Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Theory is best described as the basis, or framework, of the nursing profession and helps
to identify the unique qualities of the profession (Watson, 2011). There are three types of nursing
theories: grand theory, middle-range theory and practice theories. Practice theories are known for
identifying with specific clinical nursing situation but on the other hand grand theories are
usually nonspecific and used for larger scopes such as leadership. Nursing theory is applicable to
any healthcare setting by any of the following: Education, Leadership, Informatics or Health
policies. A grand theory such as Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Care can be applied in
leadership to solve problems in nursing practice. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the
problems of staffing situations in healthcare setting and how application of Dr. Jean Watson’s
In reading Watson's theory she discussed the importance of self-growth with nursing
self-control, and healing (Hood, 2014). Jean Watson's Theory of Human Care is a grand theory
that has great influence on patient outcomes and staffing satisfaction when used correctly.
Watson believes that it is not the part of the nurse to cure the patient, but relatively honor the
human magnitudes of nursing work and the inner life world and subjective experiences of the
people serve (Sitzman, 2013). The sections of this paper will address the problem/issue at hand,
the theory, and the strategy used to apply the theory to practice.
Problem/ Issue
Administrators and nurse managers face ongoing challenges with nurse staffing. Nursing
literature review validates that addressing nurse staffing issues ultimately leads to better patient
outcomes and higher quality of care. Nurse staffing shortage is known to affect patients, their
loved ones, future and current nursing staff, and the hospitals where they work (Martin, 2015).
Running Head: Application of Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Care 3
Insufficient staffing limits the number of compassionate nurses available ultimately results in a
One uncontrollable effect of nursing shortage results in a negative impact on the patient
and nursing staff (Martin, 2015). Staffing shortage could lead to job dissatisfaction and an
increase in the nurse’s workload. The nursing job dissatisfaction rate is four times higher than the
average worker in the U.S. dissatisfied with their job (Martin, 2015). Burnout is another concern
that we must face with nurse staffing insufficiency. The burnout could result in poorer quality
nursing care delivery and could led to legal uncertainties. For example, if a nurses’ work doubles
due to staffing there’s a larger window for medical errors. Any medical error could potentially
lead to legal damage such as lawsuits or loss of reimbursable cost (Li, 2013). “Not only have
higher nurse -to -patient ratios been shown to increase nurse burn out, it can have serious effects
on the health and well-being of the nurse. An unrealistic work lo a d may result in chronic
There is no easy way for nursing leadership to fix the issues that occur due to nursing
staffing shortage. Because some leaders are not familiar with using a theoretical framework to
ground practice, the use of application of theory can stand as a potential challenge. The goal for
the application of Watson’s Theory of Human Caring is to reduce and address problems that
causes stress to all parties. She believes the use of her theory can aid in the healing process
The three major elements of Jean Watson’s theory are the Carative factors, the
transpersonal caring relationship, and the caring moment (Watson, 2011). Watson’s theory is
Running Head: Application of Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Care 4
composed of 10 Carative factors that functions as a framework for providing a structure and
2. faith- hope,
10. allowing for existential- phenomenological forces (Sitzman, K., & Watson, J.
2013).
She feels the use of the Carative factors can enhanced the emotional, spiritual and physical needs
of the patient. Her work focuses mainly on the nurse to patient relationship. Because she focuses
on that relationship she feels that dynamics can impact a patient’s feelings and how they heal
(Sitzman, K., & Watson, J. 2013). Watson believed that holistic health care is central to the
According to Watson’s 2011, there are seven assumptions in relation to nursing care. The
first assumption is caring can be effectively demonstrated and practiced only interpersonally.
The first assumption is completed during physical contact and interactions. The second
assumption consist of carative factors in order to ensure human gratification. The third
assumption stresses the importance of effective caring to promote health amongst the patient and
Running Head: Application of Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Care 5
or family. The fourth assumption suggests that the acceptance of the patient’s state of mind is
important at all times. The fifth assumption is that we as nurses should ensure there is a caring
environment. That caring environment should allow the patient to make more health care related
decisions. The sixth assumption by Watson suggests that caring should focus on health healing
vs. curing. The last and seventh assumption is that nursing revolves around centralized care.
Watson’s theory emphasizes that in order for a caregiver to deliver quality patient care they
must deal with his or her own physical and emotional needs first (Watson, 2011). Simple
appraisal is an appropriate caring measure that can be used by leaders. The nurses work
Theory of Human Care. In order to demonstrate the theory the nurse leader or administrator
should transformational leadership to incorporate caritas factors amongst staff nurses. Examples
caring environment. Both examples helps promote staff retention. Unit based and hospital based
shared governance should also be encouraged by leaders. The last example involves leaders as a
Cone Health in Greensboro, NC applied the Jean Watson’s Caritas processes to nursing unit
to promote a caring environment for staff and patients. The application lead to staffing
their nursing retention and helped solve staffing issues. The unit utilized Jean Watson’s Caritas
Processes in practice to promote staffing and healthier work environment. With the help of the
Caritas process the first change on the unit started with highlighting empathy, compassion,
Running Head: Application of Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Care 6
communication, teamwork, and respect over clinical experience. The unit focused on building
positive relationships during the welcoming and on-boarding process for new employees.
Cone Health leaders used orientation for new employees to promote professional growth
goals and activities by encouraging staff engagement via shared governance council meetings.
National specialty certification celebrations were done to promote participation. “From 2009 to
2013, that unit improved its National Database for Nursing Quality Improvement Practice
Environment scores from the 10th to 95th percentile and its health system employee engagement
scores 38th to 85th percentile (Summerell, 2015).” There has been an increase in the national
specialty certification from 6% to 64% of staff. There was also an increase from 3% to 14% of
nurse’s systematic achievement in the clinical career ladder for registered nurses.
Jean Watson's Theory of Human Care is a grand theory that has great influence on improving
clinical outcomes when used correctly. Watson believes that it is not the part of the nurse to cure
the patient, but relatively honor the human magnitudes of nursing work and the inner life world
and subjective experiences of the people serve (Sitzman & Watson, 2013). Although using the
application of Watson’s theory probably won’t result in complete resolution of the staffing issues
it definitely plays a major role in developing processes to lead to success. Watson’s theory
application helps reduce the probability of legal and ethical problems that could arise with
staffing issues.
Conclusion
In conclusion, theory drives nursing care from all aspects of healthcare. Many
organizations similar to mine will continue to use Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring as a
guide to patient care delivery and helping with solving staff related issues. Leaders and
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administrators should all realize that Watson’s theory serves as guide and the key to ensuring
everyone including nurses are taken care of as a whole. The Care Model started by Jean Watson
is a very good resource when applying theory to address healthcare issues such as staffing.
Today’s world healthcare is consistently changing with many technological advance but nursing
References
Hood, L. J. (2014). Leddy & Pepper’s Conceptual Bases of Professional Nursing (8th ed.).
Li, Y. &. ( 2013). A literature review of nursing turnover costs. Journal of nursing management,
21(3), 405-418.
Martin, C. J. (2015). The Effects of Nurse Staffing on Quality of Care. MEDSURG Nursing,
24(2), 4-6 3p.
Sitzman, K. &. (2013). Caring Science, Mindful Practice. Human Caring Theory.
Summerell, P. (2015). Jean Watson’s Caritas Processes: A Model for Transforming the Nursing
Practice Environment. Critical Care Nurse, 35(2), e66-7 1p.
Watson, J. (2011). Human Caring Science: A Theory of Nursing (2nd ed.). Jones & Bartlett
Publishers.