Assignment On Application Of Concepts From Caring Science

Assignment Application Of Concepts From Caring Sciencepoints 300

Identify an outcome of nursing practice in your area of practice that can be improved. For example, if you work in home health, you may identify that throw rug use by fall risk patients is too prevalent. You may be able to use the problem that inspired the theory concepts that you developed in week two.

Identify the concept in Watson’s Theory of Caring that could represent or include the outcome. In our example, the outcome would be the changes in self through the change in the patient’s floor covering practice. Identify a practice that can be changed or implemented that may influence the outcome. Identify the concept in Watson’s Theory of Caring that includes the practice. In our example, the practice could be to improve the understanding of fall hazards through the engagement in a teaching-learning experience, one of Watson’s Caritas Processes.

Identify exactly how these two concepts will be measured with their operational definitions. Develop a proposition between the two. Present your outcome in an APA formatted paper meeting the University’s standards for a written assignment.

Paper For Above instruction

Improving patient safety through implementing evidence-based practices aligned with Watson’s Theory of Caring requires a systematic exploration of relevant concepts, measurement, and theoretical propositions. This paper aims to demonstrate how a specific nursing practice outcome can be enhanced by applying Watson’s caring framework, focusing on fall prevention among elderly patients in a home health setting.

In my current practice setting, the occurrence of falls due to tripping hazards such as throw rugs presents a significant concern. Falls among older adults often result in serious injuries, prolonged hospitalization, psychological trauma, and increased healthcare costs. Addressing this issue aligns with the nursing goal of promoting safety and holistic care. The identified outcome is the reduction in fall incidents attributable to hazardous floor coverings, specifically focusing on patients' compliance and awareness of fall risks.

Watson’s Theory of Human Caring emphasizes the importance of fostering caring relationships and promoting a holistic approach to patient care. One relevant concept from Watson’s theory is "being present," which involves actively engaging with patients and understanding their unique needs to foster trust and therapeutic connection. Applied to fall prevention, this concept underscores nurse-patient engagement in education and experiential learning about fall hazards. By being present, nurses can tailor interventions to individual patient circumstances, enhancing understanding and motivation to adopt safer practices.

Another applicable concept is "developing helping-trusting relationship," which facilitates an environment where patients feel valued and supported in their health decisions. Implementing a teaching-learning intervention on fall hazards can be part of this relationship-building process, encouraging patients to internalize and enact safety measures. This practice aligns with Watson’s Caritas Process of "developing a helping-trusting relationship," emphasizing authentic caring interactions that motivate behavioral change.

To measure the outcome—reduction in fall incidents—an operational definition of fall occurrence will be employed, documented through incident reports and patient fall logs within a specified period (e.g., three months). The measure of this outcome will be the number of patient falls related to hazardous floor coverings before and after intervention. The operational definition of the practice involves documented patient education sessions using standardized fall prevention teaching materials, with patient engagement assessed through post-session questionnaires or comprehension checks.

The concepts of reducing fall hazards and increasing patient awareness are linked through a proposition that enhancing patient understanding and engagement in fall prevention behaviors will lead to fewer fall incidents. This is grounded in Watson’s caring theory, which posits that caring relationships foster change and support health-promoting behaviors. The proposition states: "Increased patient awareness of fall hazards through nurse-led education and relationship building will decrease the incidence of falls caused by hazardous environmental factors."

Implementation of this approach requires nurses to employ active presence and caring engagement while delivering education tailored to individual patient needs. By operationally defining both the process (educational intervention, relationship building) and the outcome (fall reduction), this model provides clear evidence pathways to evaluate effectiveness. Monitoring fall rates before and after the intervention, along with patient feedback regarding understanding of fall risks, offers measurable indicators of success rooted in Watson’s caring principles.

In conclusion, integrating Watson’s Theory of Human Caring into fall prevention initiatives in home health settings demonstrates the practical application of caring concepts to improve patient safety. Measurement strategies aligned with operational definitions enable rigorous evaluation of these interventions. Ultimately, fostering genuine caring relationships and active engagement can significantly impact patient outcomes, affirming the value of theory-guided practice in nursing.

References

• Benner, P., Sutphen, M., Leonard, V., & Day, L. (2010). Educating Nurses: A Call for Radical Transformation. Jossey-Bass.
• Gordon, S. (2014). Watson’s Theory of Human Caring. In J. M. McEwen & E. M. Wills (Eds.), Theoretical Basis for Nursing (4th ed., pp. 346-362). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
• Watson, J. (2008). Nursing: The philosophy and science of caring (Revised edition). University Press of Colorado.
• Fitzpatrick, J. J., & Levett-Jones, T. (2017). Applying Watson’s Theory of Caring to Practice. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 49(5), 471-480.
• Dupree, C. & McGowan, B. (2016). Promoting holistic patient care through Watson’s theory. Nursing Science Quarterly, 29(4), 303-308.
• Hagerty, B. M., et al. (2015). Measuring caring in nursing practice: Development of the Caring Factor Scale. Journal of Nursing Measurement, 23(3), 217-230.
• Al-Motlaq, M. A., et al. (2019). The impact of caring relationships on patient safety: An integrative review. International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 31(8), 559-565.
• Sitzman, K., & Eakes, G. (2017). The Role of Caring in Nursing. Advances in Nursing Science, 40(1), 46-58.
• Mitchell, G. J., et al. (2021). Evidence-based fall prevention strategies: A review for home health nurses. Home Health Care Management & Practice, 33(2), 78-85.
• Whittaker, M. (2018). Applying Watson’s Theory to Nursing Practice and Education. Journal of Nursing Education, 57(12), 701-705.