Jean Watson
Jean Watson is a prominent nursing theorist widely recognized for her theory of human caring, which emphasizes the significance of authentic, transpersonal relationships between nurses and patients. Born in 1940 in Welch, West Virginia, she initially aspired to study literature but shifted to nursing following her father's death. Watson graduated as a registered nurse in 1961 and went on to earn advanced degrees in nursing and educational psychology from the University of Colorado.
Her theory of human caring, developed in the mid-1970s, highlights the essential role of human connection in the healing process and redefines nursing as both a science and a deeply humanistic practice. Watson introduced the concept of "carative factors," later termed "caritas processes," which focus on the emotional and spiritual dimensions of care. Key aspects of her theory include being authentically present, supporting patients’ emotional expressions, and fostering compassion even in the context of end-of-life care.
Throughout her career, Watson received numerous accolades, including being named a Living Legend by the American Academy of Nursing in 2013. Her work continues to influence nursing education and practice worldwide, advocating for a model of care that respects human dignity and promotes meaningful, empathetic connections.
Jean Watson
Nursing theorist and educator
- Born: June 10, 1940
- Place of Birth: Welch, West Virginia
Significance: Influential nursing theorist Jean Watson is best known for her theory of human caring. The theory emphasizes the importance of the transpersonal caring relationship in nurse-patient encounters and the need for the nurse’s authentic presence. It is taught in nursing schools throughout the world.
Background
Jean Watson was born Margaret Jean Harman in Welch, West Virginia, in 1940. The youngest of eight children, Watson was a devoted student with plans to go to college to major in literature, in an era when only about a third of women who graduated high school went to college and a quarter of women overall did not even finish high school. When her father died of a heart attack, her plans shifted and she decided to pursue a career in nursing. She enrolled in the Lewis Gale School of Nursing in Roanoke, Virginia, but although she completed her registered nurse (RN) training and earned her diploma in 1961, she was disappointed that the environment was not more academic.
After graduating, Watson relocated to Colorado, where she was able to continue her education at the University of Colorado Boulder. She earned a bachelor of science in nursing in 1964, a master’s degree in psychiatric and mental health nursing from the University of Colorado Medical Center in Denver in 1966, and a doctorate in educational psychology and counseling from the University of Colorado Boulder in 1973.
Theory of Human Caring
Watson began developing her theory of human caring in 1975, shortly after completing her doctoral work, and it continues to be the foundation of her theoretical work. The recurring theme in her work is the relationship between caring and curing, something she draws attention to with her term "carative factors," coined to evoke the medical term "curative factor." Watson’s theory of human caring stresses the importance of human contact in the healing process and of the quality of that human contact—the transpersonal caring relationship, as Watson calls it. It is the nurse’s responsibility to be authentically present and loving in order to create this relationship and create the opportunity for "caring occasions"—when the nurse and patient can learn from one another by sharing personal experiences.
The ten carative factors Watson defined were later redefined as "caritas processes," from one of the Latin words for love (from which both "care" and "charity" are derived). The list includes being authentically present, cultivating the nurse’s own spirituality, supporting the patient’s expressions of both positive and negative emotions, and "being open to miracles." As with this latter phrase, Watson’s theoretical work often stresses the spiritual and transcendent, not simply the moral and pragmatic, reflecting her commitment to a model of health as encompassing the body, mind, and soul, and the importance of self-conception and self-esteem in that model. In part, this aligns with her view that while curative practices are geared toward curing conditions, carative practices must include preparing both nurse and patient for the possibility of a compassionate death.
Love, respect, and human dignity are at the core of Watson’s caring theory. Whereas "bedside manner" is sometimes spoken of as an adjunct to a doctor’s skill set, Watson positions the nurse-patient relationship as essential to nursing theory and the practice of nursing. That extends, too, to relationships with patients’ families, who naturally are emotionally and spiritually invested in their loved ones’ care, and Watson focuses on the importance of one-to-one connections even when the nurse is addressing multiple people, rather than assuming the mannerisms and tone of a lecturer or meeting leader.
Throughout her career, Watson received numerous awards recognizing her contributions to nursing, the health-care field, and theory, including numerous honorary doctoral degrees. She was named a distinguished professor of nursing and chair in caring science at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. She previously served as the university’s dean of nursing and as the president of the National League for Nursing. In 2008, Watson founded the nonprofit Watson Caring Science Institute. In 2013, the American Academy of Nursing declared her a Living Legend, its highest honor. Other awards she earned included the Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine’s Visionary Award for Caring Science Leadership in 2015.
Impact
Watson is considered one of the theorists instrumental in getting nursing recognized as a discipline grounded in theory and backed by evidence, a feat commemorated by the many honors bestowed upon her by the field. The theory of caring as she developed it promoted the idea of nursing as a field both scientific and humanistic and emphasized the importance of human contact, transpersonal relationships, and emotional connections in the healing process. Proponents suggest that nursing according to this theory demonstrates respect for the patient and upholds human dignity.
Watson continued to develop the theory of human caring throughout her career. Numerous hospitals, clinics, and nursing schools implement or teach her carative factors (also known as caritas processes, caring practices, and caritas literacy).
Personal Life
Watson credited her husband Douglas Watson, who died in 1998, with supporting her while she pursued her education, as well as encouraging her in her career. Watson had two daughters and five grandchildren. In 1997, an accident resulted in Watson losing her sight in her left eye. She later noted that this experience, along with her husband's death soon after, transformed her worldview and informed much of her subsequent writing.
Bibliography
Butts, Janie B., and Karen I. Rich. Philosophies and Theories for Advanced Nursing Practice. Jones, 2014.
Fitzpatrick, Joyce J., and Geraldine McCarthy. Theories Guiding Nursing Research and Practice. Springer, 2014.
"Jean Watson, PhD, RN, AHN-BC, FAAN, LL (AAN)." Watson Caring Science Institute, www.watsoncaringscience.org/jean-bio/. Accessed 6 Sept. 2024.
Peklo, Emily, and Sara Giboney. "Watson's Theory of Caring: Foundation of a Nursing Program." Nebraska Methodist College, 6 Oct. 2023, blog.methodistcollege.edu/watson-s-theory-of-caring. Accessed 6 Sep. 2024.
Potter, Patricia A., Anne Griffin Perry, and Patricia Stockert. Fundamentals of Nursing. Mosby, 2016.
Purnell, Larry. Transcultural Health Care: A Culturally Competent Approach. Davis, 2013.
Sitzman, Kathleen, and Jean Watson. Caring Science, Mindful Practice: Implementing Watson’s Human Caring Theory. Springer, 2013.
Smith, Marlaine, and Marilyn E. Parker. Nursing Theories and Nursing Practice. Davis, 2015.
Watson, Jean. Human Caring Science: A Theory of Nursing. Jones, 2012.
Watson, Jean. Nursing: The Philosophy and Science of Caring. UP of Colorado, 2008.