The roots of nursing: teaching caring based on Watson

Area of Science:

• Nursing Science
• Caring Theory

Background:

• Caring is fundamental to nursing practice.
• Watson's 10 carative factors are central to the caring process.
• A structured approach is needed to teach caring in nursing programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the implementation of Watson's 10 carative factors as a teaching framework.
• To integrate the science of caring into an undergraduate nursing unit.
• To provide a foundational understanding of caring for early-semester students.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Watson's 10 carative factors as a theoretical framework.
• Designed a unit of study for Semester I undergraduate nursing students.
• Implemented the framework within a tertiary institution's School of Nursing in Western Australia.

Main Results:

• Watson's carative factors provided a structured approach to teaching caring.
• The framework facilitated the study and understanding of nursing as the science of caring.
• The unit successfully introduced foundational caring concepts to students.

Conclusions:

• Watson's carative factors serve as an effective framework for teaching undergraduate nursing students.
• Integrating caring theory early in the curriculum is crucial for nursing education.
• The science of caring can be systematically taught using established theoretical models.