Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring

" The nursing profession, and each nurse within it, is invited to consider/reconsider: How do we walk through life? How do we get our footing to bring the artistry of caring and global caritas consciousness into our lives, our work, and our world?"
Jean Watson

Theory Overview:
The philosophy of caring and science examines the relatedness of all and includes human science, human caring processes, experiences, and phenomena.

The Seven Assumptions About Caring
(Jean Watson’s theory of nursing, 2012)
1. Caring can be effectively demonstrated and practiced interpersonally
2. Caring results in the satisfaction of human needs
3. Caring promotes health and growth
4. Caring accepts a person as is and looks beyond to what that person may become
5. Caring offers the development of potential
6. Caring is equally important as curing
7. The practice of caring is central to nursing

Three Major elements of the theory:
The Carative Factors
The Caring Occasion/The Caring Moment
Transpersonal Caring
(Lukose, 2011)
The Carative Factors
Caritas originates from the Greek, meaning to cherish and give special love (Lukose, 2011)
Goal was to guide the “core” of nursing
In contrast to medicine’s “curative factors”
Interdependent

Used to “honor the human dimensions of nursing’s work and the inner life world and subjective experiences of the people we serve” (Watson, 2007 as cited in Lukose, 2011)

First three factors are the philosophical foundation for the science of caring

- The final seven build upon these

Transitioned to the “caritas processes”, expanding on the original factors
“It is when we include caring and love in our work and our life that we discover and affirm that nursing, like teaching, is more than just a job; it is also a life-giving and life-receiving career for a lifetime of growth and