Page 110 - Nursing: The Philosophy and Science of Caring

t h eoret ic al Fra m e w o r k F or C ar it as/c ari n g rel at i on s h i p
ships in which increased fear, anxiety, anger, despair, depression, and
so on are present can be thought of as “unhealing” or, according to
Halldorsdottir’s research, biocidal or biocidic—the opposite of bio-
genic, life-giving, life-receiving relationships.
In addition to the nursing theoretical frameworks that support
Caritas Consciousness in transpersonal caring-healing relationships,
there is well-established “literature in psychoneuroimmunology,
social support, love, and chaos and system theories which affirm[s] this
perspective. Both social support and love have been shown to affect
health status” (Quinn et al. 2003:A75). A theoretical statement that
seems to connect all the notions put forth here about caring transper-
sonal relationships, Caritas Consciousness, evolving consciousness, heal-
ing, wholeness, natural process, love, and so on is summarized in a
quote from Quinn and colleagues: “The healing relationship might be
viewed as a type of critical social support, and as a particular kind of
love, offered in moments of intense disequilibrium and vulnerability.
It is, perhaps, the added energy in the system that allows the patient to
emerge out of the chaos into a higher order—in other words, healing”
(Quinn et al. 2003:A75).

REmINdERS
Concluding Summary Thoughts: Caritas Consciousness and the
Transpersonal Caring Relationship
Carative Factor/Caritas Process 4: Developing and Sustaining an
Authentic Caring Relationship (Watson 2005:185–186; reprinted with
permission)
• Each thought and each choice we make carries spirit energy into
our lives and those of others.
• Our [Caritas] consciousness, our intentionality, our presence,
makes a difference for better or for worse.
• Calmness and mindfulness in a caring moment beget calmness
and mindfulness.
• Caring and Love beget caring and love.
• Caring and compassionate acts of love beget healing for self and
other.

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