Theory of Caring

Study Notes

Caring is a nurturing way of relating to a valued other, toward whom one feels a personal sense of commitment and responsibility.
Knowing involves striving to understand the meaning of an event in the life of the other, avoiding assumptions, focusing on the person cared for, seeking cues, assessing meticulously, and engaging both the one caring and the one cared for in the process of knowing.
Being with means being emotionally present to the other. This includes being there in person, conveying availability, and sharing feelings without burdening the one cared for.
Doing for means to do for others what one would do for self if possible, including anticipating needs, comforting, performing skillfully and competently, and protecting the one cared for while preserving his or her dignity.
Enabling is facilitating the other's passage through life transitions and unfamiliar events. This involves focusing on the event, informing, explaining, supporting, validating feelings, generating alternatives, thinking things through, and giving feedback.
Maintaining belief involves sustaining faith in the other's capacity to get through an event or transition, believing in his or her capacity and holding him or her in high esteem, maintaining a hope-filled attitude, offering realistic optimism, helping to find meaning, and standing by the one cared for no matter what the situation.

Nursing: Swanson defines nursing as informed caring for the well-being of others. The nursing discipline is informed by empirical knowledge, ethical, personal and aesthetic knowledge, and clinical experience, as well as societal values and expectations.
Person: Swanson defines persons as unique beings in the process of becoming, whose wholeness is manifested in thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Life experiences are a complex interplay of genetic heritage, spiritual endowment and the capacity to exercise free will.
Health: Health is the subjective, meaning-filled experience of wholeness, involving integration and freedom to express all facets of being. The facets include spirituality, thoughts, feelings, intellect, creativity, connectedness, femininity, masculinity, and sexuality.
Environment: Environment is considered situational and any context that influences or is influenced by the designated person/client. This includes cultural, social, biophysical, political, and economic realms.

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