My Journey with Watson's Unitary Caring Science
Originally from Romania, I bring over 25 years of international and Canadian nursing experience to healthcare, education, and leadership. My Caring Science journey began with a profound desire to meet Dr. Jean Watson and the WCSI team in person. Attending the 2023 Caritas Community Conference in Boulder, Colorado, was an extraordinarily transformative experience that deeply impacted me, personally and professionally.
I enrolled in the Caritas Leadership Program® (CLP) in January 2024, becoming a Caritas Leader. This journey sparked profound self-discovery, cultivating authenticity, consciousness, and presence. It's an honor to be a WCSI member, part of this community, and I volunteer my time to manage the private Caritas Leaders page on LinkedIn, the aim of which provides safe space and ongoing dialogue with graduates of CLP. Reconnecting with my Caritas family in November 2024 at the conference in Deerfield, Florida, was a cherished affirmation of this path.
With a Master's in Nursing specializing in Leadership in Health Care Policy and Education, my holistic practice emphasizes human connection, well-being, and lifelong learning. I passionately advocate for nurses well-being, prioritizing self-care; we simply can't pour from an empty cup.
Caritas Process #1 deeply resonates, echoing that cultivating loving-kindness within opens one's heart to compassion for all (Sitzman & Watson, 2018, p. 56). Central to Caring Science, loving- kindness and equanimity begin with self-compassion, naturally extending outward. For years, I mistakenly equated self-care with selfishness. However, Watson’s Human Caring Theory, encountered during my MN program, brought the pivotal realization that self-care and loving- kindness are vital for both professional effectiveness and personal well-being, liberating me to nurture my inner self.
This understanding transformed my nursing practice. Inspired by the CLP, I embraced Caring Science more deeply and introduced it to my team, which led to the proud formation of our Caring Council. By practicing loving-kindness, I've become more present and aware, listening more deeply and responding with enhanced empathy. Embracing self-care has profoundly impacted my life, turning challenges into growth opportunities and strengthening my ability to care for others. Loving-kindness has become a sacred, essential practice sustaining both myself and those I serve, honoring our shared humanity.
Caring Science provides the crucial voice and language needed to elevate our nursing profession and discipline. Grounded in Unitary Caring Science, I'm committed to empowering both current and the next generation of nurses as caregivers and leaders, fostering environments where caring and healing thrive. I'm also exploring the nurse entrepreneurship domain, currently pursuing The Comprehensive Holistic Nurse, Nurse Coach and Consultant Certificate Program with TheCiinde, endorsed by WCSI.