Journal of Advanced Nursing

Caring Science as a Mature Solution to Global Healthcare Challenges

ABSTRACT

Aim

Healthcare systems face a growing challenge: as technology advances, patients increasingly feel like data points in systems that prioritise efficiency over empathy. This paper addresses the global healthcare crisis of disconnection, arguing that fundamental change requires putting human experience at the centre through Caring Science principles in nursing.

Background

COVID-19 clearly revealed this disconnect. While showcasing scientific advances, it exposed gaps in compassionate care and fair access globally. Nurses struggled to maintain human connection while dealing with resource shortages and isolation protocols, proving that advanced medical treatments alone cannot address the physical, emotional, spiritual, and social factors that influence health.

Source of Evidence

This work draws on peer-reviewed studies, contemporary research, and theories of human caring to demonstrate the global responsibility and urgent need for integrating caring practices into healthcare systems. Collectively, this evidence underscores both the necessity of intervention and the effectiveness of Caring Science as a strategy for transforming organisational practices while highlighting a pressing truth: healthcare systems worldwide must move beyond efficiency alone and intentionally weave caring practices into their structures.

Conclusion

This analysis examines Caring Science through three key areas: Relational, Organisational, and Global. Using Watson's Theory of Human Caring and current research, the paper shows how caring relationships can improve through thoughtful use of innovation. Recent healthcare improvements demonstrate promising results when technology integration enhances both nurse empowerment and patient outcomes within frameworks that prioritise human connection.

Implications for Nursing

Future directions position Caring Science as a mature, evidence-informed framework for addressing healthcare's complex challenges. The paper calls for ‘sacred activism’—a commitment to protecting caring's essential dimensions while embracing beneficial innovation, positioning nursing to lead healthcare transformation through both the art and science of nursing that honours human dignity.