CHAPTER

19

295

Jean Watson

PART ONE: Jean Watson’s

Theory of Human Caring

Jean Watson

Introducing the Theorist

Introducing the Theory

Major Conceptual Elements

Implications of the Caring Model

Summary

Introducing the Theorist

Dr. Jean Watson is a distinguished professor of
nursing and former dean of the School of Nursing
at the University of Colorado. She is the founder of
the Center for Human Caring in Colorado. She is
also a member of the American Academy of
Nursing and has served as president of the National
League for Nursing.
Dr. Watson has earned undergraduate and grad-
uate degrees in nursing and psychiatric-mental
health nursing and holds a doctorate in educational
psychology and counseling. She is a widely pub-
lished author and is the recipient of several awards

and honors, including an international Kellogg

Fellowship in Australia; a Fulbright Research Award

in Sweden; and six honorary doctoral degrees, in-

cluding three international honorary doctorates:

Sweden, United Kingdom, and Canada.

Dr. Watson’s published works on the philosophy

and theory of human caring and the art and science

of nursing are used by clinical nurses and academic

programs throughout the world. Her caring philos-

ophy is used to guide new models of caring and

healing practices in diverse settings and in several

different countries. More recent clinical-research

initiatives are underway in clinical agencies inter-

ested in transforming nursing practice from the