Even today her theory fits many situations a nurse is faced with on a day to day basis. .
Watson's theory of human caring has grown for the last 30 years. Watson's theory helps nurses to examine themselves, and their patients on a holistic level: mentally, physically, and spiritually. As per Alligood (2010, p.36) three factors make her theory distinctive. First is when the nurse and patient have a caring moment, and create an experience in each other's life. Second it distinguishes the magnitude of the mind body-spirit while not impeding the wholeness of the person. Third it clearly recognizes many ways of knowing, this includes empirical, aesthetic, ethical, and personal. Watson's feeling is that if a person's mind, body, and soul are not in harmony then illness can occur. The nurse patient relationship is the factor that enables progress toward health to occur. The nurse and patient will bring their own experiences and beliefs to the encounter which will have an influence on the encounter. .
"In Watson's theory nursing is centered around helping the patient achieve a higher degree of harmony within mind, body, and soul, and this harmony is achieved through caring transactions involving a transpersonal caring relationship" (Suliman, Welman, Omer, and Thomas, 2009, p.293). In 1979 Watson developed the ten carative factors. .
Ten Carative Factors:.
1. The formation of humanistic-altruistic system of values.
2. Instillation of faith-hope.
3. The cultivation of sensitivity to one's self and others.
4. The development of a helping trust relationship.
5. The promotion and acceptance of the expression of positive and negative feelings.
6. The systemic use of the scientific problem solving method for decision making.
7. The promotion of interpersonal teaching-learning.
8. The provision for supportive, protective and corrective mental, physical, sociocultural and spiritual environment. .
9. Assistance with the gratification of human needs.