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CHAPTER 35 Kristen M. Swanson 693
Person creativity, relatedness, femininity, masculinity,
Swanson (1993) defines persons as “unique beings and sexuality, to name just a few” (p. 353).
who are in the midst of becoming and whose whole-
ness is made manifest in thoughts, feelings, and be- Thus, Swanson sees reestablishing well-being as a
haviors” (p. 352). She posits that the life experiences of complex process of curing and healing that includes
each individual are influenced by a complex interplay “releasing inner pain, establishing new meanings, re-
of “a genetic heritage, spiritual endowment and the storing integration, and emerging into a sense of re-
capacity to exercise free will” (Swanson, 1993, p. 352). newed wholeness” (Swanson, 1993, p. 353).
Hence, persons both shape and are shaped by the
environment in which they live. Environment
Swanson (1993) views persons as dynamic, grow- Swanson (1993) defines environment by situation. She
ing, self-reflecting, yearning to be connected with maintains that for nursing it is “any context that influ-
others, and spiritual beings. She suggests the follow- ences or is influenced by the designated client” (p. 353).
ing: “ . . . spiritual endowment connects each being to Swanson states that there are many kinds of influences
an eternal and universal source of goodness, mystery, on environment, such as the cultural, social, biophysi-
life, creativity, and serenity. The spiritual endowment cal, political, and economic realms, to name only a few.
may be a soul, higher power/Holy Spirit, positive According to Swanson (1993), the terms environment
energy, or, simply grace. Free will equates with choice and person-client in nursing may be viewed inter-
and the capacity to decide how to act when confronted changeably. For example, Swanson posits, “for heuristic
with a range of possibilities” (p. 352). Swanson (1993) purposes the lens on environment/designated client
noted, however, that limitations set by race, class, may be specified to the intra-individual level, wherein
gender, or access to care might prevent individuals the ‘client’ may be at the cellular level and the environ-
from exercising free will. Hence, acknowledging ment may be the organs, tissues or body of which the
free will mandates nursing discipline to honor indi- cell is a component” (p. 353). Therefore, what is consid-
viduality and consider a whole range of possibilities ered an environment in one situation may be consid-
that are acceptable or desirable to those whom the ered a client in another.
nurses attend.
Moreover, Swanson posits that the other, whose
personhood nursing discipline serves, refers to fam- Theoretical Assertions
ilies, groups, and societies. Thus, with this under- Swanson’s Theory of Caring (Swanson, 1991, 1993,
standing of personhood, nurses are mandated to 1999b) was empirically derived through phenomeno-
take on leadership roles in fighting for human rights, logical inquiry. It offers a clear explanation of what it
equal access to health care, and other humanitarian means for nurses to practice in a caring manner and
causes. Lastly, when nurses think about the other to emphasizes that the goal of nursing is promotion of
whom they direct their caring, they also need to well-being. Swanson (1991) defines caring as “a nur-
think of self and other nurses and their care as that turing way of relating to a valued other toward whom
cared-for other. one feels a personal sense of commitment and respon-
sibility” (p. 162).
Health According to Swanson, a fundamental and univer-
According to Swanson (1993), to experience health sal component of good nursing is caring for the
and well-being is: client’s biopsychosocial and spiritual well-being.
Swanson (1993) asserts that caring is grounded
“ . . . to live the subjective, meaning-filled experi- in maintenance of a basic belief in human beings,
ence of wholeness. Wholeness involves a sense of supported by knowing the client’s reality, conveyed
integration and becoming wherein all facets of by being emotionally and physically present, and
being are free to be expressed. The facets of being enacted by doing for and enabling the client. The car-
include the many selves that make us a human: ing processes overlap and may not exist in separation.
our spirituality, thoughts, feelings, intelligence, Each is an integral component of the overarching