Page 204 - Nursing: The Philosophy and Science of Caring

a dmi ni st ering sacr e d nu rs i ng a ct s
• Sexuality expression cannot be generalized from anatomical dif-
ferences between men and women; therefore, sexual need and
its unique expression are perhaps best understood as a gestalt of
the whole person.
• Sexuality and its expression are prominent at all stages of human
growth and development. The Caritas Nurse is often a key person
who can provide support, trust, understanding, information,
guidance, and assistance with conflicting feelings, problems, and
issues related to intimacy, birth control, pregnancy, parenthood,
and so on, including education and stereotypes related to health-
illness changes, age, and similar topics.
• The Philosophy and Science of Caring requires further study,
research, and specialization in this area to contribute to the evolv-
ing knowledge regarding assistance with this basic human need.
• In addition to the Carative Factor related to assisting with basic
needs generally, other Carative Factors/Caritas Processes related
to this specific need include number 4: developing and sustaining
an authentic helping-trusting-caring relationship; 6: using cre-
ative problem solving; and 7: individualized teaching-learning.

Human need for aCHievement:
exPressivity, Work, ContriButing Beyond self
Everyone has a longing at some level to engage in life with a sense of
efficacy, work, accomplishment, and expressive achievement that con-
tributes to the greater good, beyond self. This longing is a basic human
need, and one’s ability, capability, and opportunity to accomplish it
contribute to self-esteem and self-actualization. This need is associated
with an internal, self-defined standard of excellence that comes from
within rather than without. Thus, to assess this need one has to work
from the other’s frame of reference with respect to standards and defi-
nitions of excellence and achievement. What may be achievement for
one person may not hold for another. The outcomes of this expressiv-
ity and accomplishment are self-approval, self-acceptance, and a level
of competence and achievement that satisfies oneself. Of course, indi-
rectly, one’s achievements gain approval and recognition from others;
such interaction with others contributes to social graces, approval,
and acknowledgment from the outer world of one’s internal sense

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