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CHAPTER 10 Kari Martinsen 161
Importance fall outside of society. Her theoretical stance can
Martinsen’s theory of caring is a critique of the pre- be called critical and phenomenological. She takes
vailing system and at the same time an inspiration to as her starting point the idea that human beings are
individuals in concrete caring situations (Gjengedal, created and are beings for whom we may have
2000). Gjengedal writes that Martinsen’s motivation administrative responsibility. We are relational and
for theoretical work “has precisely a practical point dependent on each other and on the creation.
of departure, a wish to understand and protect Therefore, caring, solidarity, and moral practice are
against devaluation of the aspect of care in nursing” unavoidable realities for us.
(Gjengedal, 2000, p. 38). Devaluation of caring In her thought on the subject of caring, Martinsen
might occur if one uncritically accepts “a scientific challenges society, the politics of health care, and
perspective blind to the lived life and all that gives health care workers themselves to realize the values
meaning to being” (Gjengedal, 2000, p. 54). inherent in caring through concrete policies and
As persons and as nurses, we are challenged to live practical nursing. She deliberately gives few directives
in a way that allows positive meaning to be expressed for action. Rather, she asks us to think ourselves into
in our human relations, for example, in relations be- the situations of patients and family members and to
tween patients and their family members. How we arrive at the best choices for action based on a rich
express this in a concrete way in a nursing context is situational understanding, professional insight, and a
for us as professionals to decide, and the philosophy caring attitude.
on which Martinsen bases her thinking provides Martinsen’s thought has provoked, engaged, and
ideas for our own reflection in specific situations. created debate and professional development in nurs-
Specific situations present themselves with both pos- ing in the Nordic countries over the past 30 years. Her
sibilities and limitations. Socially created structural thought challenges us to both think and act well and
arrangements such as lack of personnel, financial re- correctly, critically, and differently in nursing, in edu-
sources, and lack of institutional beds present serious cation, and in research. Martinsen’s “caring thought”
limitations on a daily basis. Opportunities for caring contributes to the enlightenment of nursing and nurs-
become more accessible within a caring community ing research through its perspectives, concepts, and
and are shaped by politically aware people: insights based on historical and philosophical schol-
arship and research.
A caring community is not dictatorial, nor is it
society’s passive extended arm. The caring com-
munity exists only to the extent that we struggle
for its existence. We must form it ourselves: CASE STUDY
through solidarity, through morally responsible
action, through the fight for greater equality and As nurses, we meet patients and their family mem-
for community and social integration. Caring is bers in many different life situations. Patients may
an active and radical concept be of all age groups, acutely or chronically ill,
(Martinsen, 1989c, p. 62). might return to life and health, or are coming to
the end of their lives and must face death as a real-
It is important to create conditions for good and
equitable health care and living standards for all, but ity. Nurses meet patients and family members in
their homes, the hospital, the nursing home, the
in the fight over limited budgetary resources, to take as school health service, at the local clinic, and so
our starting point those who are weakest, who most forth. Some meetings with patients and family
need help, it is about turning the inverted law of care members make a greater impression on us than
around such that those who have least receive most.
others, and all meetings represent situations of
learning. Against this background, write a brief
Summary case study from your personal clinical experience
Martinsen has both personal and sociopolitical in- and discuss how caring was expressed in that par-
ticular case situation.
terest in the ill and in those who, for other reasons,