RUNNING HEAD: THEORY CRITIQUE

Theory Critique

Alyssa Matulich

University of Tennessee
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Paterson and Zderad took both the philosophy of humanism and existentialism into

consideration when forming the humanistic nursing theory. This theory takes a broad view of

human being and their potential and proposes that “nurses consciously and deliberately approach

nursing as an existential experience,” (Butts, 2013 p.269). The theory takes the uniqueness of

human beings, the nurse patient relationship, and human dignity all into its many aspects.

Although the humanistic theory is abstract, the concepts within the theory are quite clear.

The theory addresses the nurse and patient as well as their “call and response” relationship. The

theory also clearly lays out the goal of the nurse patient relationship and how that goal can be

obtained. The twelve behaviors for providing comfort also clarify just how the nurse should go

about assisting the patient with the goal. Paterson and Zderad take the time to clearly lay out

what humanistic nursing is even though this adds to the complexity of the theory.

The humanistic theory is quite complex therefore not meeting the Chinn and Kramer

quality of simplicity. There are many aspects to the theory like the nurse and patient as well as

their call and response relationship. Paterson and Zderad believe, “nursing is a responsible,

searching, transactional relationship whose meaningfulness demands conceptualization founded

on a nurse’s existential awareness of self and of the other,” (Zane, 2013 p.62). This existential

awareness feeds directly off of the nurse’s authenticity and although the key aspects of the theory

seem quite simple and are defined, the goal of the theory and the steps to go about completing

that goal add to the complexity. The goal of the theory lies essentially on the nurse to help the

patient reach a state of more (Butts, 2015 p.270). The theory throws to the side a standard

mechanical approach to patient care and focuses more on a flexible nursing practice that changes

based on the patient (Butts, 2015 p.270). Adding to the complexity are the twelve humanistic

behaviors for providing comfort. Although the list clearly states what the nurse should do it
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makes the theory less “clean”. “Humanistic nursing theory is a multidimensional theory and

approach which examines the essences of nursing and incorporates the “dynamics of being,

becoming, and change” all of which make the theory far from simple (Zane, 2013 p.64).

Paterson’s and Zderad’s humanistic theory “recognize the uniqueness of each human

being and the quality of being that is expressed in the doing” which makes the theory applicable

broadly (Zane, 2013 p.64). Although the behaviors mentioned by the theory are very specific,

they do not focus on a specific situation but rather allow the nurse to apply the behaviors in

various settings. For example one behavior listed is” the nurse supports the client’s self-image

with concrete examples,” (Butts, 2015 p. 271). The only specific aspect of the behavior is the

nurse’s job but leaves a wide variety of action the nurse could take to support that patient based

on whatever the patient’s self-image is. The theory also leaves the definition of what the patient

is very open. The patient can be just one individual or as broad as an entire community.

Empirical precision focuses mainly on the measurability of the concepts within the

theory. As for humanistic theory, the goal would be one that could be considered as measurable.

The goal of the theory is for “the nurse to assist the client to become more, to realize a potential

not yet attained in the present moment of the interaction,” (Butts, 2013 pg. 270). This goal is

measurable because any person can see a change that has been made and determine if the goal

has been reached.

Chinn and Kramer also consider derivable consequences when analyzing a theory. The

humanistic nursing theory meets this criterion because, “human nursing theory confirms the

importance of human dignity and respect for nurse and patient and emphasizes what they bring

to the relationship. The theory challenges nursing scholars and clinicians to reexamine the

processes and fluidity of the relational encounter as the nursing occasion evolves,” (Zane, 2013
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p.69). Because of the challenges the theory raises and the factors that the theory takes into

consideration, the theory would be considered socially acceptable and very valuable for nursing.

There are many aspects of this theory that can be applied to the work as an advanced

practice nurse. It is important to treat each patient uniquely and to bring with us the knowledge

of past experiences to help patients reach a goal that they determine as satisfactory. As advanced

nurse practitioners we should consider the theory that Paterson and Zderad have put forward and

continue to build and shape our nursing practice.

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References

Butts, J. B., & Rich, K. L. (2015). Philosophies and theories for advanced nursing practice

(Second ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Zane Robinson, W., & Denise Nagle, B. (2013). Paterson and Zderad's Humanistic Nursing

Theory: Concepts and Applications. International Journal For Human Caring, 17(4),

60-69.