Introduction
Nursing is generally concerned with care. As such all characteristics analyzed about this discipline should relate to the concept of care. This task aims at analyzing four major attributes of nursing in relation to a story of personal experience. The attributes to be analyzed in this case include loving kindness; patience; commitment; and openness/attendance to mysterious and unknown happenings of life and death or allowing miracles to take their course. The aim of this paper is particularly to provide insights into what is expected of a nurse in caring for and about persons in need. The story being analyzed involves a nurse’s experience in caring for an elderly, diseased couple.
Theory of Care
Parker and Smith (2010) posit that the theory of human caring can be considered as both a philosophy and a nursing theory. They add, "Caring science orientation is necessary for the survival of nursing as well as humanity at this crossroads in human evolution" (p. 353). This implies that in analyzing nursing and what it comprises, all attributes should relate to the “curative factors” provided by these two authors in reference to Watson’s theory of human care. The story being focused on has the four attributes mentioned above. First, the persons being catered for in this case are old and have their health issues. As a nurse, there is a lot of perseverance involved in successfully coping with the situation. Great commitment and patience is needed especially in having to remind a person of the need to take medication as prescribed to him. Additionally, having to take up roles meant for someone else also requires loving kindness characterized with a sense of perseverance. Since Grace could no longer handle house chores, it was my responsibility to do so and ensure that the surroundings were conducive for various undertakings.
The scene that results to Grace’s death is one that is shocking. It does not only need the attribute of loving kindness to get to the depth of details but also requires readiness for the worst. The fact that the scene appeared like one where crime had been committed calls for great patience before rushing into the details. As a nurse and a caretaker, I had to sit, listen carefully and then act if there was need to. It is sad to imagine that I might have helped to save Grace’s life but it is at such an instance that mysterious occurrences are allowed to have their way. I realized that my presence in that house was of great help and if ever I find myself in a similar situation in future, I feel there is need to utilize the caritas process of ensuring my presence or someone else’s now that I learnt much from that experience. I strongly believe in the power of nursing not only as a healing tool but also as a tool to prolong human life and create hope for a better tomorrow.
Conclusion
This paper has discussed four major attributes in relation to the theory of care in nursing. The attributes include loving kindness; Patience; Commitment; and openness/attendance to mysterious occurrences. From this discussion, loving kindness is evident in the way of handling the two elderly persons involved, a factor that brings in great appreciation from their nephew, Reb. Patience and commitment come in where Mr. Buddy has to be reminded of medication and where Grace’s responsibilities turn out to be the caretaker’s. The last attribute of openness/attendance to mysterious/miraculous occurrences is evident in the circumstance under which Grace’s death occurs in my absence where I had to be called and was shocked to find a scene, which I could not explain but instead had to sit and listen. It is sad to imagine that I finally lost the two patients but nature had to take its course. I believe I had done my best though there are things I would do differently if faced by a similar situation.
Reference:
Parker, M. E., Smith, M. C. (2010).Nursing theories and nursing practice (3rded.). Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Co.
