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CHAP TER

Kristen M. Swanson
1953 to present

Theory of Caring

Danuta M. Wojnar

“Caring is a nurturing way of relating to a valued other toward
whom one feels a personal sense of commitment and responsibility”
(Swanson, 1991, p. 162).

master’s degree in nursing in 1978, she worked
Credentials and Background briefly as clinical instructor of medical-surgical
of the Theorist nursing at the University of Pennsylvania School of
Kristen M. Swanson, RN, PhD, FAAN, was born in Nursing and subsequently enrolled in the Ph.D. in
Providence, Rhode Island. She earned her baccalaure- nursing program at the University of Colorado in
ate degree (magna cum laude) from the University of Denver. There she studied psychosocial nursing
Rhode Island, College of Nursing in 1975. She began with an emphasis on the concepts of loss, stress,
her career as a registered nurse at the University of coping, interpersonal relationships, person and per-
Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester, because sonhood, environments, and caring.
the founding nursing administration clearly articu- While a doctoral student, as part of a hands-on
lated a vision for professional nursing practice and experience with a self-selected health promotion
actively worked with nurses to apply these ideals activity, Swanson participated in a cesarean birth sup-
while working with clients (Swanson, 2001). port group focused on miscarriage. The guest speaker,
As a novice nurse, more than anything Swanson a physician, focused on pathophysiology and health
wanted to become a knowledgeable and technically problems prevalent after miscarriage, but women
skillful practitioner with a goal of teaching others. attending the meeting were more interested in talking
Hence, she pursued graduate studies in Adult about their personal experiences with pregnancy loss.
Health and Illness Nursing at the University of That day Swanson decided to learn more about the
Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. After receiving a human experience and responses to miscarrying.

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