Page 575 - Encyclopedia of Nursing Research

542 n WeIGhT MAnAGeMenT

of nursing. Watson proposed an integrated (Watson, 2008b), in which the nurse is cen-
view of personhood, life, health and heal- tered on consciousness, intentionality, and
W–Z ing (p. 141) with an emphasis on the spiritual presence for the purpose of transformational
nature of the human being and the transper- caring. The transpersonal caring relationship
sonal caring relationship that is the basis of provides unitary caring approach to transfor-
nursing practice. mational caring–healing that recognizes the
Watson embraces caring science as spiritual nature and dignity of humanity.
necessary for the survival of nursing and Watson’s Theory of human Caring pro-
humanity. Caring science is described as “a vides a philosophical and theoretical foun-
deep moral-ethical context of infinite cosmic dation for nursing science, practice, and
love” (Watson & Woodward, 2010, p. 353). education. human caring is in fact a world-
Further, Watson believes that caring science view that encompasses a way of being awake
allows nursing’s caring–healing core to be to oneself and others, being intentional in
both discipline specific and transdisciplin- one’s life and work, being genuinely present
ary (Watson & Woodward, 2010). Specifically, for self and other, and embracing the caring–
Watson (2005a, 2008b) has introduced the healing transformational process. Watson’s
term caritas to further explicate the relation- theory has been widely disseminated glob-
ship between caring and love in the context ally in scholarly works, served as a guide for
of human caring philosophy and theory. The master’s and doctoral student research, pro-
definition of caritas used by Watson is from vided a foundation for theory-based practice
the Latin and means “to cherish and appre- and curriculum development, and has framed
ciate, giving special attention to, or loving” the development of research in human car-
(Watson & Woodward, 2010, p. 353). Thus, this ing and methods. At the Watson Caring
represents an evolution in language from the Science Institute, work is being engaged in
concept of carative (Watson, 1979) to the use of and disseminated to address resources and
caritas for the theory of transpersonal caring, research models for nursing education, clin-
the use of clinical caritas process rather than ical practice, and administration. The theory
carative factor, and the transpersonal cari- of human caring has made a significant on
tas energy field for the context of the heart- nursing science and caring science. The work
centered transpersonal caring moment. continues as clinicians, theorists, research-
The Theory of human Caring embraces ers, and educators engage in diverse ways
the values of the reverence and sacredness of of knowing to generate greater understand-
life and humanity. Through the art and the ing of the unitary, human caring–healing
science of human caring, humanistic care experience.
in which both the nurse and the individual
receiving the care are affected, resulting in a Diana Lynn Morris
more humanistic, holistic self-transcendence Updated by Kristen S. Montgomery (1998)
(Watson, 1996). The original carative factors Updated by Diana Lynn Morris (2010)
that “actually potentiate therapeutic healing
processes for both the one caring and the one
being cared for” (Watson, 1996, pp. 154–155)
are now emerging as the clinical caritas pro- Weight management
cesses. Through the transpersonal caring
relationship, one seeks to embrace the soul
(spirit) of the other (Watson, 2002; Watson & Weight management, defined as deliberate
Woodward, 2010). Transpersonal caring cre- actions to reduce and maintain healthy body
ates a heart-centered transpersonal caring weight, is classified as formal and infor-
moment within the Caritas energetic field mal. Formal weight management consists of