This paper is written with the intent of critiquing the research article, “Application of Jean Watson’s Theory of Transpersonal Caring in Nurses Practicing in a Pain Centre” (Hubert, 2018). This critique entails a section by section evaluation of the article, and it has been done following the critique guideline as outlined by Bashaireh (2012). The critiqued research aimed at determining whether an educational intervention that utilizes Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring would influence nurses’ cognizance as well as their exercise of loving-kindness toward themselves as well as others (Hubert, 2018, p. 7).
Research Problem/ Purpose
The research problem as stated by the author is that nurses who are in Pain Centres require additional education in Watson’s Theory of Human Caring and exercise in the use of the Caritas processes (Hubert, 2018, p. 12). According to Hubert, the nurse plays an essential multifaced role for patients in chronic pain, the latter of whom may feel stigmatized or isolated (2018, p. 15). They cover the position of making the patients not feel alone in their journey while also providing them with information on effective modalities, as well as guiding them to understand and accept their situation (Hubert, 2018, p. 15). Additionally, Hubert explains that giving nurses evidence proving the effectiveness of various modalities in the addressing of these patients would fulfill the emerging need as well as provide guidance for improvement in the practice of nurses (2018, p. 15).
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The projects main were to allow utilizing of the available knowledge- obtained from research that concern how nurses use Watson’s theory- to work with chronic pain patients (Hubert, 2018, p. 15). Education on transpersonal caring, as in Jean Watson’s Theory, would be a valuable aspect to nurses longing for compassionate care to their patients, since kind caring is important the suffering within nurses and others (Hubert, 2018, p. 15). The study, therefore, tackles a problem that is relevant to nursing, and it is also within the context of existing knowledge.
Review of the Literature
Hubert begins the investigation by providing information about chronic pain (2018, p. 18). She goes on to say that there is a vast array of knowledge about chronic pain, but despite this, the experience is not applied in day to day clinician interaction with patients (Hubert, 2018, p. 19). Also, Hubert emphasizes that chronic pain causes a lot of physiological changes, and therefore, it should be managed as a disease, with efforts directed at secondary prevention (2018, p. 19). Finally, chronic pain requires a multidisciplinary approach, and since this cannot be entirely achievable, nurses applying the transpersonal caring theory could help to lessen the suffering of these patients (Hubert, 2018, p. 20).
The literature review also gives an outline of Watson’s theory. This theory, incorporating parts of other nursing theory frameworks, surfaced in 1979, focusing on the peak level of care that is related to healing, wholeness, as well as a transpersonal caring relationship between the nurses and their patients (Hubert, 2018, p. 21). The theory was revised in 1999, 2005, and in 2008, the last of which it was extended to Caritas Caring Science that has ten causative factors (Hubert, 2018, p. 22). The study also links Watson’s theory and pain, with Hubert explaining that caring and pain theories are consistent in their emphasis on subjective human experience and the personal life process (Hubert, 2018, p. 25), and she also gives examples of studies that have shown a relationship between pain and interpersonal caring. Lastly, some of the references used in the literature review were current, whereas others were not current. The texts that were not current were articles and books that may not have had newer publishing at the time of the project.
Theoretical Framework
This project uses the conceptual framework of Jean Watson’s Human Caring Science (Hubert, 2018, p. 42). Therefore it draws solely on a nursing theory, which besides, is related to the research. This framework was chosen because it is suitable for the wants of patients in pain, it defines the core of nursing- that is caring for others, and it tackles spirituality as well as helping nurses to see the potential benefits that caring has on assisting patients in dealing with their pain (Hubert, 2018, p. 42), among other reasons.
To fine down the focus of this study, only two Caritas processes- namely #1 and # 6- were used (Hubert, 2018, p. 42). For each of the Caritas, flow from the activities expected from the nurses to the expected outcome on the management of chronic pain patients was enlightened. The embodiment of Caritas #1 and #6 in the care of chronic pain patients is the essence of care, in addition to aiding how patients cope (Hubert, 2018, p. 47).
Variables/Hypotheses/Questions/Assumptions
This study was qualitative research that was based on the individual responses of nurses. Consequently, the use of variables was not possible in the survey since variables have to be defined numerically, and they cannot reflect subjective experience (Maldia, 2013). So, the assessment of variables was not possible for this critique. On the other hand, this research hypothesized that there is room for enhancement in the care of chronic pain patients (Hubert, 2018, p. 12). This assumption was based on the analyzed literature, as well as the author’s experience with chronic pain patients (Hubert, 2018, p. 12). The project was, therefore aimed at helping nurses to become more self-aware and to enhance their practice of loving kindness to themselves and others (Hubert, 2018, p. 12).
Methodology
This research is qualitative research, that according to Astalin is described as a systematic scientific analysis that aims at building an all-inclusive, narrative description which informs the researcher’s understanding of a phenomenon (2013, p. 118). The research used deductive thinking, aiming to test the effect of applying Caritas #1 and #6 of Jean Watson’s theory. This research was carried out as a two-pronged activity, with each session focusing on Caritas #1 and #6, respectively. The study used probability sampling, and therefore, the sample was randomly selected. The example merely involved three nurses, followed by the nurse manager, together with the outpatient services area nurse supervisor (Hubert, 2018, p. 51). This was the outpatient department of a pain center that has four nurses (Hubert, 2018, p. 51).
The research used three tools. These were the Watson Caritas Self-Rating Score, Self-Rating Survey of Caring, and the Post-Survey of Nurses (Hubert, 2018, p. 52). The Watson Caritas Self-Rating Score is explicit for self-treatment with loving-kindness, and the practice of self-caring; while the Self-Rating Survey of caring measured the other Caritas processes, and finally the Post-Survey of Nurses measured the response of nurses to inquiries in the cognitive domain and the affective domain (Hubert, 2018, p. 52). The statistical measurements for Watson Caritas Self-Rating Score have not been published yet; and on the other hand, the Self-Rating Survey of care was used for the first time in this study, and therefore it had no established validity or reliability (Hubert, 2018, p. 52,53). Finally, due to the nature of this study, there were no ethical considerations.
Data Analysis
Hubert could not carry out statistical analysis in this study due to the small sample size used (2018, p. 61). However, the results- that is the responses- obtained from the three tools used to collect data from the respondents were presented in tables. One of the findings was that in the Watson Caritas Self-Rating Score, the nurses scored 6.08 on average (Hubert, 2018, p. 60). This signified that for their caring ability, the nurses already had an above average rating (Hubert, 2018, p. 60). Besides, the findings from this research were wholly and accurately presented by the guidelines provided by Bashaireh (2012, p. 33).
Summary/Conclusions, Implications, and Recommendations
This research has characteristics that, according to Guide 2 Research (2014), make it a good quality research. These include being based on the work of others; being based on a logical rationale as well as being tied to a theory, and thus being able to suggest a direction for the future; indirectly or directly addressing an actual problem present in the world; and finally, plainly stating the constructs to be examined. However, some factors limited the research, the main being the small size of nurses' number (Hubert, 2018, p. 68).
The lack of coding of the surveys was an additional limitation, as was the researcher's attempt to cover too much within the little time she had (Hubert, 2018, p. 68). The findings of this study could be generalized to other populations because the primary responsibilities and objectives of nurses are universal, and therefore, they can be expected to produce similar results were the test carried out elsewhere. Finally, the findings and conclusions of this study are significant to nursing since they helped to point out some requirements in nursing, to help improve their service provision; as well as in pain centers to aid in the adequate management of chronic pain patients.
References
Astalin, P. K. (2013). Qualitative research designs: A conceptual framework. International Journal of Social Science and Interdisciplinary Research , 2 (1), 118-124.
Bashaireh, A. A. (2012). Critiquing Nursing Research. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267332631_Critiquing_Nursing_Research
Guide 2 Research. (2014, February 12). Top 10 Qualities of Good Academic Research. Retrieved from http://www.guide2research.com/tutorials/top-10-qualities-of-good-academic-research
Hubert, P. M. (2018). Application of Jean Watson's Theory of Transpersonal Caring in Nurses Practicing in a Pain Center. Seton Hall University DNP Final Projects . Retrieved from https://scholarship.shu.edu/final-projects/29/
Maldia, F. (2013, December 12). What is the Relationship Between 'Qualitative Research' and 'Variables'? Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_is_the_relationship_between_qualitative_research_and_variables
