Page 133 - Nursing: The Philosophy and Science of Caring

Fr o m c a r at i v e Fac to r 5 to C a r i ta s P r o C e s s 5
• The feared rejection or fantasized catastrophe did not occur;
there was no rejection, deriding, or damage to others by the per-
son displaying the positive feelings.
• The person discovered a previously unknown part of self, which
resulted in a new dimension in relationships with self and
others.
These findings help validate what is already common knowledge:
that helping another to nonjudgmentally express positive and negative
feelings without feeling defensive or threatened by rejection and criti-
cism is therapeutic. The Caritas Consciousness Nurse is aware and con-
fident enough to permit another to risk expressing feelings that other-
wise would be threatening. In turn, the caring relationship moves to a
deeper, more honest, authentic level that is necessary for the practice
of the philosophy and science of caring.
Authentically hearing and accepting another person’s story not
only helps that person express his or her feelings, it becomes a healing
act in itself, a healing gift to others.
The nurse in a given moment may be
the only person who is able to hear
and receive another person’s story
and emotions, thus helping that per-
son find deeper meaning in his or her
situation. The Caritas Consciousness
Nurse may be the only person who
seeks to “see” and “hear” the spirit-
filled person behind the emotions.
This process can lead to more self-
knowledge, self-control, self-love,
and self-caring possibilities.
Finally, if feelings, both posi-
tive and negative, can and do change
thoughts and influence one’s rela-
tionship with self and other, the prac-
tice of caring must be systematically Figure 10. La Pleureuse, by Auguste
attentive to people’s feelings. Caritas Rodin. Collection, The Denver Art
Museum.

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