Reimagining Human Caring in Contemporary Nursing Practice: A Phenomenological Study Guided by Jean Watson’s Theory

Background: Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring has long served as a foundational framework in nursing, emphasizing transpersonal relationships, intentional presence, and holistic care. Today’s healthcare landscape—marked by digital technologies, cultural pluralism, and systemic burnout—introduces complexities that challenge the operationalization of Watson’s original carative factors¹,². Aim: This study explores how nurses practicing in contemporary clinical and digital contexts experience and interpret caring, and whether their lived realities align with or diverge from Watson’s theoretical constructs. Methods: A descriptive phenomenological design was adopted, utilizing Colaizzi’s seven-step method for data analysis. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 registered nurses across intensive care, telehealth, palliative, and community health settings. Watson’s ten carative factors served as a sensitizing framework, while leaving space for inductively derived themes to emerge. Results: Six major themes were identified: (1) Technological Disconnection from the Human Element, (2) Digital Empathy and Virtual Caring, (3) Cultural Humility as a Form of Caring, (4) Presence Over Procedure, (5) Caring Pedagogy in Virtual Education, and (6) Emotional Fatigue and Self-Compassion. While Watson’s theory was largely affirmed in principle, participants emphasized gaps between theory and practice, particularly in digitally mediated care³, culturally safe encounters⁴, and self-sustaining emotional labor⁵. Nurses proposed revisions to the theory, including new carative dimensions such as tech-mediated empathy, caregiver self-compassion, and culturally responsive presence. Conclusion: Watson’s Theory of Human Caring remains philosophically robust but requires theoretical expansion to maintain practical relevance in 21st-century nursing. A revised framework—integrating digital, emotional, and intercultural dimensions—can sustain the core humanistic values of caring while aligning with the realities of modern practice.