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A Concept Analysis:

Caring in Nursing

Raymund Christopher R. dela Pea, RN, RM, MAN


Saint Louis University

Definitions
Based
on
Oxford
Online
Dictionary (n.d), caring means
to display kindness and concern
for others.
Roach
in her works (1984, 1987, 1992) has

asserted that caring is the "human mode of


being" (1992, p. ix). As such, it entails the
capacity to care, the calling forth of this
ability in ourselves and others, responding
to something or someone that matters and
finally actualizing the ability to care (1992,
p. 47).
Leininger (1988b) defines caring as an action
to assist or support a person or a group to
meet overt or anticipated needs in order to
improve the conditions and the style of life.

Caring

is characterized by
effective and skillful nursing,
compassion, and understanding
(Finfgeld-Connett, 2008).

Antecedents
The

first antecedent in the concept is awareness


of the other needs that are required by the
patients. Moreover, the nurses need to be in
good moods to help their patients to improve
their ethnical and cognitive enthusiasm as they
portray their care by helping the patient in need.

Moral

and cognitive stimulus are the other


antecedent found in the concept of caring. If
nurses in a hospital combine and make use of
these two antecedents, they will be in a good
position to exercise the concept of caring and
help patients.

Defining
Characteristics/Attributes
responsible

for helping patients


concern and devotion of the
nurses to help patients
interpersonal relationship
between the involved parties, that
is, the patients and the nurses
scientific and methodological
processes of understanding health
care

Consequences
Whenever,

the nursing practitioners


practice the concept of caring, several
consequences must be experienced and
ultimately, patients will get healing from
the tender care that they will get from the
nurse. They also need to be satisfied by
the tender care and prove researches
right and lastly, the patients should
experience growth from the concept of
caring. From all these, the concept of
caring will be available and evident in the
nursing field.

Model Case

Here is an example of a model case detailed with


the four critical attributed aforementioned. Bailey is
a reputed nurse who works at the emergency unit of
one of the big hospitals in town. On a Saturday
evening, the hospital receives ten accident victims
who are badly wounded. He was prepared to leave in
five minutes, but the matron ordered the available
nurses to respond immediately to the victims in
need and also save lives. Without hesitation, Bailey
wore his uniform and rushed to the emergency room
to offer medical assistance and attention. Jane was
very concern that the hospital may loss ten victims if
they not helped immediately as it had happened a
week ago. He also ensured that the doctor in-charge
is also available to help save lives. Employing her
nursing skills and expertise, he made sure that every
victim is in the hospital beds in order to get medical

Related Case
Kenzo

and Bailey are nurses in the same hospital and


departments.He in most cases expresses his tender love
to patients, but he does not apply it in real life often. Many
times, he comments and looks as if he cares about
patients, but he never extends his support when it is
mostly needed. As a workmate, Bailey narrated the
incidents of the previous week when 10 accident victims
who were brought to the hospital with deep cuts, Kenzo
expresses his concern about the patients, but ends up
concluding that he was lucky that he was on leave and he
worked in the department because of money. This shows
that even though Kenzo pretends to care and to be
concerned, he does not care about the patients, but the
amount he gets. Then again, he also quarrels the patients
whenever they go against her expectations. Additionally,
he never follows the scientific and systematic process of
the caring concept.He alleges that systematic process
does not matter, but the results do.

Contrary Case
Ryan

is also a nurse who also works in the same


hospital in town and in the same department; he
welcomes wounded patients and takes them to the
respective locations within the hospital. In contrast,
Ryan deems that he is supposed to admit patients,
assign each bed and welcome the doctor to take over
the rest of the tasks. When Bailey expressed his care
to the wounded patients, Ryan was liable of the
casualty department. Even though, he admitted
patient in the casualty department, he did not see
any need to give them first aid that they eagerly
needed. His claims are that, once the patients are
admitted in the hospital, the rest should rest on the
doctors. If the doctor needs any help. It is upon the
doctor to take action and request for it and it is not
his responsibility to offer or extend any help.

Implications for Nursing


Identification of the core
attributes of concepts, including
caring,
allows
nurses
to
determine appropriate research
questions, develop theory and
identify practice priorities at a
time of increasing demands and
constrained resources.

Conclusion
Despite

the complexity of the concept of


caring in nursing and the difficulty to identify
common attributes when interpreting this
concept, patients and nurses tend to use
some
common attributes
in
their
interpretations. Caring can save the life of a
patient, offer a death with dignity, and convey
trust and commitment to patients, families,
and staff.
The humanistic nature of nursing is reflected in
the caring model. Caring is the central concept
in the discipline of nursing. I would not want to
imagine nursing without the concept of caring.

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