Nursing Concepts

Paper Summary:

The paper examines and compares the theories based on caring as a fundamental principle of nursing practice as proposed by Anne Boykin and Sarvina O. Schoenhofer, Madeleine Leininger, and Jean Watson. The paper contends that whilst the three theories are similar, each deserves to be examined separately. The paper further contends that each of the proposed theories focuses on different issues whilst placing nursing practice under a common caring rubric.

From the Paper:

"Caring theories of nursing share in common a patient-centered vision of healing and health care. Financial demands of the health care institution, regulations, and other issues are viewed as extraneous to the core purpose of nursing, which is to provide the patient whatever he or she needs to heal. Caring theories are also patient-centered in terms of how they approach the communication between nurse and patient. Nurse is a professional caregiver, one who engages the patient with deep respect. The relationship between nurse and patient is based primarily on caring and may often reject paternalistic models of medicine. Jean Watson first proposed a caring theory of nursing that was patient-centric rather than institution-centric. Leininger added to a general caring theory of nursing by showing how variables like culture, education, and social class impact the ability to care. Caring entails embracing the patient in all of his or her totality and not just as the occupant of a hospital bed. Similarly, Boykin and Schoenhofer suggest a living caring theory that assumes an innate instinct in human beings to care for others. Therefore, each of the theories enhances a general view of caring by incorporating elements like culture, individual differences, and assumptions about human nature."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Boykin, A., & Schoenhofer, S. O. (1993). Nursing as caring: A model for transforming practice. New York: National League of Nursing Publications
• Leininger, M. M. (1995). Transcultural nursing: Concepts, theories, research, and practice (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
• Watson, J. (1979). Nursing: The philosophy and science of caring. Boston: Little Brown.

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