Philosophy
Human Science
The theory of Nursing as Caring is a grand nursing theory that can be used a framework to guide
nursing practice. The theory is grounded on the following principles:
The basic premise of this theory is that all humans are caring persons, that to be human is to be called
to live one’s innate caring nature.
Caring is the intentional and authentic presence of the nurse with another who is recognized as
a person living, caring and growing in caring.
The ideal of caring is an essential feature and expression of being human and is central in this
theory.
The nurse endeavors to come to know the other as a caring person and seeks to understand
how that person might be sustained, supported, and strengthened in their unique process of
living caring and growing caring.
Application to nursing
Nurses intentionally care for an individual which causes them to grow in caring
When the nurse enters the patient’s world, they learn to know the other caring and
understanding, and how to care and live in the moment.
To respond to patients the nurse depends several ways of knowing: personal, empiric, ethical
and esthetic.
As a school nurse I could treat each student as a unique special individual, listening, showing
caring and responding to what truly matters to them.
As a nurse educator, caring can help those being taught to have self awareness it encourages
learning and have the ability to apply theory to practice. The goal is to empower nurses to take
responsibility of their practice by gaining knowledge.
When interviewing nurses for entry-level positions, I can interview and select staff on the basis
of “caring” orientation and ask them to tell me about a “caring moment”.