The concept of personhood as used in the nursing as caring theory.

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Key Aspects of Personhood in Nursing as Caring Theory:

• Innate Caring: As mentioned, caring is not something learned or acquired, but a fundamental characteristic of being human. This inherent caring capacity may be expressed in various ways and to different degrees, but it is always present.  
• Wholeness and Completeness: The theory posits that persons are whole and complete in the moment. Even in times of illness, suffering, or vulnerability, the individual is not seen as fragmented or lacking their essential personhood. Nurses strive to recognize and affirm this inherent wholeness.  
• Living Caring: Personhood is understood as a dynamic and ongoing process of "living grounded in caring." It's not a static state but a continuous unfolding and expression of one's caring nature through interactions, choices, and experiences.  
• Uniqueness and Individuality: Each person's experience of living caring is unique. Their history, values, beliefs, and ways of relating to the world shape how their caring is expressed. Nurses are called to appreciate and respect this individuality.  
• Potential for Growth in Caring: Through interactions with others, particularly within caring nursing relationships, a person's capacity for caring can be nurtured and enhanced. Nursing, in this context, aims to foster this growth in both the nurse and the one being nursed.
• Personhood Enhanced Through Nursing: The theory emphasizes that participating in nursing situations – the shared lived experience between the nurse and the one being nursed – has the potential to enhance the personhood of both individuals. The intentional and authentic presence of the nurse, recognizing the other as a caring person, contributes to this mutual growth.  

Implications for Nursing Practice:

Understanding personhood in this way has profound implications for how nurses practice:

• Focus on Relationality: The nurse-patient relationship is central. Nursing becomes a shared journey where the caring of both individuals interacts and contributes to the well-being and growth of the other.
• Intentional Presence: Nurses strive to be authentically and intentionally present with the person they are caring for, seeking to truly know them as a caring individual.
• Hearing the "Call for Nursing": The theory suggests that individuals express "calls for nursing" – moments where their capacity to live caring or grow in caring is challenged or diminished. Recognizing and responding to these unique calls is the essence of nursing practice.
• Nurturing and Affirming: Nursing actions are directed towards nurturing the person's inherent caring and affirming their wholeness, even in the face of adversity.
• Moving Beyond Tasks: The focus shifts from simply completing tasks to understanding the meaning of those tasks within the context of the caring relationship and the person's lived experience.

In essence, the concept of personhood in the nursing as caring theory provides a deeply humanistic and relational foundation for nursing practice. It moves beyond a focus on disease and deficit to recognize the inherent caring capacity and wholeness of each individual, emphasizing the transformative potential of authentic nurse-person relationships.

Sample Answer

The concept of personhood is fundamental to the nursing as caring theory, developed by Anne Boykin and Savina Schoenhofer. It forms the very foundation upon which the theory's understanding of nursing practice is built. Here's a breakdown of how personhood is conceptualized within this framework:  

Core Tenet: Persons are Caring

The most crucial aspect of personhood in the nursing as caring theory is the fundamental belief that all persons are caring by virtue of their humanness. This isn't just about performing caring actions; it's an inherent quality, an intrinsic part of what it means to be human. This assumption shapes how nurses approach those in their care. They are not seeing a collection of symptoms or a diagnosis, but rather another human being who, at their core, possesses the capacity for