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Nursing Caring Theory

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Nursing Caring Theory

Caring is one of the crucial roles undertaken by nurses. It involves the process of

tending to the needs of an individual (Kim et al., 2021). The individual offering care must

assume a sense of responsibility over the other. Nurses assume such commitment to

providing the best service. Processes to ensure effective nursing care are described using

various nursing caring theories. One common theory is Kristen Swanson's five phases of

caring. The following post discusses the application of this theory to a nursing experience.

Scenario

Nurse X was involved in caring for a patient that experienced consistent coughing and

shortness of breath. She welcomed the patient and gave him time to explain his condition and

the general background of the problem being experienced. Nurse X took blood samples

carefully from the patient and took them for tests. She came back and gave the patient the

results and offered solutions and advice on how to avoid similar situations in the future.

Application of Theory

The first concept in Swanson's theory is maintaining belief. Having in people and

their ability to grow and adapt in the face of adversity is the cornerstone of a caring mindset

(Swanson, 1993). Swanson elaborates on this idea, stating that self-belief is maintained when

one has faith in the goodness of others and in their capacity to succeed (Swanson, 1993).

Having a hopeful and highly esteeming outlook on other people is essential. Nurse X fulfills

this through the warm welcome she gives the patient. This action assures the patient that he

has come to the right place, and he is about to get solutions to all his problems. The second

concept is knowing. Through knowing, one gains insight into the significance of occurrences

from another person's perspective (Swanson, 1993). A caring relationship may emerge

between caregivers and patients when they both participate in the knowing process. Nurse X

builds rapport with the patient by asking about the patient's condition. She carefully engages
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the patient in providing details of his condition. Consequently, the patient progressively

develops trust and becomes friendlier as the conversation continues.

The third concept is being with. It describes the nurse's presence, both physical and

emotional, and tells the patient that she values her time with them and their story. It also

defines emotional presence, which refers to a nursing method in which the caregiver

empathizes with the client by reflecting back on his or her own interpretations of events (Kim

et al., 2021). Nurse X keenly listens to the patient and occasionally interjects to express

empathy by saying "sorry" and other relevant statements. The fourth step is doing-for. It

includes actions taken by the nurse to improve the patient's quality of life over the long run

(Kim et al., 2021). A few examples include providing reassurance, looking out for the

patient's best interests, being competent in the operations being performed, keeping the

patient safe, and ensuring that their dignity is maintained throughout the process (Kim et al.,

2021). Nurse X carefully extracts blood from the patient to minimize pain as much as

possible. She helps enhance the patient's comfort throughout the process.

Lastly, the final stage is enabling. It involves helping the other person through

challenging or new situations. Allowing others to help themselves is a kind of care that

promotes health just as much as providing assistance would (Swanson, 1993). Patient

recovery, personal growth, and self-care are all bolstered by this kind of empowering

approach (Swanson, 1993). This process is lacking in the nursing experience explained.

Nurse X has to attend to a large number of patients. Hence, providing them with

individualized experience past the hospital setting is increasingly difficult.

In conclusion, the nursing caring theory is crucial in attaining effective caring

outcomes. Kristen Swanson's five phases of caring approach are effective in providing

efficient nursing care. The nursing experience explained followed these steps and resulted in

positive patient outcomes.

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References

Kim, S., Kim, G. U., Lee, W., & Park, J. (2021). Developing an Internet-Based Trauma

Recovery Nursing Intervention Based on Swanson's Theory of Caring for Trauma

Recovery. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(13),

6715. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18136715

Swanson, J. (1993). Nursing as informed caring for the well-being of others. Image: Journal

of Nursing Scholarship, 25(4), 352-357. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1547-

5069.1993.tb00271.x