Nursing as Caring

1. Anne Boykin Ph.D
Savina
Schoenhofer Ph.D
Born in 1944, Anne Boykin
grew up in Wisconsin; the
second eldest of six children.
She began her career in
nursing in 1966,graduating
from Alverno College in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Today she enjoys the beauty
of South Florida as the dean
and professor of the College
of Nursing at FAU.
Born in 1940, Savina
Scheonhofer was born the
2nd child and oldest
daughter in a family on nine
and spent her formative
years on the family cattle
ranch in Kansas. Her initial
nursing study was
completed at Wichita State
University, where she
earned undergraduate and
graduate degrees in nursing,
psychology, and counselling

2. “Nursing as Caring”

3. Historical background
• Society has moved from
an era of "standard
families" to a society
where social norms are
being excused. Mothers
have now moved from
home to the workforce,
many children are raised
in single parent homes,
and racially diverse and
same sex families now
exist. It is becoming
more acceptable and
understood to move out
of the realms of
societies expectations
for a typical family and
branch off into what is
acceptable to self.
(National Academy of
Sciences, 1997)
• The 1990s through 2013
became known as the
constructed and integrated
knowledge stages in nursing
theory. There was an
increased call to develop
substance in theory and
focus more on concepts
grounded in practice and
research. More attention was
focused on middle range and
practice theories rather than
grand theories, and evidence
based practice was formally
introduced in 1992 (McEwen
& Wills 2014). In this era,
the United States fought
many challenges including,
destruction of the World

4. • The 1990's proved to be a profitable time for our country.
It was a time of economic growth and the unemployment
rates stood lower than they had in over 30 years. Moving
into the beginning of the 21st century, times began to
change. Global economy, the housing collapse, and
increased national debt played an important role in the fall
of the economy in 2008. The country is still attempting to
recover from this fall. (U.S. Department of State, Suny
Suffolk

5. • With the advances in technology, the
internet, and the strong focus on the global
economy nursing was shifting its focus to
incorporate more global and international
perspectives (Borsay, 2009).

6. About the theory
• The theory of Nursing as Caring is a 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.”
• Anne Boykin and Sarvina Schoenhofer’s Theory of
Caring as Nursing gives emphasis in the fundamental
idea that all persons are caring; that to be a human
means to be caring; and that being a person is living in
caring. Caring is innate to an individual and that a
person lives their lives growing the capacity of caring
(Macrohon & Loriaga, 2012).

8. Assumptions that Ground the
Theory
• * Persons are caring by virtue of their humanness
• * Persons are whole or complete in the moment
• * Persons live caring, moment to moment
• * Personhood is a process of living grounded in caring
• * Personhood is enhanced through participating in nurturing
relationships with caring others
• * Nursing is both a discipline and profession (Boykin &
Schoenhofer, 2013)

9. ELEMENTS OF NURSING AS CARING
THEORY
• NURSING SITUATION –is the shared,lived experience in which the caring
between the nurse and nursed enhances personhood.
• CALL FOR NURSING - Call for acknowledgement and affirmation of the person
living and caring in specific ways in the immediate situation (Boykin &
Schoenhofer, 1993, 2009) Calls for nurturance through personal expressions of
caring
• NURSING RESPONSE - Specific expression of caring nurturance to sustain and
enhance the “other” as he or she lives caring and grows in caring in the
situation of concern
• DIRECT INVITATION
• DANCE OF CARING PERSON

10. Analysis
• Anne Boykin and Savina O. Schoenhofer are both Doctor of
Philosophy, at the same time a writers. There are several books
authored by them about their Theory of Nursing as Caring. The
Theory of Nursing as Caring explained that there is interaction
between a nurse and those nursed. Knowing that a nurse should
able to perform the different functions of nurturing a client in living
and growing in caring. Caring is lived by each person moment to
moment. To prevent sickness and other diseases alike. To maintain
the discipline in engaging to human living and have a healthy living.
Anne Boykin and Savina O. Schoenhofer, a Model for Transforming
Practice through Nursing as Caring. Caring not only for ourselves
but caring to a holistic level. Practice in caring first to ourselves is a
first step where we can find a real caring to others and the best
possible way to have a much better relationship. The nature of
relationship is transformed through caring.

11. Strength and Limitations
• Anne Boykin’s Nursing as Caring Theory is a grand nursing theory that can be used a
framework to guide nursing practice. It defines the standard role of a nurse. Nurses
intentionally care for an individual which causes them to grow in caring. Nurses
support, sustain, strengthen process of caring and growing in care. Nurse must be
present, actively listening, sensitive to broad range of situations.
• The focus on caring abilities of a nurse is a primary strength which was given
emphasis on the theory of Nursing as Caring. The assumptions presented by Boykin and
Schoenhofer sounds analytical and acceptable. In addition, concepts and explanations
are concise and easily understandable. Personality and character of the nurse affects
the type and quality of care we are giving to our patients. Each nurse delivers his own
care depending on the personhood, value and character. Boykin and Schoenhofer
stated that personhood is enhanced through participating in nurturing relationships
with caring others. Our continuous nurturing experiences and encounters with the
patient will help develop and improve our caring abilities. The relationship that will be
gained through nurse-client interaction using this theory will be extraordinary and
unremarkable because we treat and give care to our patient as if they were our love
ones. However, this may lead to development of emotional attachment to patients
which may be a weakness of the theory. This theory can be used not only by nurses but
by everyone who cares. Nursing education will take a little part in this theory since
caring is a virtue and innate to humans as declared by Boykin and Schoenhofer.

12. • As a grand theory of Nursing as Caring, another major strength is it can
be used with any other theory regardless of time and place. The nurse
must know oneself regarding his own caring capabilities. The elements
that make a holistic individual whole and complete were not enumerated.
But viewing the person as a whole, it means we are respecting and
keeping the dignity of the patient. In line with this, every patient has their
own unique qualities and needs which means they need individualized
care not depending on listed standards of health provided by other
theorists. In this theory, the nurse is expected to initiate, offer and give
care with or without a perceived deficit or need. In addition, because it is
a helping model, it celebrates the fullness of life and human being.
• However, there are limited explanations regarding the concepts of a
person, man, environment and nursing. The incompatibility of nursing
process to this theory may be considered a limitation since all of us are
using the nursing process in our profession. Nevertheless, theory is highly
applicable, useful and much effective if used together with other theories.
It will surely make a difference in the recovery of our patients and positive
feedbacks will be received.

13. CONTRIBUTION/APPLICATION
OFTHETHEORYIN HUMANITY
• To Nursing Practice: The focus of nursing ... is
person as living in caring and growing in care
(Boykin & Schoenhofer,1993 pg.25). Nursing
practice has been influenced by this idea. The
challenge is not to discover what is missing
,weakened or disabled but to know that the other
person is a caring individual and to nurture that
person in situation- specific, creative and
individualized caring ways. We will not consider
nursing as a complicated process of acts that will
result to a predictable end product but rather an
inherent process of unfolding and guided
intention.
• To Nursing Administration: Nursing profession
has subspecialties and administration is one of
the area. All activities under nursing
administration are concerned for creating,
maintaining and supporting an environment
which calls for nursing. Administration is directly
and indirectly involved in multiple nursing
situations, whether to nurse individual (as they
uniquely responds to the calls) or to assist a nurse
as they deliver care. Nurses in the administration
formulate and implement policies within the
organization to help them understand the goal/
focus of nursing and to make sure that the
resources are available.

14. • To Nursing Education: Understanding
humanhood is a way of living grounded in caring
and is enhanced by participating in nurturing
relationships with caring others thus, affirming
that nursing is both a discipline and profession.
In teaching nursing, teachers guide students to
know, appreciate and celebrate both self and
others as caring persons. Students and teachers
are in continual search to discover wider
implication of caring as uniquely expressed in
nursing. Examples are clearly stated on the book
living as caring based Program by Boykin, 1994.
• To Nursing Research & Development: The caring
theory influenced nursing researcher and
developer to explore and illuminate the patterns
of caring personality. Dialogue, description and
innovations in interpretation approach
characterize research methods. Nursing science
from a caring perspective is a human science that
may require newer and different ways of
defining nursing.

15. • In Conclusion, the move into the 21st century
has led to major changes in technology,
society, economics, culture, and nursing.
Nursing is evolving from an occupation to
profession and with the help of research and
knowledge obtained from theorists like
Boykin and Schoenhofer, offers to be a well
valued profession. (McEwen, Wills, 2014)

16. References
• Borsay, A. (2009). Nursing history: An irrelevance for nursing practice? Nursing
History Review, 17, 14-27. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/207216205?accountid=45715
• Boykin, A., & Schoenhofer, S. (2013). Nursing as caring: a model for transforming
practice. Retrieved from http://www.gutenberg.org/files/42988/42988-h/42988-
h.htm#link2HCH0003
• Econoic crisis of the 21st cnetury. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www2.sunysuffolk.edu/westn/Economiccrisis21st.html
• McEwen, M., & Wills, E. M. (2014). Theoretical basis for nursing (4th ed.).
Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health.
• Macrohon, J.M., & Loriaga, A. (2012, July 4) Metaparadigm. Retrieved From
http://nursingiscaringtheory.blogspot.com/
• National Academy of Sciences (1997). Preparing for 21st century challenges facing
a changing society. Retrieved from http:www.nas.edu/21st/society/U.S.
Department of State (n.d) Outline of the U.S. Economy. Retrieved from
http://usa.usembassy.de/etexts/oecon/chap3.html