Page 40 - Nursing: The Philosophy and Science of Caring

NURSING: THE PHIL O S OPHY A ND SCIENCE OF C A R IN G , revI s e d ed I t I o n
Source—the universal spirit field of infinity (Levinas 1969)—before and
after the human plane of worldly experiences. Caring Science makes
more explicit that unity and connectedness exist among all things in
the great circle of life: change, illness, suffering, death, and rebirth. A
Caring Science orientation moves humanity closer to a moral com-
munity, closer to peaceful relationships with self–other communities–
nations, states, other worlds, and time.

BASIC ASSUmPTIONS OF CARING SCIENCE (ADAPTED
wITH mINOR mODIFICATIONS FROm wATSON 1979:8–9)
• Caring Science is the essence of nursing and the foundational
disciplinary core of the profession.
• Caring can be most effectively demonstrated and practiced inter-
personally; however, caring consciousness can be communicated
beyond/transcends time, space, and physicality (Watson 2002a).
• The intersubjective human-to-human processes and connections
keep alive a common sense of humanity; they teach us how to
be human by identifying ourselves with others, whereby the
humanity of one is reflected in the other (Watson 1985:33).
• Caring consists of Carative Factors/Caritas Processes that facili-
tate healing, honor wholeness, and contribute to the evolution
of humanity.
• Effective Caring promotes healing, health, individual/family
growth and a sense of wholeness, forgiveness, evolved con-
sciousness, and inner peace that transcends the crisis and fear of
disease, diagnosis, illness, traumas, life changes, and so on.
• Caring responses accept a person not only as he or she is now
but as what he or she may become/is Becoming.
• A Caring relationship is one that invites emergence of human
spirit, opening to authentic potential, being authentically pres-
ent, allowing the person to explore options—choosing the best
action for self for “being-in-right relation” at any given point in
time.
• Caring is more “healthogenic” than curing.
• Caring Science is complementary to Curing Science.

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