ANA Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation® Spotlight: Karen White-Trevino, RN, DNP, NE-BC
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Nurse finds healing for herself and others using the Theory of Human Caring
As a child, #healthynurse Karen White-Trevino knew her calling was to serve others. Growing up with a chronically ill sibling, Karen saw the way nurses cared for and supported their patients.
“Watching EMTs and nurses take care of my brother when he was sick really influenced my decision to become a nurse,” she says. “I wanted to learn more about being of service to others.”
Karen completed nursing school and began her career in a hospital setting. “I discovered that in addition to patient care, I also loved nursing teams,” she says. Eager to develop her leadership skills, Karen entered a graduate program specializing in leadership.
Discovering the Theory of Human Caring
In her graduate program, Karen was required to choose a nursing theory to use as a framework for her capstone project. After evaluating nursing theorists, she found one whose philosophy deeply resonated with her: Dr. Jean Watson, founder of the Theory of Human Caring.
“I felt connected to the Human Caring principles and the idea that nurses can create nurturing, caring moments, relationships, and environments in their work,” Karen says. She didn’t realize it at the time, but this theory would have a tremendous impact on her life and career path.
The Principles of Human Caring
The Theory of Human Caring focuses on caring for the whole person, rather than simply treating their symptoms or illness. It highlights the need for nurses to support a patient’s mind, body, and spirit — and to form a real, human connection with them.
Nurses who practice the principles of Human Caring help nurture their patients’ dignity, individuality, and humanity. They also build greater empathy and respect for their patients while creating meaningful relationships that benefit both patient and nurse.
Applying Human Caring to Nursing Leadership
After becoming a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Karen found that the Human Caring theory also helps nurture health care teams and inspires a positive workplace culture.
“As a nursing leader, I guided teams using Dr. Watson’s theoretical approach,” she says. When her teams felt supported, Karen saw a positive impact on nursing and patient outcomes.
Experiencing Loss Amid Success
Karen continued to grow in her nursing career, earning a promotion to Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) for a 500-bed hospital. However, she was experiencing tremendous personal loss at the same time.
As I was advancing professionally, my two younger brothers died, and I went through a divorce,” she recalls. “And a nurse colleague of mine also died by suicide.” All these events deeply impacted me as a person, but I buried my grief and focused on my job and raising my kids.”
Karen began to experience emotional issues she couldn’t ignore. “I found myself coming home from work and crying for no reason,” she says. “It was so unlike me. So, I went to a grief counselor to figure out what was happening.”
The counselor explained to Karen that she was feeling all of her unaddressed grief, all at once. “I realized I had been depriving myself of the care I tried to model for others,” she says. “I needed to practice what I preached and make a conscious effort to care for myself.”
Applying Human Caring to Herself
Using the tools she learned from Human Caring, Karen discovered what she needed to heal so she could flourish. “I integrated yoga, mindfulness, and being in nature,” she reflects. “These helped me quiet my soul so I could begin to unpack all of that grief.”
Karen also focused on creative outlets like writing and playing ukulele. “Each of these practices helped me heal, nurtured my heart, and honored my commitment to loving-kindness for myself,” she says.
As part of her self-care, Karen realized she was ready for a career change.
“My hospital had earned initial designation as a Pathway to Excellence® facility,” she says. “Our culture was positive. The nurses had the tools they needed to be empowered and successful. After 35 years in a hospital, it was the right time to hand over the reins and take a new path.”
She stepped down from her position as a CNO in 2018 to pursue a new role as an educator and Red Cross volunteer.
Becoming a Caritas Coach®
“I had learned about Caritas Coaches, people who are trained in the Theory of Human Caring, and how to utilize the theory in any setting,” Karen says.
Caritas Coaches model compassionate, human-centered leadership. They embody Dr. Watson’s 10 Caritas Processes®, which include showing loving-kindness, being authentically present, nurturing trusting and caring relationships, and co-creating healing environments. Coaches use these processes to lead, teach, and care for self and others.
After leaving her role as CNO, Karen entered the 6-month Caritas Coach Education Program® (CCEP) and became a certified coach.
Caritas With K
With her certification complete, Karen founded Caritas With K, a health and wellness practice that combines yoga, meditation, and mindful moments in nature. She uses the Caritas Processes to create an environment of caring, healing, and connecting for her clients.
Karen promotes caring micro practices, which are short, “bite-sized” yoga flows or meditations. These mini practices invite clients to experience a caring-healing shift during a work break or any time they have a few free moments.
She offers a variety of free online yoga and meditation micro practice videos, filmed in a lush Hawaiian setting.
“They are a way to offer loving-kindness to oneself during times of stress or a busy workday,” she says. “I encourage people to take mindful pauses to practice gratitude or reconnect to mind-body-spirit. They can take a moment in nature or use a meditation app as a guide. These brief, healing pauses can support inner peace and balance, which then ripples to a peaceful outer presence.
Find Your Inspiration
For nurses experiencing stress, grief, or other mental and emotional health challenges, Karen offers this advice:
“Reflect on what inspires you in your life or what gives you purpose. Ask yourself what you could do to consciously nurture these things. Take small, intentional steps to add them into your life to cultivate a Caritas spirit. When you invite this loving-kindness into your heart, this spirit can then radiate to others.”
Karen White-Trevino, RN, DNP, NE-BC, is a Caritas Coach and founder of Caritas With K.
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Blog #healthynurse Spotlight
08/07/2025 4:01pm CDT
The #healthynurse Spotlight is a shout out to nurses who are making changes in their lives to improve their health and wellness. You can too! Read their stories for inspiration here.
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