Application of Kristen Swanson\'s Theory of Caring and Healing PDF

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Running head: APPLICATION OF SWANSON’S THEORY OF CARING

Application of Kristen Swanson’s Theory of Caring and Healing Rachel Corbin Chamberlain University NR501NP: Theoretical Basis for Advanced Nursing Practice Dr. O'Connor December 1, 2019

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Application of Kristen Swanson's Theory of Caring and Healing Nursing theories and models play a very powerful role in nursing when it comes to advancing nursing knowledge. They help shape and guide nursing practice, with the overall intent to improve patient outcomes. They assist in defining the unique roles and characteristics nurses bring to medicine and the overall healthcare system (Bittencourt, Dias, Maria, Mendes, & Tereza, 2018). Caring is often viewed as the foundational trait nurses should possess to provide high-quality patient care (Welch & Fournier, 2018). This paper will analyze Kristen Swanson’s Theory of Caring and Healing by relating to the family nurse practitioner’s (FNP) practice. It will also include a brief overview of Swanson’s theory, an appraisal of how the theory serves as a theoretical framework for FNPs, and how it can be applied within a FNP’s practice with the use of an example. Overview of Selected Model Caring is presented as a basic concept that underlines the core value of nursing. Kristen Swanson’s Theory of Caring and Healing aids in the process of integrating caring into the healthcare field by addressing 5 caring processes: maintaining belief, knowing, being with, doing for, and enabling (Butts & Rich, 2018). Swanson explains that maintaining belief is having faith for others in the middle of adversities by committing to serve them. She describes knowing as recognizing that every person has a meaning and purpose to life free from judgement and puts the patient at the center of their care. Being with was described as being available to the patient through physical and emotional presence. Doing for involves maintaining a patient’s dignity by creating a sense of wholeness for the patient. Some examples of doing for include: comforting, maintaining confidentiality, listening, and teaching. Lastly, Swanson describes enabling as

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encouraging and assisting the patient with healthy behaviors that are geared towards their interests (Welch & Fournier, 2018). The nursing metaparadigm is composed of four main concepts: person, environment, health, and nursing (Butts & Rich, 2018). Swanson’s theory of caring targets the person aspect of the metaparadigm by viewing persons (patients) as unique individuals and avoiding assumptions about the patient in the “knowing” portion of her theory. For the environment portion of the nursing paradigm, Swanson’s theory talks about “enabling” where the nurse produces an environment free of judgement by being present and assisting the patient with behaviors to improve their health. The health aspect of the metaparadigm is integrated into Swanson’s theory through the “doing for” caring process. The “doing for” aspect covers how the nurse preserves a patient’s wholeness by maintaining their dignity and ultimately improves their health by doing so. Lastly, the nursing portion of the metaparadigm is covered in Swanson’s theory by addressing the “being with” portion. Being with involves being physically and emotionally present for the patient. This involves the nurse offering his/her physical and emotional presence to the patient so that they feel their reality matters (Welch & Fournier, 2018). Appraisal of the Model as a Nursing Theory A FNP should integrate Swanson’s theory into his/her practice in order to provide competent and compassionate patient-centered care. Swanson’s theory serves as a theoretical framework for a FNP’s practice by clearly outlining and providing examples of caring behaviors through 5 different caring processes. Incorporating each of the caring processes into their practice ensures that the practitioner will provide caring behaviors to their patients. Swanson’s theory was originally based off a patient population of women who suffered from a miscarriage; however, her theory has been applied to a multitude of different populations.

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A FNP can use the 5 caring processes in any patient population that they provide care for in order to produce a caring environment. In the article written by Wei, Roscigno, and Swanson (2017), thirteen parents of children with congenital heart defects (CHD) were interviewed to review their perceptions of healthcare providers caring behaviors. The parents’ descriptions of the providers’ behaviors were categorized using Swanson’s 5 caring processes. Parents of this study viewed knowing when providers would try to understand what they were going through and anticipating their needs. Parents discussed that being with was when providers would stand alongside them during their trials being cognizant of their emotional, physical, and spiritual health. One mother described this as her son’s nurse standing next to her when she found out his diagnosis so she was not alone. Parents perceived doing for when providers would do tasks for both them and their child that they could do themselves. A mother described an instance where her nurse changed her baby’s diaper so that she could get more rest. Parents viewed enabling when providers would encourage, guide, and support them to be an active participant in their child’s care even during challenging times. They also viewed maintaining belief as providers believing in them that they could overcome their child’s difficult health situation and look at their future with hope (Wei et al., 2017). Overall, these parents felt that caring behaviors are enacted when healthcare providers consistently attempt to connect, understand, and work together with them to care for their child and family. This left the parents feeling less depressed, decreased anxiety/stress, and increased hope for their child’s future (Wei et al., 2017). Application of the Model to Advanced Practice Nursing Because caring is the core value of nursing, a FNP should use Swanson’s caring theory as a foundation for their practice as it has proven to strengthen patient relationships and improve their healthcare experiences (Westmoreland & Wojnar, 2019). FNPs have the authority and

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leadership to educate, treat, and diagnose patients in a way that nurses do not have. A FNP’ s ability to make significant healthcare decisions for their patients allows them to integrate Swanson’s 5 caring processes while deciding their patients’ plan of care (Westmoreland & Wojnar, 2019). An example of a FNP integrating Swanson’s caring theory into practice can be seen during an outpatient family practice setting where the FNP has established patients. In this example, the FNP, Jen has an established patient named Kate. Jen has new results of Kate’s that have confirmed she is a diabetic. Before Jen tells Kate her new diagnosis, she is cognizant that Kate is a unique person who has meaning to life and avoids any assumptions she may have about her (knowing). While telling Kate about her new diagnosis, Jen first provides adequate information about diabetes with pamphlets and therapeutic communication (enabling). While discussing the new diagnosis, Jen practices being emotionally present by encouraging Kate to state her concerns and questions (being with). Afterwards, Jen comforts Kate by listening to her thoughts/ideas and incorporates those into her plan of care (doing for). Lastly, Jen maintains belief in Kate by encouraging and having faith that she can control her diabetes by changing her diet and exercise habits. Conclusion Swanson’s theory describes caring as the core foundation of nursing. It integrates 5 caring processes that help distinguish caring behaviors practitioners should possess. It is imperative that Swanson’s theory be integrated into a FNP’s practice to support a caring environment. I have learned that incorporating this theory into my future FNP practice will improve my patient relationships, decrease their anxiety/stress, and enhance their overall healthcare experience, while increasing my job satisfaction.

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References Bittencourt, M. N., Dias, M., Maria, I., Mendes, D. A., & Tereza, M. (2018). Contributions of nursing theories in the practice of the mental health promotion. Revista de Enfermagem Referência, 4, 125–132. Retrieved from https://eds-b-ebscohostcom.chamberlainuniversity.idm.oclc.org/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer? vid=11&sid=58f928eb-da4b-4cfc-960a-aa20a386a8fd%40pdc-v-sessmgr03 Butts, B. J., & Rich, L. K. (2018). Philosophies and theories for advanced nursing practice (3rd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Wei, H., Roscigno, C. I., & Swanson, K. M. (2017). Healthcare providers’ caring: Nothing is too small for parents and children hospitalized for heart surgery. Heart & Lung, 46, 166–171. Welch, J., & Fournier, A. (2018). Patient engagement through informed nurse caring. International Journal for Human Caring, 22, 1–10. Westmoreland, M. C., & Wojnar, D. (2019). Breastfeeding support guided by swanson’s theory of caring. The American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing, 44, 351–356....