My journey throughout nursing school has exposed me to various different nursing theories. However, Watson’s theory of care aligns most with my core values and has shaped my professional practice as a nurse. According to this theory, care should be performed utilizing moral and ethical principles to treat others with kindness and most importantly care for the client holistically. The current social climate tolerates a vast amount of judgement on the basis of social constructs such as religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender. Nurses should strive to demonstrate kindness, hospitality and understanding when interacting with clients. This entails creating a welcome environment for the client to share personal information pertinent to their care and wellbeing.  To provide the best care for clients the nurse should aim to build a therapeutic working relationship with the client that explores the client’s cultural beliefs and values that can be key aspects to their care. The development of this relationship begins at the initial meeting and can be facilitated through a thorough assessment. The information obtained is vital when advocating for the needs of the client and providing them with education that is tailored to meet their individualistic needs. As a nurse it is very easy to become task oriented and lose sight of the personal aspects of patient care. Taking the time to get to know the clients is an asset that can make a profound difference in the care recieved. The quote by Maya Angelou “people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did but people will never forget you made them feel” inspires my interaction with my clients. Taking the time to listen to the client or performing a small gesture could have such a significant impact on the client’s wellbeing.
