How do Boykin and Schoenhofer perceive the role of the nurse in the caring process?

Boykin and Schoenhofer's perspective on the role of the nurse in the caring process emphasizes the importance of facilitating a person's journey towards becoming their fullest self. This view is rooted in their Theory of Nursing as Caring, which posits that care is a mutual, relational process where nurses engage with patients in a way that nurtures their growth and self-awareness.

In this model, nurses are not simply there to administer treatments or follow medical protocols; rather, they are actively involved in a partnership with patients. This means understanding their unique experiences, recognizing their potential, and supporting their individual pathways toward health and well-being. By adopting the role of a facilitator, nurses help patients express their personal goals and motivations, which can lead to profound transformations.

This focus on becoming stands in contrast to approaches that see nurses primarily as enforcers of medical directives or distant observers—roles that diminish the personal connection and transformative aspect of the caring relationship. Thus, the belief that nurses are facilitators of the participant's becoming underscores the relational nature of nursing practice and highlights the significance of engaging with patients on a deeper, more meaningful level.