Jean Watson’s
Philosophy and Science of
Caring
Definition of Terms
Altruistic- unselfish concern for the
welfare of others; selflessness
Caritas- is a latin word that can mean
affection, esteem or love
Carative- is the philosophy and theory of
human caring
Background of the Theorist
Born: West Virginia
Educated: BSN, University of Colorado,
1964, MS, University of Colorado, 1966,
PhD, University of Colorado, 1973
Dr. Jean Watson is Distinguished Professor
of Nursing and holds an endowed Chair in
Caring Science at the University of
Colorado Health Sciences Center.
She is founder of the original Center for
Human Caring in Colorado and is a Fellow of
the American Academy of Nursing. She
previously served as Dean of Nursing at the
University Health Sciences Center and is a
Past President of the National League for
Nursing
Dr.Watson has earned undergraduate and
graduate degrees in nursing and psychiatric-
mental health nursing and holds her PhD in
educational psychology and counseling.
She is a widely published author and recipient
of several awards and honors, including an
international Kellogg Fellowship in Australia, a
Fulbright Research Award in Sweden and six
(6) Honorary Doctoral Degrees, including 3
International Honorary Doctorates (Sweden,
United Kingdom, Quebec, Canada).
Her research has been in the area of human
caring and loss.
The foundation of Jean Watson’s theory of
nursing was published in 1979 in nursing:
“The philosophy and science of caring”
In1988, her theory was published in
“Nursing: Human Science and Human
Care”.
Watson believes that the main focus in
nursing is on carative factors
MAJOR CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS
1.) Formation of a humanistic altruistic
system of values
2.) Instillation of Faith-Hope
3.) Cultivation of sensitivity to self and to
others
4.) Development of a help-trusting
relationship
5.) Promotion and acceptance of the
expression of positive and negative feelings
6.) Systematic use of the scientific
problem solving method for decision
making
7.) Promotion of the interpersonal
teaching-learning
8.) Provision for supportive, protective,
and corrective mental, physical,
sociocultural and spiritual environment
9.) Assistance with gratification of human
needs
10.) Allowance for existential-
phenomenological forces
CARITAS PROCESS
1.) Practice of loving-kindness and
equanimity within the context of
caring consciousness
2.) Being authentically present and
enabling and sustaining the deep
belief system and subjective life-world
of self and one being cared for
3.) Cultivation of one’s own spiritual
practices and transpersonal self going
beyond the ego self
4.) Developing and sustaining a helping
trusting authentic caring relationship
5.) Being present to, and supportive of,
the expression of positive and negative
feeling
6.) Creative use of self and all ways of
knowing as part of the caring process
7.) Engaging in genuine teaching-
learning experience that attends to the
unity of being and meaning attempting
to stay within the other’s frame of
reference
8.) Creating healing environment at all
levels
9.) Assisting with basic needs, with an
intentional caring conciousness
10.) Opening and attending to spiritual-
mysterious, and existential dimension of
one’s own life-death; soul care for self
and the one being cared for
MAJOR ASSUMPTIONS
1.) Caring can be effectively demonstrated
and practiced only interpersonally.
2.) Caring consists of carative factors that
result in the satisfaction of certain human
needs.
3.) Effective caring promotes health and
individual or family growth.
4.) Caring responses accept person not only
as he or she is now but as what he or she
may become.
5.) A caring environment is one that offers
the development of potential while
allowing the person to choose the best
action for himself or herself at a given
point in time.
6.) Caring is more “ healthogenic” than is
curing. A science of caring is
complementary to the science of curing.
7.) The practice of caring is central to
nursing.
BASIC PREMISES
1.) A person’s mind and emotions are
windows to the soul…
2.) A person’s body is confined in time
and space, but the mind and soul are
not confined to the physical universe…
3.) A nurse may have access to a person’s
mind, emotions, and inner self indirectly
through any sphere-mind, body or soul-
provided the physical body is not perceived
or treated as separate from the mind and
emotions and higher sense of self…
4.) The spirit, inner self, or soul of a person
exists in and for itself.
5.) People need each other in a caring,
loving way…
6.) To find solutions, it is necessary to find
meanings…
7.) The totality of experience at any given
moment constitutes a phenomenal field…
CRITERIA FOR ANALYSIS
OF A THEORITICAL WORK
1) CLARITY
–How clear is the thory?
Watson’s theory uses non-technical, yet
sophisticated language.
Attimes, lengthy phrases & sentences need
to be read more than once to gain meaning.
Buther increasing inclusion of metaphor,
personal reflections, artwork & poetry make
her complex concepts clearer & aesthetically
appealing.
2) SIMPLICITY
-How simple is the theory?
Chinn & Kramer suggest that nurses in
practice need simple forms of theory such
as middle range, to guide practice.
But it is viewed as complex when
considering the existential-
phenomenological nature of her work,
which is partly because many nurses have
a limited liberal arts background and
baccalaureate nursing curricula have
limited integration of liberal arts.
3) GENERALITY
- How general is the theory?
Chinn & Kramer believe that the situations
the theory applies to should not be limited.
The carative factors that Watson
described have provided important
guidelines for nurse-patient interactions;
however, some critics stated that the
generality is limited by the emphasis
placed on the psychosocial aspects rather
than the physiological aspects of caring.
Another characteristic of the theory is
that it does not furish explicit
directions about what to do to
achieve authentic caring-healing
relationships.
4) Emperical Precision
-can the theory be Tested? Validated? Utilized? Sensible?
Reynolds notes that other scientists
should be able to evaluate & verify
results by themselves.
Watson draws heavily on widely
accepted work from other disciplines,
this solid foundation strengthens her
views.
Inher second book: Nusring: Human
Science & Human Care- A theory
of Nursing, Watson addresses the
issue of methodology relevant to
studying transparent caring &
developing nursing as a human science
& art.
Watson does acknowledge that a
combination of qualitative-
quantitative inquiry may also be
useful.
5) Derivable Consequences
-How important is the theory?
Watson’s theory continues to provide a
useful & important metaphysical orientation
for the delivery of nursing care.
Her theoretical concepts may help nurses &
their patients find meaning & harmony.
Watson’s rich & varied knowledge of
philosophy, the arts, the human sciences,
& traditional science, joined with her
prolific ability to communicate, has
enabled professionals in many disciplines
to share & recognize her work.
