Importance of Nursing Theory

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Watson’s Theory of Human Caring encompasses four main concepts – person, health, environment and nursing profession, which also mirror the four metaparadigms of the nursing profession. It is in the view of this theory that the person is being the one cared for by the nurse.

Watson’s Human Caring Theory Applied to the Nurse Practitioner

Nurse Practitioners are able to flourish into the role of a primary healthcare provider having the background and core principles of nursing. It is such a unique role that NPs are able to combine assessment, diagnosis and treatment with holistic care as the integral part of it (Hagedorn & Quinn, 2005). NPs foster health by building trusting relationships with their patients, using effective communication, creating a plan of care that helps patient transform their lives and restore them to health. As stated in this paper, by incorporating Watson’ Theory in the daily practice of a nurse, it will define success in delivering comprehensive care. Clinical exemplars will be demonstrated below to explain this.

I remember taking care of an 85 year old patient with Congestive Heart Failure. He was trialed on Primacor drip to improve his diastolic function and increase myocardial activity. Unfortunately, his body was not responding well to it. He was becoming hypotensive and short of breath. All of his vital organs were also failing him. The daughter was very involved in his care and did not want his father to suffer any longer. They called in a hospice nurse evaluation and made the patient DNR/DNI. As his nurse, while waiting for him to get transferred to the hospice facility, we gave them privacy, listened and granted their requests, made the patient comfortable, provided the patient with the most gentle care and truly empathized with them with this situation. I witnessed how the daughter was so torn when she decided to make her father DNR/DNI. With the help of the multidisciplinary team, she was assured that it’s what’s best for the patient at that time. She updated our unit that after 24 hours of transfer, her father passed and that she was thankful for the unit’s compassion and understanding of their family’s situation.

Another patient that comes to mind wherein I unknowingly applied Watson’s Theory of Human Caring was a young, uninsured patient who developed drug-induced cardiomyopathy. I set all my bias aside and remained focus on the patient and what he needed at that time. He needed compassion and knowledge of how his condition will worsen if he does not change his habits. I initially noticed that at first, he wasn’t receptive of the teaching I was giving him. After spending time with him, getting to know the patient and his situation, I was able to establish rapport and build a trusting nurse-patient relationship. Again, with the help of the multidisciplinary team, we referred him to support groups that he can attend once he goes home and a cardiac rehabilitation clinic. We also made sure that prior to his discharge, he was sent home with a month’s supply of medications.