Page 98 - alligood 8th edition_Neat

7

CHAP TER

Jean Watson
1940 to Present

Watson’s Philosophy and Theory

of Transpersonal Caring

D. Elizabeth Jesse and Martha R. Alligood

“We are the light in institutional darkness, and in this
model we get to return to the light of our humanity”
(Jean Watson, 7/9/2012.)

state of Colorado. Douglas, whom Watson describes
Credentials and Background as her physical and spiritual partner, and her best
of the Theorist friend, died in 1998. She has two grown daughters,
Margaret Jean Harman Watson, PhD, RN, AHN-BC, Jennifer and Julie, and five grandchildren. Jean lives
FAAN, was born and grew up in the small town in Boulder, Colorado.
of Welch, West Virginia, in the Appalachian Moun- After moving to Colorado, Watson continued her
tains. As the youngest of eight children, she was nursing education and graduate studies at the Univer-
surrounded by an extended family–community sity of Colorado. She earned a baccalaureate degree in
environment. nursing in 1964 at the Boulder campus, a master’s
Watson attended high school in West Virginia and degree in psychiatric–mental health nursing in 1966
then the Lewis Gale School of Nursing in Roanoke, at the Health Sciences campus, and a doctorate in
Virginia. After graduation in 1961, she married her educational psychology and counseling in 1973 at
husband, Douglas, and moved west to his native the Graduate School, Boulder campus. After Watson

Previous authors: Ruth M. Neil, Ann Marriner Tomey, Tracey J. F. Patton, Deborah A. Barnhart, Patricia M. Bennett, Beverly D.
Porter, and Rebecca S. Sloan. These authors wish to thank Dr. Jean Watson for her ongoing inspiration and support, along with her
review of the content of this chapter for accuracy and her assistance in updating the references and bibliography.

79