Find a concept within Watson’s Theory of Caring and a similar concept within any other nursing theory. Compare the two concepts for similarities and differences. Comparing Concepts In Nursing Theories Comparing Concepts In Nursing Theories Illustrate how a person reading about a theory can influence their understanding if they have a different definition of a concept than the author.

Comparing Concepts In Nursing Theories

Florence Nightingale and Jean Watson developed nursing theories to guide nursing practice. Patient care is a broad concept with many aspects, but these two theories also discuss patient care from similar angles. Nightingale’s environmental theory focuses on the role of the environment on the patient’s health status (Gilbert, 2020). On the other hand, Watson’s theory of caring focuses on the effects of the transpersonal relationship between the patient and the nurse on healthcare outcomes (Pajnkihar et al., 2017).

These two theories focus on the patient as the center of nursing care. Nightingale proposes influencing the patient’s environment to provide optimum conditions for the healing process (Gilbert, 2020). The environmental factors include water, air,  and adequate sunlight. On the other hand, Watson expounds that nurses should form close therapeutic relationships with their patients to improve patient care and healthcare outcomes (Gilbert, 2020). Despite their focus on the patient as the center of attention, these two theories have some differences. Watson considers the patient-provider relationship important in patient care, while Nightingale’s theory considers environmental factors important to a patient’s health.

An individual has to have clear comprehension and definition of a nursing concept that resonates with the author of the theory to understand the basic foundations and principles. Failure to understand the theoretical frameworks can lead to inappropriate application of the theories, negatively affecting patient care. A person should first highlight the important concepts of the theory before critically analyzing it.

In conclusion, nursing theoretical frameworks guide nursing practice. Watson’s and Nightingale’s theories are similar in that the patient is the center of nursing care. These two theories are also different. Nightingale focused on the role of environment on patient outcomes, while Watson focused on the transpersonal relationship between the patient and the nurse.

References

Gilbert, H. A. (2020). Florence Nightingale’s environmental theory and its influence on contemporary infection control. Collegian, 27(6), 626-633. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2020.09.006

Pajnkihar, M., Štiglic, G., & Vrbnjak, D. (2017). The concept of Watson’s carative factors in nursing and their (dis)harmony with patient satisfaction. PeerJ, 5, e2940. https://doi.org/10.7717/