Registration Closed: Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at 9:00 AM (ET)
Hosted by the UF College of Nursing, this special session with Dr. Sara Horton-Deutsch, national expert in Watson Caring Science and Caritas Coach, strengthens well-being, deepens connection, and reflects the evolving focus of nursing education.
The event is open to students, faculty and professional colleagues.
Program Description: This interactive three-hour session explores the integration of Watson’s Caring Science principles with the updated AACN Essentials, demonstrating how caring theory enriches modern nursing competencies while creating engaging learning environments that focus on the well-being of faculty and students alike. An overview of Caring Science, the AACN Essentials, and the ANA definition of nursing will frame the presentation, followed by guided interactive practices that begin with an intentional pause, time to reflect, and an invitation to reconnect to purpose. Through brief discussions, real-world examples, and hands-on activities, participants will discover practical strategies for weaving caring science concepts into curriculum design, clinical practice, and student learning outcomes while exploring methods to foster learning environments that build resiliency, nurture what it means to be a nurse, and enhance vitality in educational settings. This session is perfect for nursing educators and students seeking to balance the art and science of nursing education while preparing graduates who are poised to meet the current and future healthcare needs of those in our care.
Program Purpose: The purpose of this session is to empower nursing educators and students with the knowledge, skills, and practical tools necessary to integrate Watson’s Caring Science principles with the updated AACN Essentials, creating transformative educational environments that nurture both faculty and student well-being while preparing compassionate, competent nurses who embody the art and science of nursing practice.
Program Outcomes:
After attending The Art of Integration: Caring Science Meets AACN’s Essentials, participants will be able to:
- Knowledge Outcomes
- Articulate the core principles of Watson’s Caring Science and their alignment with the updated AACN Essentials and ANA definition of nursing.
- Identify key connections between caring theory and modern nursing competencies required for contemporary healthcare practice.
- Application Outcomes
- Design curriculum elements that integrate Caring Science principles with AACN Essential competencies to enhance student learning outcomes.
- Implement interactive teaching practices that begin with intentional pause, reflection, and reconnection to nursing’s purpose.
- Develop strategies for creating learning environments that foster resiliency, nurture professional identity, and enhance vitality for both faculty and students.
- Synthesis Outcomes
- Create practical action plans for weaving caring science concepts into their specific educational contexts, including clinical practice settings.
- Evaluate methods for balancing the art and science of nursing education while maintaining focus on caring relationships and healing environments.
- Personal/Professional Growth Outcomes
- Reflect on their own relationship with caring science principles and how these inform their teaching philosophy and practice.
- Commit to specific practices that will enhance their well-being as educators and their ability to model caring presence for students.
Available Contact Hours – Up to 2.5* Hours
- To receive contact hours, participants must:
- Attend at least 50 minutes of each 60-minute in-person session*.
- Complete the Qualtrics evaluation by November 3, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. (ET)*
- Evaluation link will be provided during the symposium.
The Office of Professional Nursing Development, University of Florida, is approved as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the Montana Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.