NURSING AS CARING THEORY

By Anne Boykin & Savina Schoenhofer The theory of Nursing as Caring is a general or grand nursing theory that offers a broad philosophical framework with practical implications for transforming practice. From the perspective of Nursing as Caring, the focus and aim of nursing as a discipline of knowledge and a professional service is “nurturing persons living caring and growing in caring.” NURSING AS CARING THEORY

6 MAJOR ASSUMPTIONS These assumptions present the values of the authors that ground the theory.  persons are caring by virtue of their humanness  persons live their caring moment to moment  persons are whole or complete in the moment  personhood is living life grounded in caring  personhood is enhanced through participating in nurturing relationships with caring others  nursing is both a discipline and a profession

The most basic premise of the theory is that all humans are caring persons, that to be human is to be called to live one's innate caring nature. Developing the full potential of expressing caring is an ideal and for practical purposes, is a lifelong process. The theory states that nursing is both a discipline and a profession. The basis of the professional caring practice of a nurse is grounded from disciplinary knowledge. This differentiates how a nurse cares from that of a lay person.

ALL ABOUT CARING …  All person are caring by virtue of their humanness - it is an essential feature and expression of being human. We should be caring in the mind body and spirit.  Fundamentally, every person is caring.  As we grow throughout life we express a caring capability.  Through knowing self as caring, we were able to be authentic to ourselves and to others.  When we know how to care we have a relational responsibilities to self and others, thus shaping our relationships.

IMPLICATION OF THE THEORY NURSING PRACTICE: The nurse practicing nursing as caring comes to know the other as a caring person in the moment. The challenge is not to discover what is missing, weakened or needed but to come to know the other and to nurture that person in situation-specific, creative ways and to acknowledge, support and celebrate the caring that is.

IMPLICATION OF THE THEORY NURSING ADMINISTRATION: The practice of nursing administration is grounded in a concern for creating, maintaining and supporting an environment in which calls for nursing are heard and nurturing responses are created. Nursing administrators inspire a culture that evolves from the values of nursing as caring.

IMPLICATION OF THE THEORY NURSING EDUCATION: The Curriculum asserts the focus and domain of nursing as nurturing persons living caring and growing in caring. Faculty assist and mentor students as co-learners; create caring learning environments that inspire the appreciation and celebration of both self and other as caring persons.

IMPLICATION OF THE THEORY NURSING RESEARCH: Research and Development efforts are focused on expanding the language of caring; re-conceptualizing nursing outcomes as “value experienced in nursing situations”; and evaluating this theory based model of caring in acute and long-term health care agencies.