1. Caring in Nursing

2. Caring is Universal Influences the way people think, feel and act
Many nursing theorists have tired to “define” caring – Nightingale was first
Caring is the heart of nursing

3. Benner (Holistic Theory)
Equates excellent nursing practice with CARING
People, events, projects (things) have importance
Caring means connectedness or involvement
Caring helps patients understand and adjust to illness

4. Benner, con’t. Defines health as a state of being
Individualized by one’s
Values
Personality
Lifestyle
Treatment for illness is worthless if not applied to the individual

5. Leininger (Transcultural)
Caring is the essence of Nursing – it is a distinguishing characteristic
Purpose of care is to assist the individual toward improvement in condition
Caring is
Nurturing
Dependent on needs of individual
Must reflect the patient’s own culture

6. Watson (Transpersonal)
Holistic
Patient, family, environment
Nurses exhibit conscious decision to care
This helps patient toward healing and wholeness
Focus in on cAre, not cUre
cAring “inner healing” health
Nurse & patient affected by relationship

7. Swanson Caring is has 5 dimensions Caring is central to nursing
Knowing
Being with
Doing for
Enabling
Maintaing belief
Caring is central to nursing
Theory can be applied to clinical setting

8. Caring is Relational Patients value nurse Effectiveness
Ability to perform tasks
Also value nurse Affect
Attitude or demeanor while performing the tasks
Patients are more willing to participate if they sense that they are cared about

9. Ethic of Care Protects human dignity
Often perceived as a moral imperative
Requires awareness of potential unequality in relationships
This due to either real or perceived “power” that patient assigns to the nurse
Knowledge is power

10. Expressions of Care Spiritual Presence
Being aware of & honoring patient’s beliefs
Presence
Being there
Physically present
Demonstrating understanding
Being with
Sharing oneself

11. Touch Listening Skin-to-skin Eye contact (nonverbal)
Protective – to prevent injury
Listening
Taking in patient information
Interpreting what has been taken in

12. Knowing Understanding the client
Understanding the planned interventions
Avoid making assumptions
Focuses on client