Jean Watson: A Caring Moment
Christie M. Ishman RN
NUR/403 Theories and Models of Nursing Practice
April 4, 2011
Stephanie Merck, APRN, MS, CS

Background of theory
The caring theorist, Jean Watson, first developed her theory and published the philosophy and science of caring in 1979 (Current Nursing, 2011). She describes nursing as a process of caring not curing, and that it is effectively practiced and demonstrated interpersonally only. Her theory also “suggests that caring is a different way of being human, present, attentive, conscious, and intentional” (Wafika, Welmann, Omer, & Thomas, December 2009, p. 293). Watson believed that “caring is central to nursing and the unifying focus for [our] practice (Blais, Hayes, …show more content…

114) is Watson’s fourth carative factor. The most important aspect in practicing this factor is communication. Whether verbal, nonverbal, or listening I need to promote warmth and empathetic understanding (Current Nursing, 2011). Even though Gary could not verbally communicate with me, we developed a caring rapport that enhanced our individual way of communicating. At the same time becoming vulnerable to each other in the beginning process of establishing our relationship (Alligood, 2010). I have observed and learned to watch people’s eyes who are unable verbally communicate. This is because we are creatures of adaptation, and it is seen clearly in communication with the eyes. My response to how he may have looked at an object more than one, blink of ryes or no, or watching emotional changes gave us the opportunity to develop and sustain an authentic caring relationship (Blais, Hayes, Kozier, & Erb, 2006).
Watson’s tenth carative factor The tenth carat factor of Watson’s’ theory is the “allowance for existential-phenomenological forces” (Alligood, 2010, p. 116) in the way of looking through someone else’s eyes. As I took the time to care for Gary, this eventually included his family, noticing the little religious aspects of their lives. According to Blais, Hayes, Kozier, & Erb (2010) by opening and attending to his (their) spiritual/religious beliefs, I could view him more “holistically while at the same time