Introduction
Jean Watson’s theory of human caring is focused on the relational processes in which health care workers engage with patients and their families. The central conceptual elements of Watson’s argument are creative factors, transpersonal caring relationships, and caring occasion or a caring moment (Pajnkiha, Štiglic & Vrbnjak, 2017). The human caring theory is based on the assumption that caring occurs only when there is a heart-to-heart connection between a healthcare worker and a patient. The core concepts of the framework include a relational caring for oneself and others, creating a meaningful human-to-human transaction, practicing consciousness and reflection, as well as kindness and equanimity, and inclusive and circular care.
The Nursing Metaparadigm
The given theory may be applied to the nursing metaparadigm regarding its main concepts. In the human caring theory, a person has a high value and deserves to be respected, assisted, and cared for. According to Watson, a person can expand his or her healing power and gain great experience through caring occasions (Nikfarid, Hekmat, Vedad, & Rajabi, 2018). Watson’s theory attaches great importance to a healing and caring environment created by a nurse.
Therefore, a nurse is an external factor that is to provide a patient with empathy and care. Watson views health as both physical and mental wellness; a healthy person is the one who gained a new wholeness moving towards transcendence. Caring, thus, is a foundation of nursing that has a spiritual dimension as nurses should practice self-actualization and consciousness.
Conclusion
Watson’s human caring theory may be applied to a labor and delivery setting for nurses to optimize their ability to care for women during their intrapartum period. Integrating Watson’s carative factors into such a setting may help nurses put heart-centered caring practice into action. By developing and sustaining a help-trusting and authentic relationship with patients, nurses may create a great healing environment where comfort and wholeness are potentiated.
This, in turn, will result in a mutually beneficial experience for both patients and nurses. In particular, women may become more psychologically adapted for the childbearing and prepared for ongoing postpartum stress.
Reference
Nikfarid, L., Hekmat, N., Vedad, A., & Rajabi, A. (2018). The main nursing metaparadigm concepts in human caring theory and Persian mysticism: A comparative study. Journal of Medical Ethics and History of Medicine, 11(6).
Pajnkiha, M., Štiglic, G., & Vrbnjak, D. (2017). The concept of Watson’s carative factors in nursing and their (dis)harmony with patient satisfaction. PeerJ, 5, 1-16. Web.