtuality. Her continued study includes deep and lengthy examination of her caring beliefs and focus on sprituality and energy fields (McEwen & Wills, 2007). Her continued focus on broadening and deepening the knowledge of human caring has been an inspiration to many nursing theorists aas well as many practicing nurses who have studied her work.
The weaknesses of Watson's theory are that the biophysical needs of the patient are given less importance and the main focus is on the psychosocial needs of the individual. This is more limiting in that health still has a physiological component that needs to be addressed. These guidelines of psychosocial practice are just one component of multifaceted nursing (http://currentnursing.com/nursing_theory/Watson.html). The science of philosophy is open to interpretation which allows many ambiguities that may lead to hard implementation in practice. The more psychosocial the theory the less practical it becomes to every day nursing practice (http://nursing-theory.org/nursing-theorists/Jean-Watson.php).
Watson’s theory provides a generalized framework for nurses that can be applied in many different situations and places the patient in the context of culture, family and community allowing the nurse to adapt care to individual patients. Watson's theory is especially applicable in mental health settings and areas where biophysiological methods of care are no longer as effective such as in oncology and critical care environments. As the population ages and the health care system is more taxed, Watson's theory will remain a key factor for all nurses to study and apply as they provide care for their patients.
Watson's theory can be utilized by advanced practice nurses in several ways. First, her theory has been shown to be very
useful in academic programs and educational settings (McEwen & Wills, 2007). Nurse educators can help empower nursing students and promote their psychosocial wellness by utilizing caring science theory. Clinical Nurse Leaders can also use
caring science to engage the nurses on their unit and help promote the developement of trusting relationships between both nurse leaders and clinical nurses as well as nurses and their patients.
Dr. Watson modified and broadened her theory of caring science which was published in 2005. She contributes two major
life changes in a short time to influencing her more advanced theory of caring science in nursing; the loss of her left eye in an accident in 1997 and the loss of her husband of thirty seven years in 1998 (Kuuriku, 2010). Dr. Watson’s updated the relationship of the theory providing further understanding of human caring and spirtuality. Her continued study includes deep and lengthy examination of her caring beliefs and focus on sprituality and energy fields (McEwen & Wills, 2007). Her continued focus on broadening and deepening the knowledge of human caring has been an inspiration to many nursing theorists aas well as many practicing nurses who have studied her work.