Grand Nursing Theories

Based on
Unitary Process

MA LIZA P. JIMENEZ, MAN MAP RN

MARTHA ROGERS
The story of nursing is a
magnificent epic of service to
mankind”

M. E. Rogers, 1971
MARTHA ROGERS

• Martha Rogers was born in 1914 in Dallas, TX.

• Diploma from the Knoxville General Hospital School of Nursing (1936)
• BS in Public Health from George Peabody College in Nashville
MARTHA ROGERS

• Executive director of the VNA in Phoenix for several Martha Rogers

• years

• MA in Public Health Supervision from Teacher’s College, Columbia University (1945)

• Master’s degree in public health in 1952 and Doctor of Science (DSc) in 1954 from Johns Hopkins
• Chair of the Department of Nursing Education at NY University (1954–1979)

• Died in 1994
MARTHA ROGERS—BOOKS

• Educational Revolution in Nursing (1961)—encouraged liberal university education for

nurses
• Reveille in Nursing (1964)—described a curriculum for nursing education
• Theoretical Basis of Nursing (1970)—contained the basis of her theory
SCIENCE OF UNITARY HUMAN BEINGS

• For her model, Rogers drew from anthropology, psychology, sociology, physics,
mathematics, and literature.
• Her work can also be traced to Nightingale as well as Einstein, Burr, and Northrop
(electrodynamic theory/electrical fields) and von Bertalanffy (systems theory).
• Continuing development relates to chaos theory and quantum physics.
SCIENCE OF UNITARY HUMAN BEINGS—(CONT.)

• Concepts are derived from the view of the universe as a collection of open systems,
which interact continuously without causality.
• Human beings are dynamic energy fields, integral with environmental fields.
• Both human and environmental fields are identified by pattern and characterized by a
universe of open systems.
QUESTION

Which of the following is TRUE regarding the Science of Unitary Human Beings?
A. The universe is a collection of open systems, which interact continuously without
causality.
B. Human beings are dynamic energy fields, distinct and separate from environmental
fields.
C. Human and environmental fields are identified by pattern and characterized by closed
systems.
ANSWER

A. The universe is a collection of open systems, which interact continuously without

causality.

Rationale: Important elements of Rogers’ theory involve the integration between humans
and their environment as well as the universe and its entirety being an “open system.”
SCIENCE OF UNITARY HUMAN BEINGS—(CONT.)

• Humans are “unitary” being (not holistic).

• Cannot be understood by looking at their parts
SCIENCE OF UNITARY HUMAN BEINGS—(CONT.)

• Four building blocks of the model

• Energy fields
• Universe of open systems
• Pattern
• Four dimensionality (pandimensionality) they are in continuous motion"
SCIENCE OF UNITARY HUMAN BEINGS—(CONT.)

• Energy fields
• Fundamental unit of both living and non-living
• Energy signifies the dynamic nature of the field.
• Energy fields are infinite and pandimensional.
SCIENCE OF UNITARY HUMAN BEINGS—(CONT.)

• Energy fields—(cont.)
• Human field—irreducible, indivisible energy field identified by pattern and manifesting
characteristics that are specific to the whole
• Environmental field—irreducible energy field that is integral with the human field
SCIENCE OF UNITARY HUMAN BEINGS—(CONT.)

• Universe of open systems

• Energy fields are infinite, open, and integral with each other.
• Human and environmental fields are in continuous process and are open.
• Change affects both systems mutually.
• Humans do not adapt to their environment but are a part of it.
SCIENCE OF UNITARY HUMAN BEINGS—(CONT.)

• Pattern—Energy fields are identified by their distinguishing characteristics of energy; each

human pattern is unique and integral with its environmental field.
• Patterns are unique and include behaviors, qualities, and characteristics of the field.
• Pattern is continually changing and may manifest disease, illness, feelings, or pain.
SCIENCE OF UNITARY HUMAN BEINGS—(CONT.)

• Pandimensionality—nonlinear domain without spatial or temporal attributes; infinite

domain without limit
• Although we live in a three-dimensional world, we are aware of other dimensions that affect
us.
• Rogers describes the idea of a unitary whole.
SCIENCE OF UNITARY HUMAN BEINGS—(CONT.)

• Homeodynamics—Changes in the life process in man are inseparable from environmental

changes and reflect mutual interaction between the two; changes are irreversible and
nonrepeatable; increasingly complex of pattern.
• Life process is homeodynamic and principles of homeodynamics (resonancy, helicy,
integrality) present a way of perceiving unitary human beings.
SCIENCE OF UNITARY HUMAN BEINGS—(CONT.)

• Helicy—continuous innovative, unpredictable, increasing diversity of human and

environmental patterns (spiral, nonrepetitive) movement
• Resonancy—continuous change from lower to higher frequency wave patterns in human
and environmental fields
• Integrality—continuous mutual human and environmental field interaction process
CENTRAL COMPONENTS IN ROGERS’ THEORY

Central Components Principles of Homeodynamics

(Nature of Unitary Human
(Focus of Study or Care)
Development)
Unitary Human Being
(Energy Field
Openness
Pattern Specify the
Pandimensional) Nature of Resonancy
Helicy
Environment Integrality
SCIENCE OF UNITARY HUMAN BEINGS—
(CONT.)
• Assumptions
• Major components of Rogers’ model revolve around building blocks (energy fields, openness,
pattern, and pandimensionality) and the principles of homeodynamics.
• These explain the nature and direction of the interactions between humans and the
environment.
SCIENCE OF UNITARY HUMAN BEINGS—(CONT.)

• Nursing is an art and science concerned with maintaining and promoting health,
preventing illness, and caring for the sick and disabled.
• Purpose of nursing is to help humans achieve well-being within their potential.
• Nursing care should support simultaneous human and environmental change.
SCIENCE OF UNITARY HUMAN
BEINGS—RESOURCES
• http://www.societyofrogerianscholars.org/index.html
• http://www.nurses.info/nursing_theory_person_rogers_martha.htm
• http://currentnursing.com/nursing_theory/unitary_human_beings.html
MARGARET NEWMAN
MARGARET NEWMAN—(CONT.)

• Born in 1933—Memphis, TN
• BA in Home Economics and English from Baylor (sic ‘em Bears) (1954)
• BSN—University of Tennessee, Memphis, TN (1962)
• MSN (medical-surgical nursing and nursing education)—UCSF (1964)
• PhD in Nursing and Rehabilitation from NYU (1971)
MARGARET NEWMAN—(CONT.)

• Became interested in nursing as she cared for her mother (ALS)

• Faculty positions at University of Tennessee, NYU, Penn State, and University of
Minnesota
• Retired in 1996
MARGARET NEWMAN—(CONT.)

• First presented her theory at a nursing theory conference in New York in 1978
• Strongly influenced by Martha Rogers (student of Rogers at NYU)
• Professor emeritus at University of Minnesota
• Currently involved in scholarship related to her theory and nursing theory in general
MARGARET NEWMAN—BOOKS

• Theory Development in Nursing (1979)

• Health as Expanding Consciousness (1986, 1994, 1999)
• A Developing Discipline (1995)
• Transforming Presence (2007)
 HEALTH AS EXPANDING CONSCIOUSNESS

• Focus on those “for whom health as the absence of disease or disability is not possible.”
• Originally focused on people facing the uncertainty, debilitation, loss, and death associated with
chronic illness
• Progressed to include all persons regardless of health status
HEALTH AS EXPANDING CONSCIOUSNESS—
(CONT.)

• Asserts that everyone is part of the universal process of expanding

consciousness, which includes:
• Becoming more of oneself
• Finding greater meaning in life
• Reaching new dimensions of connectedness with other people and the world
 HEALTH AS EXPANDING CONSCIOUSNESS—
(CONT.)
• Assumptions
• Health encompasses disease or pathology.
• Disease can be a manifestation of the underlying patterns of the person.
• The pattern of the person manifests itself as disease, is primary, and exists prior to structural
or functional changes.
• Health is the expansion of consciousness.
HEALTH AS EXPANDING CONSCIOUSNESS—
(CONT.)

• Humans are unitary and cannot be divided into parts.

• Humans are open energy systems in continual contact with a universe of open
systems (the environment).
• Changes occur simultaneously—not in linear fashion.
QUESTION
Which of the following is NOT one of the assumptions of Newman’s Health as Expanding
Consciousness theory?

A.Disease can be a manifestation of the underlying patterns of the person.

B.Humans are open energy systems in continual contact with a universe of open systems (the
environment).
C.Changes occur in linear fashion.
D.The pattern of the person is primary and exists prior to structural or functional changes.
ANSWER
C. Changes occur in linear fashion.

Rationale: In Newman’s work, changes occur simultaneously—not in linear fashion.

HEALTH AS EXPANDING CONSCIOUSNESS—RESOURCES

• http://healthasexpandingconsciousness.org
• http://nursing-theory.org/nursing-theorists/Margaret-A-Newman.php
• http://currentnursing.com/nursing_theory/Newman_Health_As_Expanding_Co
nsciousness.html
ROSEMARIE PARSE
ROSEMARIE PARSE—(CONT.)
• BSN—Duquesne University, Pittsburgh
• MSN and PhD—University of Pittsburgh
• Faculty positions at University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University, Hunter College (New
York)
• Currently professor at Loyola University (Chicago)
ROSEMARIE PARSE—PUBLICATIONS

• Man-Living-Health: A Theory of Nursing (1981)

• Illuminations:The Human Becoming Theory in Practice and Research (1995)
• The Human Becoming School of Thought (1998)
• Community: A Human Becoming Perspective (2003)
• Founding editor of Nursing Science Quarterly
THE THEORY OF HUMANBECOMING
• Humanbecoming theory sets quality of life from the person’s own perspective as the goal
of nursing practice.
• Theory first published in 1981 as “Man-Living-Health Theory.”
• Name changed to “Human Becoming Theory” in 1992 (to remove “man” from title).
THE THEORY OF HUMANBECOMING—(CONT.)

• Assumptions
• Humans coexist in rhythmical patterns with the environment.
• Humans are open beings, freely choosing meaning in situations.
• Humans are unitary, continuously co-constituting patterns of relating.
• Humans transcend multidimensionally with the possibilities.
QUESTION
Who among the following theorists included the major assumptions of freely choosing
personal meaning, cocreating rhythmical patterns of relating, and cotranscending
multidimensionally?

A. Martha Rogers
B. Margaret Newman
C. Rosemarie Parse
ANSWER
C. Rosemarie Parse

Rationale: Parse developed her theory on the philosophical underpinnings of the

existential–phenomenologic thought incorporating principles and concepts from Rogers.
These assumptions are about humans and becoming.
THE THEORY OF HUMANBECOMING—RESOURCES

• http://www.humanbecoming.org/
• http://currentnursing.com/nursing_theory/Rosemary_Pars_Human_Becoming_
Theory.html