NURSING CARE

Nursing Care

[Name of the institutions]

Nursing Care

Introduction

Ray's Theory of Bureaucratic Caring illustrates the importance of spiritual and ethical caring in relation to organizational cultures. Watson' theory of Human Caring illustrates the fact that caring is central to the discipline of nursing. The paper will elaborate on Watson's theory, Ray's theory and then compare both theories.

The theory of human caring was developed in 1975 and 1979 by Jean Watson. Watson is also the founder of the Center for Human Caring. The theory is used to guide new models of caring and healing practices in diverse setting and in several countries. (Parker, 2006)

If we are to consider caring as the core of nursing, nurses will have to make a conscious effort to preserve human caring within their clinical, administrative, educational, and/or research practice. Nurses must now deal with patients' increased acuity and complexity in regard to their health care situation. Despite such hardships, nurses must find ways to preserve their caring practice and Jean Watson's caring theory can be seen as indispensable to this goal. Care and caring as described by Benner and Wrubel (1989, Benner, 1994), is a requirement of human being, a part of 'what it is' to be human. So caring is ontological. Caring endorses our professional identity within a context where humanistic values are constantly questioned and challenged (Duquette & Cara, 2000).

According to Watson (2001), the major elements of her theory are the carative factors, the transpersonal caring relationship, and the caring occasion/caring moment. The carative factors were developed in 1979; Watson views the “carative factors” as a guide for the core of nursing. She uses the term carative to contrast with conventional medicine's curative factors.

Comparison of Ray and Maslow theiry of Nursing

The theories of Ray and Abraham Maslow were identified and discussed in relation to their impact on nursing care. The environment and a person's level of adaptation to both external and internal stimuli were identified as the basis for Ray's Adaptation Model for Nursing. It was broken down into four adaptation modes and how they relate to the environment. It was further evaluated by comparing it to the nursing process step by step. The five levels of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs were identified and explained that the attainment of each level allows progression to the next. This concept was identified as a key component to developing a care plan for a nursing client. Both theories were evaluated and major criticisms were identified. Overall, both were shown to be of great value to the nursing profession.

Ray and Maslow's Theories and Their Effect on Nursing

Many theorists' models have been used in the progression of nursing through the years. Although they all have different ideas and approaches, every one of them centers on the health and wellness of the client. This paper will discuss the views of two theorists and their effect on nursing today.

Ray, in 1970, first published her ideas on a new conceptual framework for nursing. In an article entitled, "Adaptation: A Conceptual Framework for Nursing", she ...