Jean Watson
Jean Watson is an American nurse theorist and nursing professor who is best known for her theory of human caring. She is the author of numerous texts, including "Nursing: The Philosophy and Science of Caring". Watson's research on caring has been incorporated into education and patient care at hundreds of nursing schools and healthcare facilities across the world. Early life and education. Watson was born on June 10, 1940, in Williamson, West Virginia. She was the youngest of eight children. She also attended high school in West Virginia. Watson knew she wanted to be a nurse at  the age of 10 when she saw a friend of her older sister having a seizure. She later attended the Lewis Gale School of Nursing located in Roanoke, Virginia, where she graduated in 1961. Caring theory. Watson developed the theory of human caring. She founded the non-profit Watson Caring Science Institute in 2008. Theory of human caring is patient care that involves a more holistic treatment for patients. As opposed to just using science to care for and heal patients, at the center of the theory of human caring is the idea that being more attentive and conscious during  patient interactions allow for more effective and continuous care with a deeper personal connection. Watson's theory was influenced by several philosophers and thinkers including Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, and Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, each of whom were pioneers in creating the concept of transpersonal. Watson defines the idea of transpersonal as "an inter-subjective human-human relationship in which the person of the nurse affects and is affected by the person of the other. Both are fully present in the moment and feel a union with the other." The four major concepts in the science of caring are health , nursing, environment or society, and human being. Academic appointments. Watson is a distinguished professor of nursing at the University of Colorado, where she served as dean of nursing. Leadership achievements. She is a past president of the National League for Nursing. Honors and awards. Watson has been awarded ten honorary doctoral degrees, including eight international honorary doctoral degrees. She has received numerous awards including: Works.