The Caring in Nursing
Nursing and Caring are known as intertwined elements. Majority of those who choose nursing as a career do so because of their desire to care for others. Caring as a basic concept in nursing has resulted into the development of various caring theories. Leininger’s Theory of cultural care and Watson’s Theory of human caring are the two main acknowledged theories developed in 1970s. The free dictionary (2002) defines caring as a feeling and an exhibit of empathy and concern for other people. On the other hand, it simply means having or showing compassion. As these definitions depict, caring is not just a feeling but also requires an action.
Theoretical structure of human caring has been established to serve as a foundation for education, practice and research in nursing. Within the context of nursing, caring includes doing, being, and being all at once. Bailey (2009) explains ten theories grounded within the context of caring theory or nurse caring. The common elements in these theories are the emphasis on the relationship of caring healing between the patient and nurse. The theorists honor caring as a sacred act. As caring science continues to emerge and develop in the setting practice, the debate on caring has moved from scholars and academicians to the practice setting. Practitioners have a difficult task in finding away of demonstrating how the practice of caring and professional models of care based on the framework of caring theory make a difference in nursing, organizational outcomes, and patients (DiNapoli, and Nelson, 2010).
The human caring framework in nursing serves as a basis in transforming the nursing practitioners as well as the nursing systems. Watson (2006) opines that curative elements are those existing within the interaction between the nurse and the patient which are an embodiment and a manifestation of human caring. Watson went on to say that, the ten caritas processes which are the facets of caring as normally portrayed by the caregiver potentiate the healing process. The ten elements of caring according to this author includes: the healing environment, practice loving kindness, spiritual beliefs and practices, holistic care, helping and trusting relationship, teaching and learning, promoting the expression of healing, miracles, decision making, and instillation of hope and faith.
The American nurses Association in 1995 defined nursing as including the provision of caring relationship, emphasizing on the significance of the caring theory within the nursing profession. Moreover, scholars have consistently continued to examine the perceptions, experiences and meanings that are related with both the recipient and caregiver (Lee, Larson, & Holzemer, 2006). Kyle (1995) on the other hand observed a growing interest with regard to the concept of caring, not only in US but also in other parts of the world. People had come to a growing realization that caring is the foundation in all nursing practice. The heightened emphasis and increased level of interest on disclosing the theoretical and conceptual aspects of caring offers the framework and inspiration upon which one will explore and evaluate the aspect of caring in nursing practice.
According to Nightingale, (1859) nursing means taking charge of the personal health of someone else. She went on to articulate that what nursing does is to putting the patient in the best possible condition to be acted upon by nature. Although this philosophy of Nightingale has been rephrased and restated since its inception, the essence remains that caring is the foundation of nursing. On the other hand a caring nurse is the one responsible for promoting, protecting and optimization of abilities and health, prevention of illnesses and health, alleviating suffering through diagnosis and treatment of human response as well as advocacy in the caring of families, individual’s, communities, ad population. The nurse’s focus on theory and practice is what sets them apart from other healthcare professionals. The focus is not just placed on the response of the family or an individual but attuned to the all round person and not simply the unique presentation of health issues. There is popular saying articulating that physician’s cure and nurses’ care. In what is sometimes regarded as a blend of psychology and physiology, caring nurses are established on the preferences and experiences of their patients and there understanding of the illness and disease project to restoration and promotion the maintenance of health for the patients. The wide based education for nurses and holistic focus position them as a network of health care providers whereby a true healthcare system is established. A realization that individuals have a responsibility for their personal health has triggered an increased recognition that there is a professional entity which emphasizes on education and practice. Such entity which is responsible for facilitating individual’s efforts in reaching the fullest health potential is that of the caring nurses.
Meleis (2007) in theoretical nursing explains that caring is the basis for the development of nursing theory. Established nursing theories in turn act as a guide for assessing and intervening in patient services. This in turn will render the nursing practice more effective and efficient. The compilation of queries and issues with regard to nursing practice in specific setting transpired to nursing practice theories. Such theories which come up in each specific health care setting are intended to explain the practical results and the impact of nursing practice as well as guiding the nurse practitioners in the daily operations and experiences.
According to Schotfetdt, (1977), the systematic examination of patients and experiences on their health is the basic concern in nursing. Among the factors making this examination crucial in nursing health care is to validate the development in nursing practice, making healthcare cost effective and efficient as well as building a body of knowledge in nursing. Nursing research is a study that offers evidence employed in support of nursing practices. As an evidence area of practice, nursing practice has been transforming since time immemorial. The education in nursing places special emphasis on the utilization of evidence obtained from research in rationalizing the interventions and deliberations in the nursing care.
The nursing staff and administrators play an important role in establishing a culture which encourages clinical review and debate. They are also important in encouraging enhanced communication in overcoming problems that may happen in the course of analyzing the efficiency of the information obtained. The efficient nursing practice is the role of not only the staff, but also the health care organization. The nursing staff and the individual nurse in particular should consistently strive to improve their specified practice since that is an avenue of stirring significant change.
Watson’ (2001) developed a theory that is well acknowledged in the nursing profession. The three main elements in her theory include the transpersonal caring relationship, the carative factors, and the caring moment. The major emphasis in her carative factors is to honor the human dimension of nursing profession and the inner perspective of the world as well as the subjective experiences of the patients. The two examples of her caractive elements that were eventually changed into caritas factors in nursing practice are consistently developing and sustaining a helping- trusting, authentic caring relationship and availing oneself in support of both the positive and negative feelings relating the inner spirit and the patient. In establishing this trustworthy caring relationship with patient, the nurse ought to be aware of any judgment feelings which could promote her or his crossing limitation into intimacy. Therefore, caring in nursing requires that the nurse have a deep spiritual connection within himself or herself and also within the patient.
Reference
DiNapoli, P and Nelson, J (2010). “Measuring the Caritas Processes: Caring Factor Survey”
University of New Hampshire.
Kyle, T. (1995). “The concept of caring: A review of the literature” Journal of Advanced
Nursing, 21, 506-514.
Lee, M., Larson, P.J., & Holzemer, W.L. (2006). “Psychometric evaluation of the modified
CARE-Q among Chinese nurses in Taiwan” International Journal for Human Caring, 10(4), 8-13. Nightingale,F (1859). What It Is and What It Is Not
Watson, J. (Ed.) (2008b). “Assessing and measuring caring in nursing and health
Science” (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Springer.
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