Caring: a concept analysis

Caring as a paradigmatic concept has different meanings in different cultures. Therefore, any efforts to define it socio-culturally can contribute to a development of the nursing care.The purpose of this study was to discover, describe and analyze the meanings of caring concept systematically within a group of nurses in affiliated hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS).This research aimeal to give a better understanding of what the concept of "caring" is within the Iranian culture. A concept analysis method recommended by Walker & Avant (1995) was used to clarify the caring concept and its related meanings in our specific sociocultural context. This required the clarification of all different kinds of the concepts derived from the mentioned issue.The data was collected by series of face to face in-depth interactive interviews with participants and through observing and collecting the nurse's narratives written by them about their previous experiences in the nursing and caring. Some literature review and caring photographs were also chosen and analyzed as the complementary data sources. Data was then analyzed using concept as well as content analysis method. Three themes which emerged during the data analysis were 1) Altruism, 2) Routine oriented nursing care and 3) Humanistic approach to nursing care. It was also discovered that the concepts of nursing and caring have similar meanings for the participant nurses and both of the concepts are considered as the sum of routine functions and technical activities. A holistic approach is necessary in order to integrate these implications into a nursing system, both in practice and education, to improve conditions that facilitate the development of the care within the nursing system.