Middle Range Theory of Caring

by
Kristen M. Swanson, RN, PhD, FAAN,

Presenters:
Rexel-John F. Cacayurin
Jinalyn P. Maguddayao
Jason Coballes

Author
Kristen M. Swanson earned her bachelors degree in
nursing from the University of Rhode Island.
-continued with her academic pursuits, culminating
with a masters degree in adult health and illness
nursing from the University of Pennsylvania and a PhD
in psychosocial nursing from the University of Colorado.
-She completed her postdoctoral work at the University
of Washington. In addition to holding a faculty position
at the University of Washington, she taught at Trenton
State College, the University of Pennsylvania School of
Nursing and the University of Colorado School of
Nursing.

 Swansons particular area of research

interest is in miscarriage and early
pregnancy loss. She began this work
with her dissertation, The Unborn
One: A Profile of The Human
Experience of Miscarriage.
She has been the principal investigator
or co-investigator on 10 grants dealing
with early pregnancy loss, caring and
related topics since 1985.

 In recognition of her work, she received an

Outstanding Researcher Award from Sigma Theta
Tau and has been an invited speaker or visiting
professor on multiple occasions, most recently at
the National Cheng Kung University in Tainan,
Taiwan in 2007.
In 2002, she was awarded the University of Rhode
Island College of Nursing Distinguished Alumni
Award. She is also on the editorial board or serves
as a reviewer for the Journal of Nursing
Scholarship, Nursing Outlook, Research in Nursing
and Health and the International Journal of Human
Caring.

Swanson's Theory of Caring

defines caring as a nurturing way of
relating to a valued other toward
whom one feels a personal sense of
commitment and responsibility;
supports claim that caring is a
central nursing phenomenon but not
necessarily unique to nursing
practice.

Swanson's Theory of Caring - 5

processes
Caring Process Knowing
-Striving to understand an event as it
has meaning in the life of the other;
avoiding assumptions; centering on
the one cared for; assessing
thoroughly; seeking cues; engaging
the self or both.

 Caring Process - Being With

-Being emotionally present to the
other; being there; conveying ability;
sharing feelings; not burdening.

 Caring Process - Doing For

-doing for the other as he or she would
do for self if it were at all possible;
comforting; anticipating; performing
skillfully; prtecting; preserving dignity

 Caring Process Enabling

- Facilitating the others passage
through life transitions (ex - birth,
death) and unfamiliar events;
informing/explaining;
supporting/allowing; focusing;
generating alternatives;
validating/giving feedback.

 Caring Process - Maintaining Belief

-Sustaining faith in the other's capacity
to get through an event or transition
and face a future with meaning;
believing in/holding in esteem;
maintaining a hope-filled attitude;
offering realistic optimism; "going the
distance

Caring in Nursing Practice

Providing presence; touch; listening;
knowing the patient; spiritual caring;
relieveing pain and suffering; family
care.

Application of the Theory

Applying Swanson's Caring Theory to Manage
Spiritual Distress in a Patient With Terminal Lung
Cancer.
The nurse assessed the patient's relationships with the self,
with others, with the environment, and with God in
accordance with Stoll's spiritual interrelatedness hypothesis.
Several spiritual distresses were reported. Interventions such
as "knowing", "being with", "doing for", "enabling" and
"maintaining belief" were applied to manage the patient's
spiritual distress and address spiritual needs. This case
report is intended to help increase the awareness and
sensitivity of nurses to patients' spiritual needs and to help
nurses provide effective spiritual care.

 Application of Swansons Middle Range

Caring Theory after miscarriage.
from Swansons caring categories:
Maintaining belief, knowing, being with,
doing for, enabling. Swansons Middle
Range Caring Theory as applied to the
caregiver includes being emotionally present,
giving support with respect for the womans
dignity, being competent, meeting each
womans own individual needs. Given the
proper care after a miscarriage every woman
has the power within herself to improve their
wellbeing.