Discussion

Jean Watson's caring theory.

Jean Watson is quoted by McGonigle & Mastrian (2017), stating there is a stark contrast between curing and caring (p. 526). One of the things that makes nursing different from the medical community is our disposition of caring. We are unique in that we treat the mind-body-spirit knowing that they go together. If we are too focused on technology assessing for objective data we completely neglect the mind and the spirit. To avoid neglecting our patients we should take our advice from Watson and "be authentically present" by using our best active listening skills to connect with them (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2017, p. 526). Not just listen either but ask open ended questions about things other than where their pain level is at but how does their pain make them feel or how does it affect them? Are they afraid it's going to affect their family life? Doing something like this before analyzing objective data through technology can potentially make the patient feel cared for instead of neglected.