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Main Concept of the Theory
Caring relationships is the core concept for Duffy and Hoskins Quality-Caring Model©. While caring exists in a generic sense in all cultures and between relatives and friends, the caring that exists in nursing practice is integrated in the daily work of nursing and has as its aim of health and healing (Leininger, 1988; Duffy & Hoskins, 2003). In 1971, Mayerhoff wrote that knowledge is required for caring to occur. Gordon (2002) agreed with Mayerhoff and labeled caring that is embedded in nursing practice as “educated caring”.
Professional nurses who choose to have a caring relationship with the patient and families assist the recipients to feel "cared for". Feeling cared for frees the patient to take risks, to learn new healthy behaviors or participate in evidence-based interventions. This sense of "feeling cared for" is theorized to influence improved outcomes such as knowledge, safety, comfort, anxiety, adherence, and satisfaction for both the patient and the nurse.
Other significant outcomes from caring relationships are theorized to be the preservation of human dignity, protection from harm, self-knowledge, health, and inner harmony. In today’s world of rapidly changing technology, violence and terrorism, diverse cultures, rampant chronic disease, and a nursing shortage, it is thought that caring relationships are instrumental in providing quality health care. More than ever for patients and families to overcome their angst and for nurses to perform the work for which they were educated. Time is required to initiate, cultivate, and sustain caring relationships as well as taking care of one’s self . This dedicated time is often overlooked or undervalued in the traditional health care system. Blending the societal needs for measurable outcomes with the unique relationship-centered processes intergral in daily nursing practice presents a post-modern approach that may benefit patients, families, members of the health care team, and the nurses themselves (Duffy & Hoskins, 2003).
Assumptions
1) Caring must be done in relationship.
2) Caring is submerged in the daily work of nursing.
3) Caring relationships are tangible and can be measured.
4) Knowledge of caring is a significant issue for nursing education, nursing practice, and nursing administration.
5) Increased use and study of nurse caring will determine nursing's contribution to health care.
Major Proposition
The major propositions of the model is that relationships characterized by caring contribute to positive outcomes for nurses, patients/families, and systems/organizations.
References
Duffy, J. R. & Hoskins, L. (2003). The Quality-Caring Model©: Blending dual paradigms. Advances in Nursing Science 26(1), 77-88.
Gordon, M. (2002). Keynote Address. National Teaching Institute. Atlanta, GA: American Association of Critical Care Nurses.
Leininger, M.M. (1988). Leininger's theory of nursing: Cultural care diversity and universality. Nursing Science Quarterly 1, 152-160.
Mayerhoff, M. (1971). On Caring. New York: Haper & Row Publishers. |
