The Theory of Caring was developed by Kristen Swanson as a middle-range theory that lists five caring processes and subdimensions, and a definition of what caring means as a nurse. To develop this theory, Swanson studied women in three separate perinatal contexts: women who had miscarried, parents with infants in the neonatal intensive care unit, and socially at risk-mothers. When studying these groups, Swanson interviewed each research participant after they had received their nursing care to ask them what constituted caring in their situation. From these interviews, data was gathered and analyzed, and five caring processes were identified. Swanson’s five caring processes are: knowing, being with, doing for, enabling, and maintaining
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Additionally, Swanson’s theory was developed from three separate perinatal contexts, and although Mrs. Herrera is not pregnant, her caring needs involve women’s health and the impact her breast cancer will have on breastfeeding. When working with Mrs. Herrera I would apply the process of knowing by listening to Mrs. Herrera and understanding what the lumpectomy means to her and how it impacts her life. Secondly, I would apply the process of being with Mrs. Herrera by being present and being sympathetic. Third, I would apply the process of doing for Mrs. Herrera by making sure she is comfortable, and by performing nursing duties like dressing changes skillfully while also preserving dignity. Fourth, I would enable Mrs. Herrera by being informative and teaching her items such as dressing changes and suture care. Lastly, I would help maintain belief with Mrs. Herrera by helping her focus on believing in herself and that she can get through this hard time and diagnosis, quit smoking, and …show more content…
Presence is defined as “being with and attending to another; involvement, companionship” (Hessel, 2009). Presence can be utilized in this case study by the nurse being present with the patient to achieve companionship and learn what Mrs. Herrera’s biophysical and spiritual needs are by directly asking her. Presence was not achieved in this case study, for although Tom sat down to talk, after the patient wished not to talk, he completed her dressing change, taught her about her sutures, and left. He was physically present, but was not emotionally or mentally present, especially when he made assumptions about what she might need, such as information about breast cancer support groups, rather than asking her what her needs are. Secondly, the encounter of empowerment can be utilized in this case study. Empowerment is defined as “a process through which people gain greater control over decisions and actions affecting their health” (“Patient empowerment and health care,” 2009). Empowerment can be utilized in this case study by helping Mrs. Herrera to maintain belief and confidence in herself and teaching her about how to properly care for her dressing, suture care, and smoking cessation programs. Empowerment was not utilized in this case study by Tom, for he did not encourage Mrs. Herrera to maintain belief and confidence in herself and he did minimal patient teaching to help her achieve her
Additionally, Swanson’s theory was developed from three separate perinatal contexts, and although Mrs. Herrera is not pregnant, her caring needs involve women’s health and the impact her breast cancer will have on breastfeeding. When working with Mrs. Herrera I would apply the process of knowing by listening to Mrs. Herrera and understanding what the lumpectomy means to her and how it impacts her life. Secondly, I would apply the process of being with Mrs. Herrera by being present and being sympathetic. Third, I would apply the process of doing for Mrs. Herrera by making sure she is comfortable, and by performing nursing duties like dressing changes skillfully while also preserving dignity. Fourth, I would enable Mrs. Herrera by being informative and teaching her items such as dressing changes and suture care. Lastly, I would help maintain belief with Mrs. Herrera by helping her focus on believing in herself and that she can get through this hard time and diagnosis, quit smoking, and …show more content…
Presence is defined as “being with and attending to another; involvement, companionship” (Hessel, 2009). Presence can be utilized in this case study by the nurse being present with the patient to achieve companionship and learn what Mrs. Herrera’s biophysical and spiritual needs are by directly asking her. Presence was not achieved in this case study, for although Tom sat down to talk, after the patient wished not to talk, he completed her dressing change, taught her about her sutures, and left. He was physically present, but was not emotionally or mentally present, especially when he made assumptions about what she might need, such as information about breast cancer support groups, rather than asking her what her needs are. Secondly, the encounter of empowerment can be utilized in this case study. Empowerment is defined as “a process through which people gain greater control over decisions and actions affecting their health” (“Patient empowerment and health care,” 2009). Empowerment can be utilized in this case study by helping Mrs. Herrera to maintain belief and confidence in herself and teaching her about how to properly care for her dressing, suture care, and smoking cessation programs. Empowerment was not utilized in this case study by Tom, for he did not encourage Mrs. Herrera to maintain belief and confidence in herself and he did minimal patient teaching to help her achieve her