Hello and welcome to Watson Caring Science Institute’s (WCSI) Affiliation program. First and foremost, we are here to support nurses, and our first responsibility is to uphold and uplift the profession. We do this because nurses are critically important to the health and healing of all people, including the nurses themselves, and the profession. The discipline of nursing deserves well designed, and well executed support. We also do this because, as Jean Watson says, “nursing is the paradigm exemplar of caring, the most mature healing practice in the world.”

WCSI has developed a distinctive, organizational model based on Dr. Jean Watson’s Caring Science (also known as Unitary Caring Science). Dr. Watson and WCSI Faculty experts, researchers and scholars have worked with nurses and other health care leaders all over the world to develop these indicators for our Affiliation program that embraces humanistic values. These indicators serve as a foundation for leaders and organizations to ‘live-out’ and showcase the act of caring in an authentic and meaningful way.

The aim of being an Affiliate with Watson’s Caring Science is that it will lead to a meaningful organizational cultural transformation. WCSI current Affiliates have shared examples of how their adoption of Watson’s Caring Science as their professional practice model can:

• improve patient quality care outcomes
• improve staff care
• create authentic healing environments
• reduce staff turnover
• support Magnet designation/exemplars
• ESG — aligns with Environmental, Social and Governance sustainability

The current healthcare model is awakening to the value of incorporating inner healing, emotional and mental health. This evolving view for humankind returns us to the heart of our humanity; it invites and requires practices to sustain human caring for humanity and the planet for our collective well-being. We appreciate your interest in Watson Caring Science Affiliation.