Running head: THEORY-BASED EXEMPLAR PAPER 1
Theory Analysis Paper
Tessa Hartsell
Nursing Theory and Advanced Practice 502-D01
Liberty University
THEORY ANALYSIS PAPER 2
Theory Analysis Paper
“Theory analysis is a nonjudgmental, detailed examination of a theory, the main aim is to
understand the theory (Fawcett & Desanto-Madeya, 2013). The understanding of the theory can
enable it to be useful in nursing practice, education, and research. There are several opinions
regarding the number of steps of theory analysis and evaluations yet one could agree that they
are all similar and incorporate the theory description, theory analysis, as well as the theory
evaluation. The grand theory that will be examined in this paper is Watson’s Theory of Caring.
The approach that will be used to examine Watson’s Theory of Caring is Meleis: Theory
description, analysis and critique. This analysis focuses on these three areas to evaluate the
theory and what it has to offer the future of nursing. The hope and goal of theory evaluation is to
bring the theories useful to light so that it can be put into practice. The goal of this paper is to
closely examine Watson’s Theory of Caring through the use of Meleis theory evaluation and to
provide valuable insight regarding the benefits that it brings to our nursing practice.
Theory Description
Watson theory of caring is a relatively new theory that was first introduced in 1979 and
was revised in 1988 and further edited as recently as 2005 and 2008. Jean Watson refers to the
human being as "a valued person in and of him or herself to be cared for, respected, nurtured,
understood and assisted; in general a philosophical view of a person as a fully functional
THEORY ANALYSIS PAPER 3
integrated self. Human is viewed as greater than and different from the sum of his or her parts."
(Jean Watson Nursing Theory, n.d.). The caring theory focuses on three areas of framing caring
science, which include the human being, health, and nursing. The human being is considered a
person of value who is to be respected and nurtured. Health can be described as absence of
sickness, and overall functioning including physical, mental, and social. Lastly, Watson defines
nursing as “a human science of persons and human health-illness experiences that are mediated
by professional, personal, scientific, esthetic and ethical human interactions” (Nursing Theories,
n.d.). Nurses play a pivotal role in the caring process of understanding the person as a whole and
making them feel worthy and cared for.
Watson’s theory also encompasses ten carative factors that look specifically at human
needs and how they are cared for and the importance for nurses to address these needs in their
practice. Patient’s needs often go beyond the physical illness that we are first presented with. As
nurses we must take a holistic approach and treat the whole person rather than just the physical
symptom that they present with. To give an example of a couple carative factors that Watson put
emphasis on is sensitivity to self and others, developing helping and trusting relationships,
creative-individualized problem-solving caring process, creating a supportive and protective
environment, and assistance for human needs (McEwen & Wills, 2011). It is important for us to
apply these factors to all of our nursing relationships including the relationship with our co-
workers.
THEORY ANALYSIS PAPER 4
In addition to the three concepts of human being, health, and nursing, as well as the ten
carative factors that nurses need to consider, there are also six assumptions that Watson
developed. These assumptions were developed due to the extreme need for the caring ideology to
be put back into practice that has been foreshadowed by the radical treatments of “cure
techniques” as Watson described without concern of the cost both financially and personally or
the patients feelings or considerations being taken into account (McEwen & Wills, 2011).
Patients want to be involved in their care and have a say. The care we provide our patient should
be patient-centered with the patients wants and needs at the forefront.
Theory Analysis
The Theorist
Jean Watson attended Lewis Gale School of Nursing in Virginia, earned her Bachelor’s in
nursing and her master of science in psychiatric-mental health nursing from the University of
Colorado. She continued her education earning her doctorate in educational psychology and
counseling also from the University of Colorado. She also served as a former Dean of the School
of Nursing at the University of Colorado. She founded the Center for Human Caring at the
Health Sciences Center located in Denver, Colorado. She is currently employed at the University
of Colorado Denver College of Nursing as a distinguished and respected professor and Anschutz
Medical Center. She has received a number of awards and honors including ten honorary
THEORY ANALYSIS PAPER 5
doctoral degrees from other countries. In the past she has also served as the president for the
National League of Nursing (McEwen & Wills, 2011).
Paradigmatic origins
Watsons view on caring and how we apply it in our nursing is functional and essential.
She views humans and patients as individuals who need to be cared for, respected, and
understood. She believes nursing must go beyond the health or illness experience and be all
encompassing regarding the patients needs and that caring must involve the actions and language
of the nurse when forming the nurse-patient relationship.
Watson acknowledges that she drew ideas from pervious writers including Nightingale
and Rogers. Many of the concepts that she incorporated in her caring theory came from
psychologist Giorgi, Johnson, and Koch (McEwen & Wills, 2011). Watson believes in treating
the patient as a whole and this includes mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing.
As stated above Watson has six working assumptions that show regard and respect for the
human being. One of the most important assumptions of caring is that care must be performed
through personal contact. Showing others that you care help to satisfy human needs and the need
to feel important. Another assumption includes that proper care promotes health and individual
growth. As nursing we must follow another of Watson assumptions when caring for our patient
by accepting the patient at their current state as well as what they may become. A fifth
assumption is providing a caring environment that offers the development of potential while
THEORY ANALYSIS PAPER 6
letting the patient choose what they believe is best. Watson’s six assumption is the science of
caring is a compliment to the science of curing. Finally the seventh assumption is that caring is
essential to nursing. Each of these assumptions form the way we provide care to our patients. It
is a roadmap to show the importance of caring for the individual.
Her concepts and ten carative factors focus on the individual and the relationship that the
individual invests in and how nursing must invest their time and energy into the patient and the
caring theory will have a domino effect and the patient will be treated as a whole instead of in
segments. Watson’s ten carative factors include humanistic-altruistic system of values; faith-
hope; sensitivity to self and others; developing helping-trusting and caring relationships;
expressing positive and negative feelings and emotions; creative, individualized problem-solving
caring process; transpersonal teaching-learning; supportive, protective, and or corrective mental,
physical, societal, and spiritual environment; human needs assistance; and existential-
phenomenologic and spiritual forces. (McEwen & Wills, 2014, p. 184). Watson has continued to
build on her original work that was published in 1979. As stated “Watson has refined and
updated the relationship of the theory, bringing them closer to her current way of understanding
human caring and spirituality. Her continued study has involved lengthy examination of her
beliefs about caring spirituality, and human and energy fields” McEwen & Wills, 2011, p. 184).
Internal dimensions
THEORY ANALYSIS PAPER 7
Watson theory was based around a holistic approach that showed recognition for the
human being as well as the spiritual and ethical concerns that have a major influence in the
human care process. Although the theory was the first of its kind, it has human interaction model
approach and is inductive from other theory and studies such as psychology and philosophy. The
theory evolved from the recognition of patients needs and the caring that one must incorporate to
make the patient feel cared for, nurtured, and respected. Watson theory focuses on nurse patient
interaction and the importance of the feeling of being care for in holistic approach.
Theory Critique
The need to feel cared for and respected has become a huge push in our health care
system; reimbursements to hospitals and organizations are being decided in part by customer
service surveys. This is because there is a huge problem with our health care system working in
an assembly line fashion, instead of personalized patient care that derives from Watson’s caring
theory. When looking at the contagiousness and the usefulness of the caring theory it can easily
be argued that patients feelings, satisfaction, interaction would all benefit from a patient-centered
approach that incorporates Watson’s caring theory. When considering external components there
can be a number of them with both the patient and nurse. The nurse must be open and willing to
devote time to their patient, must see their patient as an individual and have good listening skills
to assess the patients desired goals and outcomes. The patient must be educated in their particular
health crisis and be open and willing to learn. The nurse and patient must both be open and
THEORY ANALYSIS PAPER 8
honest with each other when building their relationship and the nurse must always follow
through with promises. That is the number one way of losing ones trust is by poor
communication or not following through with what you say you are going to do. Watson’s theory
has broadened and become more advanced more recently yet it is easily to understand and
follow. It goes back to the basic need of the patient which is the science of caring. It shows the
steps and the actions nurses need to take to treat the patient as a whole while tending to all their
needs instead of just their physical health need.
Conclusion
In this paper Watson’s Caring theory was summarized and analyzed using Meleis: Theory
description, analysis, and critique. This method proved to be useful in showing her pursuit for
knowledge and advancing the caring theory to make it more useful and present in today’s nursing
practice. She leaned on other disciplines to help modify and incorporate all the human needs that
must be taken into account when caring for the individual. It was reflective on the difference
nurses can make by going that extra mile and allowing a caring attitude to guide us in our
practice. It is imperative to consider the patient’s needs that go beyond the physical need. The
caring theory can be and should be applied in every nursing setting and field of nursing.
THEORY ANALYSIS PAPER 9
Reference
Fawcett, J., & Desanto-Madeya, S. (2013). Contemporary nursing knowledge: Analysis and
evaluation of nursing models and theories. Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis.
Jean Watson Nursing Theory. (n.d.). Retrieved April 06, 2016, from http://www.nursing-
theory.org/theories-and-models/watson-philosophy-and-science-of-caring.php
McEwen, M., & Wills, E. (2011). Grand nursing theories based on interactive process.
Theoretical basis for nursing (3rd ed., p102-186). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, Williams
& Wilkins.
Nursing Theories: A companion to nursing theories and models. (n.d.). Retrieved April 07, 2016,
from http://currentnursing.com/nursing_theory/Watson.html
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