WatsonTheory strengths

[ciskate]

Curious,

Our hospital has adopted Jean Watson as our theorist. I find her theory to be a bit "out there" for me. I understand being focused on the patient as you care for them but find the rest of it a bit over the top. I'd like to hear from all of you out there what you think the strengths(or weaknesses) of her theory are! Also do you think that her model is too "soft'? Is it really conducive to the acute care setting? For me I can see where it might work in long term care or even an office setting, but acute care? How?

[DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN]

If you aren't terribly familiar with it try this link...

http://currentnursing.com/nursing_theory/Watson.htm

We barely blinked at this theory at my school so I can't offer anything more than a knee jerk response -- which wouldn't be very useful to a discussion.

[PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN]

My hospital has adopted this theory.

It has its pros and cons, but needs to be updated with the generational differences and technology reflected.

Personally, I can take it or leave it. It impacts my POV, but doesn't ENTIRELY inlfuence it.

[miss81, BSN, RN]

I agree... OUT THERE! Just wondering about your hospital...Can you describe it to me? Private or Public? For profit? Christian? Large? What are their expectations of how the nurses are suppose to use the theory in practice? Just wondering...

[ursus57]

Watson begins with the premise 'humans are more than the sum of thier parts'... Also a person has value because they are alive and breathing, the person's contribution or lack of contribution to society does not influence value. This has always been a stated value in nursing. This is a strength of any system that embraces this ideal

[llg, PhD, RN]

Watson's is a philosophical grand theory ... one that provides a philosophical framework for practice. It's not intended to provide much in the way of specific treatments. That makes it difficult for some people to apply to practice. It also is very complex, abstract, and relies on complex philosophical ideas. That makes it even more difficult to relate to by people not used to reading philopshy.

Watson's work provides the philosophical perspective -- not concrete practice guidelines. The user has to add to it by including more specific scientific knowledge about specific diseases, treatments, procedures, etc.

It's not the theory I would choose as the model for a hospital, but I could use it for that if I had to (and I teach a theory class).

[ciskate]

Interesting responses!

If, as llg says her theory " relies on complex philosophical ideas. That makes it even more difficult to relate to by people not used to reading philopshy".Is it the model for the masses at our 450 bed private hospital? We are a Magnet hospital that is fed by a local college's ADN program(new hiring criteria states that all new ADN hires must be BSN within 10 yrs of hire). Im just having trouble seeing it put to use when you've got your phone ringing, lights going off, co-workers interupting etc.

[llg, PhD, RN]

Interesting responses!

If, as llg says her theory " relies on complex philosophical ideas. That makes it even more difficult to relate to by people not used to reading philopshy".Is it the model for the masses at our 450 bed private hospital? We are a Magnet hospital that is fed by a local college's ADN program(new hiring criteria states that all new ADN hires must be BSN within 10 yrs of hire). Im just having trouble seeing it put to use when you've got your phone ringing, lights going off, co-workers interupting etc.

As your question suggests, I don't think it is a good "model for the masses" without someone first doing some translation. Most nurses are not prepared to read Watson's original work and translate it to everyday hospital practice. I think that is the theory's biggest weakness.

That doesn't mean I think it is a bad theory. I think it has it place in nursing and its uses. It just needs to be translated to be useful at the bedside -- and/or combined with other models.

Personally, I am not a "one-theory girl." I don't believe in basing my practice on a single theory. I believe that different theories have been developed for different puposes ... from different perspectives ... have different uses ... etc. I like to use a variety of theories in my practice. (Yes, sometimes I use Watson.) I feel it is too limiting to have to mold and squeeze every possible situation into one single framework unless that framework is so broad that it needs to be added to be useful.

So ... for my hospital's upcoming Magnet journey, I am hoping we pick something really broad and really simple to understand to serve as a framework. Then we can add things to it as needed to fit the variety of situations we may encounter in our practice.

[>--stethoscope--o]

I don't know much, but I do know that Watson does talk about caring and maybe through that aspect of her theory it could be therapeutic to a patient in any part of the hospital (rehab, acute care, er, etc.). (holism concept) I know hospitals can get hectic at times, but it really doesn't take much to show patients that you, as a health care provider, care about them getting better...Just my .