Theoretical foundations of nursing

Kristen Swanson's
Theory of Caring

by Kristen Swanson

John Paul Samson 1

 Theoretical foundations of nursing

• Kristen Swanson currently is the dean of the

Seattle University College of Nursing
• Received her BSN in 1975 in the University of
Rhode Island
• Received her MSN in 1978 in the University of
Pennsylvania
• Received her Ph.D. in nursing in 1983 in the
University of Colorado School of Nursing
• Mostly became known because of her theory of Kristen Swanson
caring Theory of Caring
(Washington State Nurses Association, 2020)

Kristen Swanson 2
 Theoretical foundations of nursing

Simultaneity Paradigm Middle Range Theory

This falls under the impression
The theory of caring by Kristen that the theory is influenced by the
Swanson falls under the empirics that the theory is
Simultaneity Paradigm as it involved (the science of the
focuses on the expansion to the theory).
knowledge of caring and
supported by the five categories Caring Based Theories & Models
under the theory.
As the theory of caring, to its
name, we can relate it to being a
caring based theories and models.

(Parse, 2000)
Theory classification 3
 Theoretical foundations of nursing

In its name, the theory of caring greatly emphasizes the

general idea that nurses do in practice, which is caring.

In which it falls under the five categories, (knowing, being

with, doing for, enabling, maintaining belief) (Swanson, 1991).

Not only this, as the theory also focuses on the four

metaparadigms of: Person, Health, Nursing, and Environment.

(Swanson, 1991)

Theory statement 4
 Theoretical foundations of nursing

The assumption I have in the theory in which she describes is the

process of how to properly care for a person with concern with
regards to how the situation is centered.

Upon reading a few selections on the theory, I can assume that

under the impression of the theory through the example of the
"miscarriage".

The four metaparadigms of nursing center on the the idea of

caring.
(Swanson, 1991)

Theory assumptions 5
 Theoretical foundations of nursing

(Swanson, 1991)

Theory diagram 6
 Theoretical foundations of nursing

Shows the steps on how to assess the person with concern

regarding the situation on how it should be handled as a nurse.

The idea of getting the intended outcome to get the person with
concern in getting their well-being to get to a stable point.

This then applies the use of the five stages or categories of the
theory of caring.

(McKelvey, 2018)

Theory concepts 7
 Theoretical foundations of nursing

The meta paradigms and the five stages of

the theory only outlines the whole process
of nursing

(Swanson, 1991)

processes of nursing 8
 Theoretical foundations of nursing

The nurse applies the use of the theory to the care.

Not as much so using the five categories, but letting the

reality be known to the person with concern and to
apply in the empirical part of the theory and to the four
patterns of knowing.

(Swanson, 1991)

nursing situation 9
 Theoretical foundations of nursing

The theory supports to the paradigm and

expands on the new knowledge

(Swanson, 1991)

critique of the theory 10

 Theoretical foundations of nursing

Asides from the famous miscarriage case, the theory

applied to different varieties to the field, one of which
focuses on the attitude and the decision making of the
person with concern.

(Molina & Gallo, 2020)

Vignette 11
 Theoretical foundations of nursing

• Carper, B. (1978). Fundamental Patterns of Knowing in Nursing. ANS, 1 (1), 13-24.

• Kristen Swanson, PhD, RN, FAAN (2020). Washington State Nurses Association.
https://www.wsna.org/hall-of-fame/2020/kristen-swanson
• Maxton, T. (2014, September). Swanson’s Theory of Caring. The Florida Nurse, 62 (3),
The nurse applies the use of the theory to the care.
https://assets.nursingald.com/uploads/publication/pdf/1075/Florida_Nurse_9_14.pdf
• McKelvey, M. (2018, February 01). Finding Meaning Through Kristen Swanson’s Caring

Behaviors: A Cornerstone of Healing for Nursing Education. Creat Nurs, 24(1), 6-11.
Not as much so using the five categories, but letting the
https://doi.org/10.1891/1078-4535.24.1.6
• Molina, J. & Gallo, J. (2020,January 29).Impact of Nurse-Patient Relationship on Quality of
reality be known to the person with concern and to
Care and Patient Autonomy in Decision-Making. Environmental Research and Public Health,
apply
17,835. in the empirical part of the theory and to the four
doi:10.3390/ijerph17030835
• Swanson, K. (1991, May). Empirical Development of a Middle Range Theory of Caring. Nursing
patterns of knowing.
Research, 40 (3), 161-166. https://doi.org/10.1097/00006199-199105000-00008
• Swanson, K. (1991, May). Kristen Swanson’s Theory of Caring. Nursing Theories and Nursing
Practice, 4, 521-531.
• Parse, R. (2000, October). Paradigms: A Reprise. Nursing Science Quarterly, 12, 275-276.

references 12