Jean Watson’s Theory

Madeline N. Gerzon
BSN11C
TFN
 Jean Watson
 Jean Watson developed her theory while
she was having a personal experience
(husband’s death) in her life

 She molded her professional and

personal life in order to develop her
theory
 Education
 Graduated High School in West Virginia
 Graduated the Lewis Gale School of
Nursing in 1961
 Baccalaureate degree in Nursing from
University of Colorado, Boulder Campus in
1964
 Education
 Master’s Degree in Psychiatric-Mental
Health Nursing from University of
Colorado, Health Sciences Campus in
1966

 Doctorate in Educational Psychology and

Counseling from the University of
Colorado, Graduate School in 1973
 Employment
 Distinguished Professor of Nursing and
holds an endowed Chair in Caring Science
at the University of Colorado Health
Sciences Center

 Founder of the original Center for Human

Caring in Colorado and is a Fellow of the
American Academy of Nursing
 Employment
 Served as Dean of Nursing at the
University Health Sciences Center and is
a Past President of the National League
for Nursing

 Involved in early planning of the PhD

program in Colorado
 Employment
 Published
Published Writer

Nursing: The Philosophy and Science of
Caring (1979, 1985)
 Nursing: Human Science and Human

Care – A Nursing Theory (1985, 1988,

1999)

Postmodern Nursing and Beyond (1999)
 Achievements
 Recipient of several awards and honors
including: an international Kellogg Fellowship in
Australia, a Fulbright Research Award in
Sweden and six Honorary Doctoral Degrees,
including 3 International Honorary Doctorates
(Sweden, United Kingdom, and Quebec)
 She was the 1993 recipient of the National
League for Nursing Martha E. Rogers Award,
which recognizes a nurse scholar who has made
significant contributions to nursing knowledge
that advances the science of caring in nursing
and health sciences.
 Achievements
 New York University recognized her as a
Distinguished Nurse Scholar
 In 1999, the Fetzer Institute honored her
with the national Norman Cousins Award
in recognition of her commitment to
developing; maintaining and exemplifying
relationship-centered care practices.
 Transpersonal Caring

 Focuses on individuals and meaning for

their quality of life
 Caring involves sensitivity, respect, and high
moral and ethical commitment
 Places care before cure
 Transpersonal Caring
 Caring becomes the ethical standard
by which we measure nursing

Caring preserves human dignity
 Caring is a choice

 Emphasis on nurse-patient relationship

 Jean Watson

 She believed health was related to having

“harmony, resulting from unity of body,
mind, and soul.”
 Jean Watson
Philosophy
and Science of
Caring
 Philosophy and
Science of Caring
 Caring can be demonstrated and
practiced

 Caring consists of carative factors

 Philosophy and
Science of Caring
 Caring promotes growth

 A caring environment accepts a

person as he is and looks to what
the person may become
 Philosophy and
Science of Caring
 A caring environment offers
development of potential

 Caring promotes health better than

curing

 Caring is central to nursing

 The Caritas Process
 Caritas comes from the Latin word
meaning to cherish, to appreciate, to give
special attention, if not loving, attention to;
it connotes something that is very fine,
that indeed is precious
 The Caritas Process

 Both postmodern and traditional

 Invites nurse to explore the intersection

between personal and professional
 Watson’s 10 Carative Factors

1. Formation of humanistic-altruistic
value system

3. Instillation of faith-hope

5. Cultivation of sensitivity to one’s

self and others
Watson’s 10 Carative Factors

1. Development helping-trust
relationship

3. Promotion and acceptance of

expression of positive and
negative feelings
Watson’s 10 Carative Factors

2. Systematic use of the scientific

problem-solving method for decision
making

4. Promotion of interpersonal teaching-

learning
 Watson’s 10 Carative Factors

1. Provision for a supportive, protective,

and corrective mental, physical,
sociocultural, and spiritual environment

3. Assistance with the gratification of

human needs
 Watson’s 10 Carative Factors

1. Allowance for existential-

phenomenological forces
 Watson’s Metaparadigm
Concepts
 Person

Human being to be valued, cared for,
respected, nurtured, understood and
assisted
 Watson’s Metaparadigm
Concepts

 Environment

Society
 Watson’s Metaparadigm
Concepts
 Health
 Complete physical, mental and
social well-being and functioning
 Watson’s Metaparadigm
Concepts

 Nursing

Concerned with promoting and
restoring health, preventing
illness