The concept of Caring is often associated with nursing and is a theory that continues to be taught in academic institutions around the world to educate nurses and other healthcare professionals. The concept is gaining renewed attention today, due to the growing attention of consumers, employers, government officials and others working to address the mounting challenges that face today’s health care system.

A model of Caring includes both art and science and offers a framework that embraces and intersects with art, science, humanities, spirituality and new dimensions of mind/body medicine. Theorists from the field of nursing who have advanced the research in this concept came together in a rare event last week at Florida Atlantic University’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing in Boca Raton, Fla. Dr. Ann Boykin, Dean of the Nursing Program, who had assembled the panel, opened the meeting by discussing the importance of Caring and recognized the distinguished panel whose ideas had set the groundwork for others to learn, grow and teach others. The panel included:

• Dr. Madeline Leininger, Founder of the Transcultural Nursing Theory
• Dr. Jean Watson, Founder of the Theory of Human Caring
• Dr. Sister Simone Roach, Founder of Caring: The Human Mode of Being
• Dr. Marilyn Ray, Founder of the Theory of Bureaucratic Caring
• Dr. Zane Wolf, Founder of the Theory of the Moral Construct of Caring

This heavyweight panel had the opportunity to share with the audience their theories and the impact they are having on today’s health care system. The second half of the program allowed attendees to talk with each Caring pioneer in an informal setting, ask questions, present challenges and learn how the concepts of Caring might be implemented into organizations across the continuum as a way to improve care. As a nurse, this was an extraordinary opportunity to see these visionaries and recognize their passion and commitment to the practice of nursing. Their theories are allowing others to participate in the ongoing research on the concept of Caring in healthcare organizations throughout the world.

I was able to speak to Dr. Boykin and congratulate her on the work she has done to raise the level of awareness on Caring. She explained to me that the College of Nursing defines nursing as “nurturing the wholeness of personas and environment through Caring.” Embedded in this belief is that educational environments must support this theory. To demonstrate that this theory is tactile and not merely a set of ideas, the Lynn College of Nursing’s new building was designed with the intention of creating an environment that reflects the values and traditions of nursing, that conscientiously sustains the environment, and that creates a sense of harmony and balance for students, faculty and visitors.

Dr. Boykin went on to explain that the college has recently opened the Archives of Caring in Nursing. The purpose is to preserve the scholarly works on Caring and offer a welcoming place for scholars from across the world to study, research and advance the knowledge of this perennially important field. To learn more, please e-mail Dr. Ann Boykin at aboykin@fau.edu.

To me, the day reinforced my belief that the practice of nursing consists and revolves around the professional who has the responsibility and ability to lead others by his or her example as a caring professional.

Have a great week!

Anne Llewellyn, RN-BC, MS, BHSA, CCM, CRRN
Editor-in-Chief of Across My Desk, Case in Point magazine, and the Case Management Resource Guide
allewellyn@dorlandhealth.com