Ok now, as I delve back INTO nursing philosophy and theories, I come across, again, the theories of Jean Watson that have been hailed as the greatest thing since polyurethane IV bags - The Caring Theory of Nursing.
Personally, I have never been a fan of Watson, only because I feel that she OVERemphasized the caring aspect, and, in my opinion, dumbified nursing - hence, the ad campaign in the late 80's "If Caring Were Enough, Anyone Could Be a Nurse." Watson threw a fit when she saw this.
As nursing evolves to a more technically challenging field, requiring more acute assessment skills, and as the
"How Women Know" movement which has shaped nursing education for the last decade or so has become archaic, wondering what your thoughts are on if someone can be a nurse and NOT subscribe to the caring theory. Can one be a competent nurse and NOT care about her patients any more deeply than simply getting the job done?
Watson's theory goes a bit deeper than simply "caring" - more so than "caring" about any other job. But "caring" as far as honestly caring about the patient as you would your mom or dad.
Do you think someone CAN be an effective nurse WITHOUT having so much an emphasis on loving her patients?
Each University uses a different thoeriest, mine is Dortha Orem, her theory is simple, if you are admitted to the hospital then you have a Self Care defiect" pretty simple in my book.
You can be a nurse without the theory.
But to be a good nurse? Yeah, empathy and caring is a must.
Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.
Each University uses a different thoeriest, mine is Dortha Orem, her theory is simple, if you are admitted to the hospital then you have a Self Care defiect" pretty simple in my book.
Even my hospital system uses Watson. Their problem is that they didn't take the generational differences into consideration.
Each University uses a different thoeriest, mine is Dortha Orem, her theory is simple, if you are admitted to the hospital then you have a Self Care defiect" pretty simple in my book.
Nursing theories are probably useful as food for thought, and maybe moreso for starting discussions, but in general I think they tend to complicate that which is simple and over-simplify that which is complicated. I've learned more about empathy from my cats than any nursing theory (they're nonverbal, but very communicative, and while I do talk to them, they comprehend only a very limited vocabulary and are far more interested in how I say than what I say).
I can't call Dortha Orem readily to mind. We covered several nursing theories during about half of one four-hour lecture, and I may have dozed off once or twice. But as characterized by the poster, it is indeed pretty simple. So a 104 y.o. female admitted for a CVA has a self-care deficit. If only she had taken care of herself, she might have made 204. And that 55 y.o. with the AVM, I told him smoking was no good.
I'm not opposed to theory. I was a physics major, once upon a time. But some "nursing leaders" seem determined to make nursing something it isn't. As sciences go, ours is about as emprical as they come, and I really don't see a problem with that.
I agree with you Q, Jean Watson is a scary person linked to Mariann Williams and other touchy feely new agey sort of thought. It was nauseating to have to waste an hour of school on her.
I personally am past the point of caring about my patients.....just don't want to harm them. And quite frankly, working in ICU and ER, I must do an OK job because I get many cards and letters sent to mgmt. thanking me....I think my assessment skills and technical skills are more important than "caring"........and I always thought the nursing care plans and nursing theory courses were just made up by MSN and PhD's anyway...and, I, too, do not know jWatson.!
I think a bit of caring is necessary, but you have to define caring... Do I fawn over my patients, delving into deep histories of their cats and mom's neighbor who has amazing roses?? no. Do I care if they are in pain or scared? absolutely. Do I do my best to be a compassionate nurse? yes. I think there are varying levels of caring, just like there are varying levels of nursing and nurses. I am not a hand petter, though I have held hands. I think being a nurse involves knowing partially from experience and partially because your a human being when someone needs you to be more. the question is can you be more.
personally I LOVE the theories of Orem... in my own words of course... 'do it your --- self!!' and Florence... 'WASH YOUR ---- HANDS!'
I have seen nurses who care too much and those that don't care enough, there's a balance. There has to be or we'd all be insane. Those that don't care enough generally also suck at things like charting, keeping their patients room in order and their own personal hygiene... just some observations.... :)
Specializes in ICU, School Nurse, Med/Surg, Psych.
The only difference I see in the work performed by a nurse (number 1) who cares about the client and the nurse (number 2) who is just doing their job is in the extras. I have pride in doing my work well and that means making sure they have ice water and helping them to track down the stuffed animal that was wrapped up in their sheets when they got taken to the laundry. Nurse 1 might stay after their shift is over and talk with the patient, may call on their day off to find out how they are doing or spend their own money to help them get through the day easier. Nurse 2 goes home after a difficult shift and doesn't give it another thought until the start of the next shift. Nurse 1 is much more likely to burn out than nurse 2.
im brand new, but im so glad i clicked on this thread. all the watson/theory stuff seemed so unrealistic to me. i believe you obviously have to be a caring individual to be a nurse but its one thing to address someones emotional issues & help them... its another thing to be expected to make that person an emotional issue to you- then go home to the people you have real relationships with. it would naturally be different working in LTC where youre with the same patients over an extended period of time.
ANPFNPGNP
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LOL - I think she's still alive!