1. Reaching Out To Make
a Difference as a Nurse
Michele R. Logan, RN
Theory and Evidence-Based Practice
Poster Presentation 12/1/2011
2. Concepts of Caring
Goals and Aspirations
Values of Nursing: Beneficence and Non-
maleficence
Seeing Patients as People and Not Diagnoses
Holistic Care
3. Franciscan Values
CREATING A CARING COMMUNITY
Respecting each person's dignity
Offering hospitality, courtesy, kindness, and
friendship
Fostering loving relationships
The gift of life is so valued that each person is
cared for with such joy, respect, dignity, fairness
and compassion that he or she is consciously
aware of being loved.
4. Franciscan Values
Serving and caring for the poor and oppressed
Offering unselfish service which encompasses,
but is not limited to, joyful availability,
compassionate, respectful care and dynamic
stewardship in the service of others.
Respecting all beings and being advocates for
those in need.
Healing and Reconciling
5. Jean Watson’s Caring
Theory
Originally called Theory of Transpersonal Caring
Promoted a nurse cultivating the intention to care
and promote healing
Promoted being within the caring exchange
mindfully.
Reminded nurses to be open to all possibilities
when entering this exchange.
6. Caritas
"Practice of loving-kindness and equanimity
within context of caring consciousness”
Instillation of faith-hope, becomes: "Being
authentically present, and enabling and
sustaining the deep belief system and subjective
life world of self and one-being-cared- for”
Cultivation of sensitivity to one's self and to
others
"Creating healing environment at all levels,
(physical as well as non-physical, whereby
wholeness, beauty, comfort, dignity, and peace
are potentiated
7. Basic Assumptions
Caring can be effectively demonstrated and
practice only interpersonally
Caring involves carative factors that result in the
satisfaction of human needs
Caring is a moral ideal: mind-body-soul,
engagement with another
8. Basic Assumptions
Caring responses accept the person as they are
now and as what they may become
A caring environment is one that offers the
development of potential while allowing the
person to choose the best action for his or
herself at a given point in time.
The practice of caring is central to nursing.
9. Patient’s Have the Answers
R – Resist “fixing” the patient
U – Understand Your Patient’s Motivation
L – Listen to your Patient
E – Empower Your Patient
10. Application
Put 100% of yourself in this one moment.
Maybe this one moment, with this one person,
is the very reason we’re here on earth at this
time. Jean Watson, RN
11. References
Understanding the Work of Nurse Theorists –
Sitzman, Kathleen and Eichelber, Lisa
Motivational Interviewing Stategies and Techniques:
Rationales and Examples – Sobell and Sobell 2008
http://www.innovativecaremodels.com/uploads/File/ca
ring%20model/Overview%20JW%20Theory.pdf -
Vanguard Health Systems
www.slideshare.net/SacState35/jean-watson-
presentation-presentation - Megan Andrews and Julie
Arnerich, 2009.
Editor's Notes
Becoming a nurse was a mid life decision for me. I worked in a service field, transportation, but the service was to further business. AT a certain point in life, I realized that I did not feel that I was making a contribution or a difference. I wanted that to fulfill a personal need. I needed to feel that I was adding value to the lives I touched.My grandfather was a physician, and was heavily involved in public health. The legacy of his efforts to help people, regardless of how or when they paid him, and to educate people on how to care for themselves were the basis of the philosophy I adopted when I began to practice.The term beneficence refers to actions that promote the well being of others. The concept of non-maleficence is embodied by the phrase, "first, do no harm,”…These were the first things I learned in nursing school. In practice, this was not always easy. When I entered Community Health, the necessity of doing more than what was “ on the chart” really hit home. Without the structure of the hospital environment, it became necessary, and enjoyabe to use my creativity.I found it important to look at the person;s entire situation, not just at the problem that had brought them to the hospital on this admission. I found that by connecting with patients, I had an easier time relating to the things that contributed to their health issues.
The religious philosophy of the Franciscan’s appeals to me strongly. St. Francis gave us the example of loving and caring for the “least“ among us--the most unloved, the poor, the uncared fo, the person who has no health insurance, the person who is shunned by society today. When I began to practice in Community Health, it quickly was apparent that just knowing anatomy & physiology, or what medications were appropriate for what conditions was only scratching the surface of caring for patients.
----- Meeting Notes (11/20/11 15:42) -----I had the great opportunity to travel to one of the poorest areas of the United States, the border of Mississippi and Louisianna. The area had been devastated by two hurricanes, and the patients we served had been displaced. Many had been through traumatic experiences, and were now struggling to survive. Health issues were not a priority to them. The impact of caring for the marginalized population that were in our own cities, and not halfway across the world, was profound for me.
Watson theorized that all human beings have an inherent need to participate in caring exchanges, both as giver and receiver. She enmcouraged nurses to be open and aware that an opportunity to create a caring connection could arise at any point. Essentially, without incorporating this philosophy into your existence and personality, a nurse may miss many opportunities to forge a dynamic partnership with another being whom she could help.
The caritas are so close to the Franciscan principles.
Basically, these theories apply to healthcare as well as to daily life. The concept of caring must be entrenched in your life’s beliefs; compassion cannot be taught, nor can it be turned off and on.
The practice of caring involves acceptance of your patient and understanding of the place in which they are existing when you connect with them. It involves understanding that the “right” thing to do may not be what this person can manage at this point. Acceptance of this may break down the barriers that have been in the way of the patient taking any action at all with regard to health issues.
In a caring moment, listen to the patient…guage the importance of the issue you are addressing together, and how willing they are to make change. This helps you to design a creative care plan. Tell story of Stu’s mother in law and the G0-Lightly. Following the plan somewhat was better than not at all!
Upholding Watson’s caring theory not only allows the nurse to practice the art of caring, and provide compassion; it can also contribute to expand the nurse’s own self-actualization. Making a difference in just one life is what differentiates “being a nurse” from “being employed as a nurse”. This process requires a nurse to engage in self-reflection. To me, the essence of being a nurse is the ability to connect with another and make a difference for them. When a nurse goes beyond an objective assessment, showing concerns toward the person’s subjective and deeper meaning regarding their own health care situation, the patient understands that they are more than a chart or a diagnosis; the outcome can be equally rewarding and therapeutic for both parties
