Taking the eagle's view: using Watson's conceptual model to investigate the extraordinary and transformative experiences of nurse healers.

Watson's conceptual model of a caring-healing transpersonal understanding of nursing was used to underpin a hermeneutic phenomenological study of the extraordinary and transformational experiences of nurse healers. The 5 essential themes uncovered from the analysis of interviews with 11 nurse healers--Belonging & Connecting, Opening to Spirit, Summoning, Wounding & Healing Journey, and Living as a Healer--are set out, along with the overarching theme "Walking Two Worlds." Foundational understandings of Watson's model as they relate to the findings, and theoretical aspects, are discussed, and potential contributions of this study to the ongoing evolution of Watson's conceptual model are articulated.