Swanson’s Theory of Caring
Myolbrune Thelusma
Miami Dade College
Abstract
Swanson’s theory states that caring is about ‘knowing’, ‘enabling’, ‘being with’, ‘maintaining belief’, and ‘doing for’. Dr. Swanson remodeled the Caring Model based on empirical findings of her research on pregnancy and miscarriage. Swanson used several theoretical sources to support her Theory of Caring. The theory can be tested comprehensively using factors such as clarity, consistency, complexity, research guidance and practice, and its importance in nursing. For instance, Swanson’s theory is comprehensive and specific because each of the categories of caring is clearly identified, described, and examples of caring behaviors that satisfy each category given.
Swanson’s Theory of Caring
Meaning
Swanson’s Theory of Caring (STC) is based on five principles that comprise the general definition of caring in nursing. Swanson’s theory states that caring is about ‘knowing’, ‘enabling’, ‘being with’, ‘maintaining belief’, and ‘doing for’ (Alligood & Tomey, 2009). ‘Knowing’ is understanding an event that has a meaning in the life of another person. ‘Enabling’ is helping a person to pass through the transitions of life and unfamiliar events (Samson, 2018). ‘Being with’ is giving oneself and taking the shoes of another person in a sincere and sympathetic manner. ‘Maintaining belief’ is bridging the gap between expectations and real events. Finally, ‘Doing for” is doing for other people what one would expect them to do for them (Samson, 2018). A nurse needs to apply all the five concepts to fuel his or her attitude and improve the general wellness of a patient. Swanson’ theory is applicable when a patient is transiting to motherhood, and is used to reduce the effects of undesirable factors such as anxiety, stress, and depression, which affect the mother’s confidence and mother-infant bond.
Origins of the Theory
Dr. Swanson started her nursing research career studying under Dr. Jean Watson who coined the Caring Model. Dr. Swanson then remodeled the Caring Model based on empirical findings of her research on pregnancy and miscarriage. Swanson was involved in a cesarean birth support group during her doctoral years in fulfillment of hands-on experience in a self-selected health promotion campaign (Samson, 2018). During one of the events of the campaign, Swanson noted that most women preferred to talk about their experiences with miscarriage and not the health problems associated with it. As a result, Swanson decided to focus on human experiences and reactions to miscarriage.
Swanson used several theoretical sources to support her Theory of Caring. She admits that reading books and learning from clinical experiences taught her that caring made a big difference in the lives of the patients she served. Dr. Swanson points out that taking Dr. Jacqueline Fawcett’s course played a significant role in her nursing career. For instance, it is while undertaking the course that she learned that the goals of nursing differed from those of other health disciplines. She also learned that caring for other people during their difficult times matched with her personal values.
Dr. Swanson developed the Theory of Caring inductively after conducting various investigations (Samson, 2018). When writing her doctoral dissertation, Swanson used descriptive phenomenology in which she interviewed 20 women who had just had a miscarriage. From the phenomenological research, Swanson suggested two models that are The Caring Model and the Human Experience of Miscarriage model. She later specialized in developing the Caring Model and identified ‘knowing’, ‘enabling’, ‘being with’, ‘maintaining belief’, and ‘doing for’ as the five basic processes. She later conducted a series of phenomenological studies to further develop the theory and deduce the meanings of each of the five basic processes of nursing.
For instance, she conducted a phenomenological investigation of socially at-risk mothers and investigated if their wellness would have been different had they been conferred intense and long-term nursing care (Samson, 2018). It is from the study that Dr. Swanson developed a better definition for caring and improved her understanding of the caring processes. Altogether, phenomenological investigation of women who had a miscarriage and those exposed to social risks provided the basis for developing Watson’s Caring Model to Swanson’s Theory of Caring.
Usefulness
Swanson’s theory is useful in nursing practice in several ways. First, it provides a basis for dealing with miscarriages and the successive healing required for the mother and her family (Swanson & Wojnar, 2004). Second, the theory has been integrated into obstetric models and health care practices in the U.S and other parts of the world (Samson, 2018). The theory gives the steps necessary in dealing miscarriage on all the levels. Third, the theory includes the caring-based techniques that help parents recover from miscarriage and repair their relationships. It also contributes to understanding and predicting outcomes because it not only takes care of physical healing of mothers but also emotional healing from the impact of miscarriage. Several healthcare facilities have used the theory to develop their nursing care models. For instance, the practicability and helpfulness of the theory is evident in the Blessings Hospital as it is used to provide the best quality nursing care.
Testability
The theory can be tested comprehensively using factors such as clarity, consistency, complexity, research guidance and practice, and its importance in nursing. The theory can be clarified because it clearly defines the borders of each of the five categories of caring by identifying, describing, and giving examples of caring actions that satisfy each caring process thus minimizing the risk of uncertainty. The theory is consistent because its five concepts have remained the same with the exception of ‘enabling,’ which has was clarified by adding the words ‘helping find meaning.’ The theory is simple because each of the caring processes is defined and an example given for caring behavior applicable to each.
Swanson’s theory has generated numerous research studies. Most of these studies are either qualitative or quantitative depending on the research problem and the choice of the researchers. An example of a study that has used the theory is Amendolair’s (2011) qualitative study ‘Caring Model: Putting Research into Practice. The study clearly displays the application of Swanson’s theory of caring via breakthrough designs and adoption of a health care centre care model that exhibits the nurses’ view of the meaning of nursing. Amendolair (2011) admits that Swanson’s Theory of Caring is a demonstration of the connection between theory and practice, and the theoretical assumptions give a clear demonstration of the meaning of caring and how nurses show care in their day-to-day activities.
Overall Evaluation
Swanson’s theory is comprehensive and specific because each of the categories of caring is clearly identified, described, and examples of caring behaviors that satisfy each category given. Thus, Swanson has eliminated the possibility that the theory is vague, brief, or ambiguous. For example, the theory defines ‘enabling’ as giving information and clarifications, and providing emotional support in a manner that allows and validates the feelings of the person. In addition, the theory gives the examples of ‘enabling’ care as helping the cared ones to focus on their concerns, seek alternatives, or reckon on the ways of dealing with a situation. Similar information and clarifications are given for each of the other four categories of care.
Swanson is generalisable because it can be applied in varied fields of nursing care. Although the theory was originally developed within a prenatal perception, it has been successfully applied across a broad range of nursing care studies in the last 25 years. These studies include parental support groups, critical care, palliative care, dementia, and mental disorders. Thus, Swanson’s theory is parsimonious because of the varied fields of applications with the subject of nursing.
The strength of the theory lies in its clear identification, description, and conceptualization of each of the categories of care. As a result of this, the theory is easily understandable even to laymen who only need to read the examples given for each of the categories of caring (Alligood & Tomey, 2009). That is, a reader will easily understand what is meant by ‘enabling’ by ignoring the given definition and instead of reading the example. Despite the strength, the theory has a few weaknesses. For instance, the theory is often confused with Watson’s caring model because the former borrowed a few ideas from the latter. As a result, most students or scholars often misrepresent the theories by referring one by the name of the other. Another weakness of the theory stems from its inapplicability to unconscious patients since it is impossible to confer each of categories of the care to such a patient.
I would use this theory in my advanced practice because it is easily applicable and shows that the wellness of the patient is the primary objective of nursing care. For instance, under ‘doing for’, the nurse is required to do for the cared one what they would do for themselves. The category touches on the real side of not only midwifery but also general nursing care. Nurses should treat patients in a way that they would like to be treated if they were patients. For example, if you would like a nurse to listen to you when sick, listen to patients. Similarly, a nurse should do her best to ensure that patient recovers just as she would do for herself.
References
Alligood, M. R., & Tomey, A. M. (2009). Nursing theorists and their work. 7. Maryland Heights,
Mo: Mosby Elsevier Publishers.
Swanson, K. M., & Wojnar, D. M. (2004). Optimal healing environments in nursing. Journal of
Alternative & Complementary Medicine, 10(Supplement 1), S-43.
Samson, R. (2018). Insights from Kristen M Swanson’s Theory of Caring. Asian Journal of
Nursing Education and Research, 8(1), 173-177.