Kristen Swanson’s Theory of Caring

Kristen Swanson’s Theory of Caring came about from her work with maternity patients who had experienced miscarriages and infants in the NICU. Kristen would interview them and learn through their experience. Her research was on women who had experienced a miscarriage. This lead on her theory of caring consisting of five main concepts. Them being, knowing, being with, doing for, enabling, and maintaining. Kristen finds a connection between showing care and healing. I understand her theory and can appreciate it. The knowing part of the theory allows for the practitioner to be more in tune with the situation and as a result provide support to the patient. It also allows the patient to identify their own problem. In practice this can come very handy and I see myself using this. The following talks about being with the person through the hard times. I believe that this is the most important step because the person feels important and the provider can really engage in the health process (Kavanaugh, 2006). Doing for is being able to advocate for the patient if they had the knowledge to do so. This connects with enabling as they come one after the other in order to better care for the patient and allow them to be more independent. The provider is really able to use their skills and empower the patient through the rough times. The last stage and the one that must be maintained throughout to keep the whole process running smooth, its remaining hopeful. This is where some people may oppose the theory (Karen, 2017). That is because some may not be able to see a miscarriage or unfortunate situations as a reason for hope. According to Kristen this is important because it’s staying hopeful that one will be able to get through any difficult situation. I agree with this theory and does not necessarily has to be applied to miscarriages. It can be applied to many other situations.

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References:

Karen M. Brown and Leslie M. Bright, Teaching caring and competence: Student transformation during an older adult focused service-learning course, Nurse Education in Practice, 27, (29), (2017).

Kavanaugh, K., Moro, T. T., Savage, T., & Mehendale, R. (2006). Enacting a theory of caring to recruit and retain vulnerable participants for sensitive research. Research in nursing & health, 29(3), 244–252. doi:10.1002/nur.20134

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Rosie Jean Louis: Discussion 8

COLLAPSE

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Swanson’s middle-range theory of caring consists of five different processes which all have subcategories. The caring process includes maintaining belief, knowing, doing for, being with and enabling. According to Swanson, caring is a “nurturing way of relating to another individual who is valued towards whom one feels a strong sense of responsibility, and commitment” (Michele, 2018). The aim of nursing, according to this theory, is to enable clients to achieve wellbeing. This middle-range theory was synthesized following three phenomenological studies that were conducted in perinatal nursing. However, the theory has a wide range of applications in nursing care today. This theory sheds light on our present understanding of the dynamics of providing care between one individual and others. This theory was based on nursing research. However, it presents a unique way of understanding the components and meaning of caring that goes beyond the usual nurse-patient relationship. Its applicability extends to the sphere of the Family Nurse practitioner (FNP) in a lot of ways, which will be elucidated below. Kristen Swanson’s Theory of Caring

Maintaining Belief

This is the foundation of a trusting and caring relationship between the client and the FNP. It refers to the process of believing in the capacity of the other person to weather any storm and find personal meaning in their experiences no matter the challenges or the conditions that they face (Michele, 2018). This concept is central to the client-provider relationship which the Family nurse practitioner builds with the client. The FNP can build on this theory in caring for the patient, especially those with chronic medical conditions that need long term care. By continually interacting with the client, the FNP can use optimism to guide the client through the process of finding meaning in whatever condition they are going through and being able to cope with it. This FNP that can apply this concept properly is able to manage the patient well, no matter the severity of the medical condition.

Doing for

This concept means doing for other people what one would want to do for oneself in whatever situation (Michele, 2018). The attributes in this process include performing competently preserving dignity, protecting, anticipating, and comforting. The FNP is able to provide qualitative care to his/her client by applying this principle to the letter. This allows the FNP to continually strive for professional growth so that the care being provided to the client is top notch and without blemish. The FNP is also improving on the practice in order to maintain this standard of care.

Enabling

This is the process of helping others to acquire the tools that they need in order to take care of themselves (Michele, 2018). This includes such attributes as informing, supporting and validating the client. By applying this principle, the FNP can empower the client with enough information needed in order to improve their health. This is essential to the prevention many complications of health conditions. When the FNP applies this principle consistently, the clients are able to achieve healthy lifestyles because they already possess the information needed to do this.

In conclusion, this mid-range theory applies to the practice of the FNP. It will help the FNP build a lasting, trusting and rewarding therapeutic relationship with the patient that would not only help the patient achieve good health, but also help the FNP achieve professional satisfaction by providing qualitative health to the patient.

REFERENCES

Blasdell, N (2017). The Meaning of Caring in Nursing Practice. International Journal of Nursing and Clinical Practices. Volume 4 (2017), Article ID 4: IJNCP-238. https://doi.org/10.15344/2394-4978/2017/238. Retrieved on 26th July 2019 from <https://doi.org/10.15344/2394-4978/2017/238>

Michele, M. (2018). Finding Meaning Through Kristen Swanson’s Caring Behaviors: A Cornerstone of Healing for Nursing Education. Creative Nursing Vol 24 Issue 1, DOI: 10.1891/1078-4535.24.1.6. Retrieved on 26th July 2019 from < https://connect.springerpub.com/content/sgrcn/24/1/6>

Kristen Swanson’s Theory of Caring