Fit for Practice: Analysis and Evaluation of Watson's Theory of Human Caring

Nurs Sci Q. 2017 Jul;30(3):243-252. doi: 10.1177/0894318417708409.

Abstract

The aim of the authors of this paper is to analyze Watson's theory of human caring for its usefulness and worth in education, practice, and research. The reason for undertaking this analysis is to evaluate if Watson's theory would be useful for nursing in those countries where such theories were not an established part of the nursing curriculum. Furthermore, in some European countries, their political past or cultural influences led to an unquestioned adoption of the biomedical model. As their political culture changes, many social structures have had to be revisited, and for nursing, this has meant the introduction of theoretical reasoning, teaching, and practice.

Keywords: Watson’s theory of caring; caring; nursing evaluation research/methods; nursing theory.

MeSH terms

  • Empathy*
  • Humans
  • Models, Nursing
  • Nursing Evaluation Research*
  • Nursing Theory*