Nursing Conceptual Model- Jean Watson’s Theory Of Caring Presentation
Both Nursing theory and conceptual nursing models are critical in formulating strategies to ensure the delivery of quality care. The two approaches are interrelated; both can be used to develop policies and treatment processes for different patients. Nursing theory and conceptual framework play significant roles in the formulation of different nursing disciplines.
Nursing theory refers to the collection of statements that describe the connection or association between two or more ideas in nursing practices. Nursing theories play significant roles in the formulation of different nursing disciplines. Nursing theories are commonly applied to enhance the delivery of quality healthcare services (Grand Canyon University, 2018). All nurses apply nursing theories in their daily practices without knowing. Nursing theory can also be perceived as organized and knowledge-based concepts that fundamentally define the scope of nursing practices; it involves creative and restructuring concepts and ideas that project a purposeful, systematic, and tentative perception of a given phenomenon. Through systematic inquiries, both in nursing practices and research, nursing professionals are able to develop new knowledge relevant to the provision of care to all patients.
Conceptual models in nursing often describe a certain way of thinking or ideas of how given nursing theories can fit together according to the theorist (Brandão et al., 2019). A conceptual model can be perceived as the organizing structure that describes the theory. The conceptual model of nursing provides a framework for observation, reflection, as well as the interpretation of a given phenomenon. In particular, it provides guidance and guidelines for different aspects of clinical practices.
Nursing theory refers to the collection of statements that describe the connection or association between two or more ideas in nursing practices. According to the theorist, conceptual models in nursing often describe a certain way of thinking or ideas of how given nursing theories can fit together. According to Jean Watson’s theory, caring is fundamental to nursing practices since it encourages health to be better than the simple medical cure.
In the early years of nursing, nurses were not provided any type of formal education or training. The women were caretakers and they were only allowed to help with cooking, leaning and feeding patients. These women learned the skills from their mothers or from just being told what and how to do something. Nursing for them was an extension of the duties they performed at home, for example taking care of their own kids or being a wet nurse to someone else’s child. Nightingale, a pioneer in nursing believed that good sanitation and cleanliness played a big role in the recovery and improvement of patients. After Nightingale’s theory was introduced, the survival rate at the military base increased tremendously. Nightingale is today known as the mother of modern nursing. Clara Barton was an American nurse who risked her life to bring needed supplies to the Union Army during the civil war. Barton was an educator and a humanitarian. She founded the disaster relief organization, American Red Cross. Nursing today is an extension or continuation of what our historical leaders started, but nursing has advanced in so many ways. We have higher education, extensive training, use of evidence based practice, diagnostics equipments, and better clinical settings.
Having read your discussion, I will lean towards the role that technology has played in nursing. The nursing profession and health care in general have been profoundly impacted by technological advancements. Many new doors of opportunity have opened up for the field of nursing as a direct result of advances in technology. We now have a field called nursing informatics, which requires nurses to leave their patients in order to collaborate with various technology and software businesses on the creation of electronic care plans. You can also find built-in safety features in these software packages for patient care, which have been instrumental in lowering the number of drug and care errors made by nurses.
Yes, nursing has come a long way, especially when it comes to the formal education that we receive. For a long time, nurses did not receive any formal education. It wasn’t until 1860 that the first nursing school was established. “In recognition of Florence Nightingale’s commitment to nursing and contributions to the war efforts in Crimea, several noteworthy individuals worked together to establish the Nightingale Fund. This granted Nightingale £45,000—enough money to establish the first nursing school at St. Thomas Hospital by 1860.” (, 2021, p.3) This school paved the way and was the inspiration for many nursing schools that followed.
History of nursing timeline: How nursing education has evolved. Post University. (2022, April 28). Retrieved September 6, 2022, from
Nursing practice has many origins known in our history. From what started as medicine men, to women serving as nurses during wars, has helped build us to the healthcare practices we face today. Florence Nightingale during the crimean war was “widely recognized as the founding mother of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale’s work led to the reform of sanitary conditions in military hospitals, the organization and advancement of nursing education and the development of measures to analyze disease and morality rates using statistical methods” (GCU 2019). Throughout nursing school we are taught our history, by the end of nursing school during our nurses pinning, we are all to cite out Nightingale pledge which goes,” I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully. I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug. I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession, and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavor to aid the physician in his work, and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care” (GCU 2019).
References
Nursing Timeline. (2019). Gcumedia.com. https://www.gcumedia.com/lms-resources/student-success-center/v3.1/#/media-element/CONHCP/9A618C63-0C53-E811-BF97-005056BD7343
Nursing Practice started as just another role women played within their families, taking care of the infirm to the best of their knowledge of healing practices (First Women Nurses, n.d.). In 1775, about the time of the Revolutionary War, nursing care was traditionally done by male soldiers, but when the number of wounded soldiers who urgently needed care, overwhelmed those resources, women were assigned to assist with care. It was during this time the first formal hospitals were authorized by Congress. Nurses were paid between $2 to 8 dollars a month for their services. At this point, nurses were sometimes portrayed as prostitutes, drunkards, and thieves (First Women Nurses, n.d.) After the urbanization and industrialization in the early nineteenth century, hospitals changed the care they gave sick people, by providing care to those who didn’t have the means to provide their care. Some of these hospitals were managed by religious orders and provided high-quality care. While others had less favorable conditions (Alexander, 2019). Around the early 1800s, Florence Nightengale began to develop nursing as a respectable profession, by emphasizing education, establishing a training school for nurses, incorporating responsibilities, applying statistics to develop the first level of evidence-based care, and drastically improving sanitation standards (LSHTM, n.d.) She is often referred to as “The founder of nursing” (OAAPN, 2015). The influences of Florence Nightengale continued to evolve, improve, and live on in today’s nursing practices. Her use of data to create evidence-based practices is still universally used today. Her recognition of positive environmental conditions strongly influencing the healing and health of patients is still being improved today (Trafford, 2020). The nursing profession has come a long way since Florence Nightengale was a nurse, but much of what she brought to the profession is still being used in today’s nursing practice.
Key leaders that have influenced the advancement of nursing include; Florence Nightengale’s “Mother of Modern Nursing” she influenced the reform of nursing practice and the universal education of practicing nurses. Clara Burton “Angel of the Battlefield” delivered medical supplies during the American Civil War and founded the American Red Cross. Mary Beckinridge founded the New Model of Rural Health Care & Frontier Nursing Services, providing healthcare to rural underserved locations. Her contributions reduced mortality rates of women and children and are still used today. Dorothea Dix advocated for mental health rights and established the first mental asylum and formed current policies for mental health rights today. She became the superintendent of army nurses. Margret Sanger opened the first birth control clinic after witnessing her mother die from pregnancy complications. Mary Mahoney was the first recognized African American nurse and went on to found the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (NACGN). Walt Whitman served as a male nurse during the Civil War and greatly influenced Americans with his writing. Lillian Wald was an activist who co-founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and participated in the Women’s Peace Party (WPP). Mary Seacole had a vast knowledge of medicine from her travels and volunteered to help soldiers on the front lines. Virginia Henderson influenced research, caregiver practice, and education regarding current states of health and support wellness initiatives for nurse practitioners (Ohio University, 2020). In the early 1900s, the National League of Nursing Education created a Standard Nursing Curriculum. In 1925 The Committee on the Grading of Nursing Schools lead the way to the first accreditation programs. In 1970 Recommendations for Nursing education were provided by the Lysaught Commission which regulated statewide nursing programs. In 2008 advanced nursing programs focused to bring advanced ARPN regulation uniformity. In 2015 Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued guidelines for safety issues. 1999 through 2020 Nurses have ranked as the most ethical Professionals mainly due to the public’s trust in nurses (Post University, 2021).
Alexander, K. L. (2019). Florence Nightengale. Retrieved from National Women’s History Museum: https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/florence-nightingale
First Women Nurses. (n.d.). Retrieved from History of American Women: https://www.womenhistoryblog.com/2014/07/first-women-nurses.html
LSHTM. (n.d.). Florence Nightengale (1820-1910). Retrieved from London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine: https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/aboutus/introducing/history/frieze/florence-nightingale#:~:text=Florence%20Nightingale%20was%20a%20social,the%20’Lady%20with%20the%20Lamp.
OAAPN. (2015, May 12). Florence Nightengale’s Influence on Nursing. Retrieved from Ohio Association of Advanced Practice Nurses: https://oaapn.org/2015/05/florence-nightingales-influence-on-nursing/
Ohio University. (2020, January 6). 10 innovative and Influential Nurse Leaders. Retrieved from Ohio University: https://onlinemasters.ohio.edu/blog/10-innovative-and-influential-nurse-leaders/
Post University. (2021, Jun 24). History of Nursing Timeline: How Nursing Education has Evolved. Retrieved from Post University: https://post.edu/blog/history-of-nursing-education-timeline/
Trafford, S. (2020, February 5). Florence Nightengale’s Environmental Theory. Retrieved from NursingAnswers.net Academic Support for Nursing Students: https://nursinganswers.net/essays/florence-nightingales-environmental-6184.php
