NURSING AS CARING

THEORY

NURSING AS CARING THEORY

By Anne Boykin & Savina Schoenhofer
The theory of Nursing as Caring is a general or grand
nursing theory that offers a broad philosophical
framework with practical implications for transforming
practice. From the perspective of Nursing as Caring,
the focus and aim of nursing as a discipline of
knowledge and a professional service is nurturing
persons living caring and growing in caring.

6 MAJOR ASSUMPTIONS
These assumptions present the values of the
authors that ground the theory.
persons are caring by virtue of their humanness
persons live their caring moment to moment
persons are whole or complete in the moment
personhood is living life grounded in caring
personhood is enhanced through participating in
nurturing relationships with caring others
nursing is both a discipline and a profession

The most basic premise of the theory is

that all humans are caring persons, that to
be human is to be called to live one's innate
caring nature. Developing the full potential of
expressing caring is an ideal and for practical
purposes, is a lifelong process.
The theory states that nursing is both a
discipline and a profession. The basis of the
professional caring practice of a nurse is
grounded from disciplinary knowledge. This
differentiates how a nurse cares from that of a
lay person.

ALL ABOUT CARING

All person are caring by virtue of their humanness it is an essential feature and expression of being
human. We should be caring in the mind body and
spirit.
Fundamentally , every person is caring.
As we grow throughout life we express a caring
capability.
Through knowing self as caring, we were able to be
authentic to ourselves and to others.
When we know how to care we have a relational
responsibilities to self and others, thus shaping our
relationships.

IMPLICATION OF THE THEORY

NURSING PRACTICE:
The nurse practicing nursing as caring
comes to know the other as a caring
person in the moment.
The challenge is not to discover what is
missing, weakened or needed but to come
to know the other and to nurture that
person in situation-specific, creative ways
and to acknowledge, support and
celebrate the caring that is.

IMPLICATION OF THE THEORY

NURSING ADMINISTRATION:
The practice of nursing administration
is grounded in a concern for creating,
maintaining
and
supporting
an
environment in which calls for nursing are
heard and nurturing responses are
created.
Nursing administrators inspire a
culture that evolves from the values of
nursing as caring.

IMPLICATION OF THE THEORY

NURSING EDUCATION:
The Curriculum asserts the focus and
domain of nursing as nurturing persons
living caring and growing in caring.
Faculty assist and mentor students as
co-learners;
create
caring
learning
environments that inspire the appreciation
and celebration of both self and other as
caring persons.

IMPLICATION OF THE THEORY

NURSING RESEARCH:
Research and Development efforts are
focused on expanding the language of
caring;
re-conceptualizing
nursing
outcomes as value experienced in
nursing situations; and evaluating this
theory based model of caring in acute and
long-term health care agencies.