Conceptualizing the DREAM Model within Watson's Transpersonal Theory of Human Caring for Advancing Adolescent Mental Health Nursing

Purpose: This paper grounds the DREAM model, a practice-based framework developed from research on caring presence, aimed at enhancing holistic nursing care through being fully present and engaged with the patient, within Watson's Transpersonal Theory of Human Caring and the Unitary Caring Science worldview. The DREAM model was subsequently operationalized as a framework for providing care to adolescents with mental health conditions using the Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC). Design/Methods: The key concepts in the DREAM: Dedication; Respect through relationship; Environment; Art of nursing; and Motivation were linked to and conceptualized within concepts in Watson's Transpersonal Theory of Human Caring to demonstrate how the DREAM model can be philosophically grounded and practically operationalized within a caring science perspective. The model was then operationalized by linking the key concepts to five priority NIC interventions. Findings: The findings underscore how evidence-based nursing actions can enhance caring presence and relational engagement in healthcare, particularly in adolescent mental health care, creating a synthesis of caring theory with NIC. Conclusion: Through the grounding of the DREAM model in Watson's theory and its operationalization using the NIC, the authors invite a new discourse on advancing adolescent mental health care.