Caring: A Passage to Heart

This keepsake book contains a collection of lived out stories written by care givers, revealing a personal or professional truth - exemplars of the Watson 10 Caritas Processes(R) which is the core of the Theory of Human Caring.

'I hope the caring moments described in this book will inspire and encourage readers as they travel their own unique caring paths.' Kathleen Sitzman, PhD, RN, CNE, ANEF, FAAN

'These stories cross and transcend cultures, roles, professions, borders and boundaries in locations around the world. The Caritas stories and shared experiences unite us in our humanity, across time and space, congruent with an online virtual world of today, whereby space connects, rather than separates.' Jean Watson, PhD, RN, AHN-BC, FAAN, LL (AAN)

The collection in this book originated from participants taking a free online course entitled 'Caring Science Mindful Practice' facilitated by Kathleen Sitzman.

In 2015 when I offered the first Caring Science, Mindful Practice Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), I didn't know if anyone would come, or if anyone would want to share Caritas moments from their own experiences in a public forum. Through the process of teaching this course, I have learned that people in nursing, allied health, and beyond; experience support, companionship, fulfillment, validation, encouragement, and inspiration through sharing their own unique Caritas moments and reading those of others within this global caring community that continues to grow each time the course is offered. I hope the caring moments described in this book will inspire and encourage readers as they travel their own unique caring paths.

Kathleen Sitzman, PhD, RN, CNE, ANEF, FAAN

Distinguished Watson Caring Science Scholar

Professor, East Carolina University College of Nursing

Find out more at: www.watsoncaringscience.org

Jean Watson is a Distinguished Professor Emerita and Dean Emerita of the University of Colorado Denver, College of Nursing, where she held the Endowed Chair in Caring Science at the University of Colorado Denver and Health Sciences Center. She is the founder of the original Center for Human Caring in Colorado and an American Academy of Nursing Fellow. Watson also is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the National Fetzer Institute Norman Cousins Award, an International Kellogg Fellowship in Australia, a Fulbright Research and Lecture Award in Sweden, and six international honorary doctorate degrees. Watson is the author of more than 100 publications in Caring Science and of more than 30 books on the Science of Human Caring(TM), including the classic: Nursing. The Philosophy and Science of Caring which identifies the 10 core "Caritas Processes(R)', universals of human caring, necessary for studying and implementing a model of Caring Science in practice. This work restores the deep-spiritual dimensions of Love with caring-healing as the foundation for preparing a new level of practitioners in Caring Science/Caritas HealthCare.

MARIE CLAYTON, MSN, RN WCSI Caritas Coach(R) Marie Clayton became a nurse to answer her call to be impactful to humanity, and furthered her education to become an educator to further that calling. Learning about Jean Watson's Theory of Human Caring has resonated with her since the day she learned about it in Dr. Sitzman's class, the first day of the BSN Program. Marie taught at Weber State University for several years in Ogden, Utah in the Bachelor of Integrated Studies, whereupon her students were required to complete a Capstone Project. These projects were usually implemented into communities and she used her community health nursing skills and knowledge to impact these projects. She has also taught as Adjunct Faculty in the Nursing Department at Weber State as well. Fun fact: She graduated with her Master's in Nursing Education when her twins were two, so she was pregnant with and caring for preemie and toddler twins during grad school. Marie has been a lead facilitator for the "Caring Science, Mindful Practice" Massive Open Online Course since it started in May of 2015 and supports it each time it is offered twice a year. She feels each student, each concept, each interaction is sacred and is greatly honored to witness and be a part of these interactions. The growth and validation she can aid in for them is very inspirational to her.