Jean Watson (writer)

Jean Watson (born 1940) is an American nurse theorist and nursing professor best known for her "Philosophy and Theory of Transpersonal Caring." She is a distinguished professor of nursing and holds the Murchison-Scoville Endowed Chair in Caring Science at the University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus. She is also the founder of the Watson Caring Science Institute.

Watson's theory focuses on the nurse-patient relationship, emphasizing caring, healing, and the promotion of health and well-being through the use of ten Caritas Processes (originally called "Carative Factors"). These processes emphasize the importance of human connection, compassion, and empathy in nursing practice. She emphasizes the integration of mind, body, and spirit in the care of patients and seeks to go beyond the traditional medical model, advocating for a more holistic and humanistic approach.

Watson earned her bachelor's degree in nursing in 1964, her master's degree in psychiatric-mental health nursing in 1966, and her Ph.D. in educational psychology and counseling in 1973, all from the University of Colorado.

Her key publications include:

• Nursing: The Philosophy and Science of Caring (1979)
• Human Science and Human Care: A Theory of Nursing (1985)
• Postmodern Nursing and Beyond (1999)
• Caring Science as Sacred Science (2005)
• Assessing and Measuring Caring in Nursing and Health Sciences (2002, with Kristen M. Swanson)

Watson's work has been influential in shaping nursing education and practice, advocating for a shift towards a more patient-centered and caring-focused approach to healthcare. Her theories are taught and applied in nursing programs worldwide. She has received numerous awards and recognitions for her contributions to the field of nursing.