CARING

The concept of caring is integral to all theories of nursing (Roach, 1991, pp. 9-12). Caring is defined differently in the various theories, however, as is the degree to which the concept is emphasized in the application of the several theories in the practice of nursing. Development of the approach to caring in contemporary nursing practice began with the First National Caring Research Conference in 1978 (Gaut, 1991, pp. 1-5). The contemporary approach to the application of the concept of caring in the practice of nursing is humanistic in character (Wolf, Giardino, Osborne, & Ambrose, 1994, pp. 107-111). Two of the foremost developers of a humanistic approach to nursing are Madeleine Leininger (1993a, pp. 3-18) and Jean Watson (1990, pp. 277-288), each of whom identifies nursing as a humanistic science with the concept of caring as the central unifying theme in practice. Watson's (pp. 277-288) nursing model places caring primarily in an interpersonal context, while Leininger's (1993b, pp. 105-121) model of nursing emphasizes caring in a cultural context. Goal attainment, a h

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sing positive and negative feelings, (6) creative problem-solving caring process, (7) transpersonal teaching-learning, (8) supportive, protective, and/or corrective mental, physical, societal, and spiritual environment, (9) human needs assistance, and (1) existential-phenomenological spiritual forces" (Chinn, Jacobs, & Huether, p. 196). Caring may be perceived in a pluralistic context, wherein care is a form of involvement with others that creates possibilities of concern for one's world (Benner & Wrubel, 1989,p. 4). Within this context, "caring places a person in a situation in such a way that certain aspects show up as relevant" (p. 4). Some of these aspects "are duties or obligations between individuals in special relationship to one another" (p. 5). Nurse and patient are in such a special relationship. The components of this approach to care are compassion, doing good for others, and medical competence which are all directed toward to good of an individual--the patient--by the nurse. Caring in the practice of nursing, thus, may be described as a process of communicating between nurse and patient (Radsma, 1994, pp. 444-449). Within this context, empathy, sympathy, love, and understanding may be viewed as components of ca
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Approximate Word count = 2390
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page)

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