In the world of nursing, the pioneering work of Florence Nightingale and the contemporary insights of Jean Watson have left an indelible mark on the profession. Florence Nightingale, often referred to as the founder of modern nursing, introduced the groundbreaking Environmental Theory. This theory redefined nursing practice by emphasizing the profound impact of a patient’s environment on their health.
Nightingale’s Environmental Theory identifies key environmental factors that play a pivotal role in a patient’s well-being. Factors such as access to fresh air, clean water, sufficient nutrition, proper sanitation, patient cleanliness, and exposure to direct sunlight are highlighted. She stressed that the absence of these fundamental elements directly affects a patient’s health. Every nurse, according to Nightingale, must ensure that these essential environmental conditions are met for every patient to provide the best care. The theory includes ten core environmental concepts, ranging from ventilation and warmth to personal cleanliness, which collectively promote patient health and recovery. Nightingale’s pioneering ideas still resonate deeply within the field of nursing, emphasizing the crucial role of a clean and supportive environment in patient care.
In addition to her Environmental Theory, Nightingale proposed a “Modern Theory of Nursing,” advocating for the education of nurses to high standards. She believed that well-educated nurses would enhance the overall health of patients and be better equipped to hold various positions within hospitals.
Jean Watson, an American nursing theorist, has made significant contributions to the field through her Human Caring Theory. Watson’s extensive body of work includes over 20 books and articles on postmodern nursing, empirical measurements, and international research studies on nursing care. Her insights have illuminated the path for contemporary nursing practices in the 21st century.
The core of Jean Watson’s theory revolves around humanism and the ten carative factors that emphasize the importance of the nurse-patient relationship. Watson’s theory highlights the significance of instilling a humanistic system of values in caregiving, fostering faith, hope, trust, and confidence in patients, and promoting optimism. Her theory also underscores the importance of systematic problem-solving, transpersonal learning, supporting the mental, physical, and spiritual well-being of patients, providing personal assistance with gratitude, and recognizing the phenomenological and spiritual aspects of healing.
One of the pivotal components of Watson’s theory is the “transpersonal caring moment,” which calls on nurses to provide intentional care and embrace the patient, irrespective of their medical condition. This approach fosters a deeper connection and understanding between the nurse and patient and is gaining recognition as a critical model in nursing-medicine competencies.
In summary, Florence Nightingale’s Environmental Theory and Jean Watson’s Human Caring Theory have significantly shaped the landscape of nursing. Nightingale’s focus on the patient’s environment and Watson’s emphasis on humanism and the nurse-patient relationship provide valuable insights for both the historical and contemporary practice of nursing.
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Theories of Florence Nightingale and Jean Watson
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Theories of Florence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale is one of the pioneers in the nursing. She is also considered as founder
of modern nursing. One of her theory is environmental theory. This theory revolutionised
entire face of nursing practise (Victorian Web, 2012). In this theory, she describes about
transformation of patient’s environment will greatly affect the health status. There are few
factors in environment which greatly affects the health condition of a patient. They are fresh
air, clean water, sufficient food, good sanitation system, cleanliness of patients and exposure
to direct sunlight. Absence of above mentioned factors directly consequences the patient’s
health. Every nurse must look for the availability of these environmental factors for every
case to offer a best care. There ten chief environmental concepts such as ventilation and
warmth, light as well noise, sanitation, health of family members, bedding, personal
cleanliness, variety, giving confidence and advice regarding his or her health status,
nutritional food and balanced diet and finally routine observation of clinical condition are
stated by Nightingale as very important for patients health. She describes that good nursing
is offering patient a better condition to promote the health. She finally concludes that unclean
environment pose serious threats to health condition of patient and also normal individuals.
This theory has vital impact over nursing (Nursing Theory, 2013). She also put forth
“Modern Theory of Nursing” suggesting that nurses must be educated in appropriate
standards to hold positions in various divisions in hospital as this might equip them with good
standard of care that will enhance overall health of patients.
Jean Watson’s theory of human caring
Jean Watson is American Nursing theorist. She has written more than 20 books/ articles
about post mortem nursing, empirical measurements and international research studies on
nursing care (Watson 2014). She also described about modern theories and philosophies of
nursing care as well as healing. Her research work clearly depicts about the bridge of
paradigm for all revolutionary models of nursing in the current 21st century. She described in
her theory of human care that humanism is very vital for contemporary nursing practises. The
chief conceptual elements of this theory are ten carative factors, transpersonal caring
moment, Caring intentions of nurses, caring and healing models (Watson 2000). The ten
factors are creation of humanistic system of values during care giving, delivering faith,
cultivating hope and confidence among patients, developing trust and care, promoting
optimistic feelings to patients, systematic problem resolving, transpersonal learning,
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supporting patient’s mental, physical and spiritual environment, offering personal assistance
with gratitude and finally existence of phenomenological and spiritual aspects of healing as
reported by Watson (2002). Transpersonal caring moment is caring patients with
embracement. A transpersonal nurse possesses ability being conscious while taking
intentional care irrespective of disease and pathology of patient (Watson 2003). This aspect is
one of the ontological progressions to the nurses for educating them about caring science.
This is currently becoming critical model in nursing-medicine competencies.