How the Theory of Human Caring Applies to Nursing
Written by:
University of Tulsa
• May 17, 2023
Caring for one another is foundational to the human experience. In the modern professional world, the phenomenon of caring manifests itself most tangibly in the field of nursing.
The Theory of Human Caring in nursing provides a systematic approach for evaluating professional nursing practice, describing what nursing is, guiding how nurses act, and helping to generate shared knowledge to direct the future of nursing. The central tenet of the theory states that a caring environment promotes growth and healing better than a simple medical cure, and it’s up to nurses to cultivate that environment.
Nurses can study the Theory of Human Caring at the university level and learn to provide more empathetic and compassionate care to their patients. But it can be helpful to gain a foundation in the theory’s key principles first.
What Is the Theory of Human Caring?
Registered nurse Jean Watson developed the Theory of Human Caring in the 1970s while pursuing doctoral studies in clinical and social psychology. According to Watson’s theory, the primary concern of nursing is “promoting health, preventing illness, caring for the sick, and restoring health.”
To achieve those outcomes, Watson argues, nurses should prioritize care above all else — including medical intervention. While the theory doesn’t minimize the benefits of medicine, it asserts that humans can’t be treated as objects separated from themselves, others, and nature.
Instead, nurses should view and treat humans as part of a larger shared context, emphasizing the interpersonal interactions between the caregiver (nurse) and care receiver (patient).
The Nurse-Patient Relationship
One of the central ideas in the Theory of Human Caring emphasizes that the nurse and patient are linked in a shared healing process. The nurse participates in the patient’s journey by offering presence, empathy, and partnership. Through that relationship, patients gain knowledge, autonomy, and the emotional support needed to make lasting, health‑promoting changes.
Healing Versus Curing
Although the terms “healing” and “curing” are often conflated, the Theory of Human Caring classifies them as separate concepts. Watson distinguishes curing — the biomedical elimination of disease — from healing — the patient’s restored sense of wholeness.
Medical interventions serve to cure. Caring supports self‑realization and ongoing well‑being. The theory, therefore, complements clinical science by addressing the psychological, social, and existential dimensions of health.
Holistic and Spiritual Emphasis
The Theory of Human Caring is relatively spiritual compared with the scientific reasoning that dominates most of the health care field. It emphasizes the unity of mind, body, and spirit and creating environments that foster growth and harmony. This broader focus makes the theory applicable across settings, such as hospitals, hospices, home care, and wherever human connection supports recovery.
7 Assumptions of Care
Seven assumptions summarize the guiding beliefs behind Watson’s Theory of Human Caring and explain how caring shapes practice. Nurses who embrace these tenets can translate the theory into concrete actions that improve patient well‑being across settings, even in non-bedside roles.
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Caring can only be demonstrated and practiced interpersonally.
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Caring consists of factors that satisfy certain human needs.
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Effective caring promotes health and growth.
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A caring response accepts individuals as they are, as well as what they may become.
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A caring environment fosters a person’s development while letting them choose the actions that best suit them.
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The science of caring complements the science of curing.
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Caring practice is a core element of nursing practice.
How Can Nurses Apply the Theory of Human Caring to Their Practice?
Nurses can apply the principles of Watson’s Theory of Human Caring to their practice. The science of caring builds on 10 key ideas:
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Embrace: Approach oneself and others with kindness and uphold altruism.
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Inspire: Be an example of faith and hope, inspiring and honoring others.
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Trust: Nurture others’ belief systems through personal growth and other practices.
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Nurture: Foster relationships that help others, inspire trust, and are based on caring.
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Forgive: Listen to others and accept their emotions and stories, both positive and negative.
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Deepen: Apply problem-solving techniques to ensure that decisions are made based on caring.
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Balance: Address people’s needs and readiness and teach to their unique learning styles.
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Co-create: Join with others to make room for respectful, dignified healing of the spirit and body.
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Minister: Address people’s fundamental needs, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual.
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Open: Remain receptive, appreciating and welcoming the miraculous.
These tenets go beyond the scientific methods of curing. Watson’s theory taps into a deeper, unconscious level of human experience and asks nurses to investigate their nature as complex human beings influenced by visible and invisible motivators.
How to Apply the Theory of Caring’s 10 Key Ideas Into Practice
Imagine a nurse on a medical‑surgical unit who greets a newly admitted patient recovering from major surgery and begins by sitting at eye level, introducing themselves, and asking what matters most to the patient that day. They listen without interruption as the patient describes pain, fear about returning home, and a desire to understand the recovery plan.
The nurse responds with calm reassurance, explains the treatment in plain language, offers small comforts such as repositioning and a warm blanket, and documents the patient’s emotional and practical needs, so the care team can follow up. Before leaving, the nurse invites family involvement when appropriate and arranges a brief bedside teaching session for discharge planning.
Using this example, nurses can translate this approach to everyday actions using this approach:
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Beginning encounters with presence and kindness (Embrace).
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Modeling optimism while honestly discussing prognosis (Inspire, Trust).
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Creating partnership by asking patients about their goals and incorporating those goals into care plans (Co‑create, Deepen).
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Attending to physical comfort and spiritual needs (Minister, Open).
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Accepting and validating emotions without judgment (Forgive).
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Tailoring education and follow‑up to each patient’s readiness (Balance).
Nurses who engage in these deliberate practices foster trust, reduce anxiety, improve treatment adherence, and help patients move toward holistic recovery.
Real World Examples
A 2024 article from the Archives of Psychiatric Nursing illustrates how nurses have applied the Theory of Human Caring to their practice.
The Study
The study tested a six‑week Mindful Self‑Compassion Program grounded in Watson’s Theory of Human Caring to see whether boosting self‑compassion improved nursing students’ physical and mental health. Although scholars have studied compassion in patient care extensively, the focus of this study was on nurses’ self-compassion.
Methods
Using a randomized controlled design, 80 second‑year nursing students in Turkey were assigned to either an online six‑session intervention or a no‑treatment control group between December 2021 and June 2022. Outcomes were measured at baseline, immediately postprogram, and at five‑month follow‑up using scales for health‑promoting behaviors, the Watson Caritas Self‑Rating Score, resilience, and self‑compassion.
Results
Compared with the control group, students who completed the program showed sustained increases in perception of self‑care, psychological resilience, health promotion and protective behaviors, and self‑compassion at both posttest and five‑month follow‑up.
Conclusion
The program, rooted in the Theory of Human Caring, appears effective for improving nursing students’ physical and mental well‑being, supporting its use in clinical practice and its inclusion in nursing curricula to strengthen self‑care and resilience among students and nurses.
Studies also show that nurses who practice self-compassion can increase compassion toward their patients. A 2025 Healthcare review says, “The emotional health of professionals directly impacts the quality of care and services they provide within the health system. In the face of distress, self-compassion is essential for nurses’ self-care and well-being and is closely linked to their compassion for others.” This demonstrates the value of self-compassion and caring, further validating the value of Watson’s Theory of Human Caring in nursing education and practice.
Deepen Your Capacity to Care
Hard skills in nursing are indispensable. Nurses leverage modern medicine to achieve the best outcomes for their patients. However, nurses can go beyond just the intent to cure — they can aim to heal. Watson’s Theory of Human Caring explains that patients who experience holistic care can thrive.
Are you interested in becoming a compassionate nurse and leader by pursuing a nursing career and applying the Theory of Human Caring in your role? The University of Tulsa’s online Accelerated BSN (ABSN) program helps nursing students to gain transformative nursing skills to improve care delivery and advance into leadership roles.
Discover The University of Tulsa’s online ABSN program and how it can help you grow as a nurse.
Recommended Readings
LVN vs. RN: Reasons to Get Your Registered Nurse License
Why Choose an Accelerated Nursing Program?
How to Become an RN in Oklahoma With an ABSN
Sources:
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, “Living Out Watson’s Caring Science (WCS) Theory”
Healthcare, “Self-Compassion Intervention Programs for Nurses: A Scoping Review”
Nurselabs, “Jean Watson: Theory of Human Caring”
Nursing and Healthcare Research, “Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring: Theory Analysis”
Watson Caring Science Institute, Watson’s Caring Science & Human Caring Theory
