My Philosophy of Nursing

The Essence of Nursing

Caring defines nursing as curing often defines medicine. Caring and nursing are so interwined that nursing always appeared on the same page in a Google search for the definition of caring. According to the dictionary definition of caring, it is a feeling and exhibiting concern and empathy for others; showing or having compassion . As the definition shows, caring is a feeling that also requires an action. Dr. Jean Watson’s theory is important to nursing due to the central concept of caring. Watson states that, “a caring attitude is not transmitted from generation to generation by genes. It is transmitted by the culture of the profession as a unique way of coping with its environment” ( 1979). Her theory is grounded in key concepts that are critical to compassionate nursing care. Watson believes that at the core of nursing, are the nurse–patient relationships that result in a therapeutic outcome. Hers is a theory of human caring that has a foundation in dignity, respect and trust. Watson’s theory and her four major concepts of human being, health, environment and nursing can be applied to the problem of frequent hospitalization due to non-compliance issues that occur.

Human Being

Nurses that work in hospitals that provide health care for people with poor socio-economic status often experience “frequent flyers”. An example of such patient is Mr.K, a 56 year old African American male admitted with hypertensive urgency with a B/P of 242/138. This is his third admission within the past two months. Mr.K stated that he had been drinking “gallons of vinegar” to lower his blood pressure after he “ran out of medicine”. Mr.K does not receive any type of income because he does not have a job and is currently living in a shelter. Regardless of his noncompliance and poor socio-economic status, Watson states that this patient is a “valued person to be cared for, respected, nurtured, understood, and assisted”...