Is The Unitary Transformative Paradigm?

Shelly, J., & Miller, A. (2006). Called to care a Christian worldview for nursing (2nd ed.).

Barbara Dossey is truly a visionary in the holistic nursing movement and her theory is able to further the development of holistic nursing in its entirety as well as bolster patient outcomes. The context in which the theory was developed was in relation and connection to the products and ideas of Ken Wilbur, in an attempt to fortify the fundamental concept of healing (Dossey & Keegan, 2003). Dossey's four quadrant model in certain respects is a reaction to and influenced by the work of Wilbur, namely that his volumes stress that no particular or sole researcher, philosopher or theorist can describe, establish or clarify the constituents of reality (Dossey & Keegan, 2003). Dossey and Keegan emphasize that the obstacle and objectives in nursing is to bolster one's integral awareness while boosting one's overall strengths and abilities in nursing in general (2003). Ultimately, the theory developed in the context of the belief that healing occurs when the delicate balance and harmony of body and mind and spirit is successfully addressed and how ancient ideas can be effectively integrated in the realm of caring for patient in everyday living (Dosseydossey.com).

She later described the human as an energy field with illness and health being manifestations of the human pattern. Her continued study outlined relationships her theory has based off of her propositions. One of the relationships is the transpersonal caring field, which stays within the unitary field of consciousness. It signifies the unitary spiritual connection between the nurse and the patient. A transpersonal caring relationship goes beyond the ego levels of the patient and the nurse. It creates new possibilities for interaction. The practitioner’s consciousness about the carative factors and intentions opened up connections in the unitary field. This enables more access to the patient’s inner healing. The provider communicates the transpersonal relationship through different ways such as being present in the relationship. Caring-healing modalities are often noninvasive, natural-human energetic field modalities. Transpersonal caring promotes self-patterns and possibilities. Advanced transpersonal caring modalities recognize wholeness, healing, comfort, balance, harmony and well-being (McEwen & Wills, 2014, pg.

This theory highlights meaning and transcendence in our lived experiences (Parse, 2014). In the idea behind meaning, individuals are encouraged to state their personal understanding of living and being and individual. Humans construct meaning through lived experiences. Likewise, nurse practitioners share responsibility along with patient in constructing meaning through their health care journeys. In the same way, results from these health experiences helps patients to transcend and go beyond the limits of their condition to understand more about themselves and realize the value of wellness. Lastly, the bible also encourages humans to come together as one. John 4:12 reminds us that if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. This is the essence of collaboration, and for this reason, the American health care system should continue to strive for

When most people think of nursing, they think of the types of nurses that preoccupy themselves with the physical care of their patients, but nursing is so much more than that. Nursing is a career where you will find yourself taking care of the patient’s physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. It is a career concerned with whole-healing. With this definition, it is clear that a Christian perspective on healing can directly correlate with the mission of a nurse. Nursing, in the view of a Christian, is shalom based. Shalom is a goal that can be reached through the patient finding peace in all aspects of their life—physical, emotion, and spiritual.

Historically, Western Medicine has been divided into Eras. The first ERA, noted in the 1860’s, was referred to as the Mechanical Model. The medical world, as well as society, viewed illness as a purely physical entity. The mental and emotional components of illness were often considered as an afterthought. The second ERA, as described in the mid-twentieth century, is named the Mind/Body ERA. This was the time where attention was brought forth that there is a connection between the consciousness and the physical aspects of health and illness. Pscho-somatics was a coined phrase around this time. The third ERA is known as the Quantum Physics Paradigm (Dossey,1982). This era identifies transpersonal presence as its basis and accepts that the mind and the body, as well as non-local energies, affect health and illness.

Shearer (2011) utilizes a Mandala to assist in the discovery of personal nursing worldviews, underscoring that philosophy permeates practice and research. Understanding that all beginnings start with a thought, Shearer (2011) asked advanced practice and doctoral prepared nursing students to reflect on their underlying worldview and beliefs that influence their philosophical views regarding the practice of nursing. In effect, the Mandala being circular in design provides a visual focal point to guide and articulate the world and philosophical views of the nurse. Keeping with all journeys start with a beginning, Shearer (2011) while retracing the steps of the previous nursing scholars’ worldviews, reflects on the relationship between the abstract

Martha Roger’s nursing theory is known as the Science of Unitary Human Beings. Rogers believed that a patient should not be separated from his/her own environment when addressing health conditions and the treatment approach. Rogers believed a patient should be looked as a whole rather than being divided into separate parts. She also believed that a patient has a set of control in their own recovery and whether they want to participate in their healing process or not. In her theory Martha said that nursing should is both a science and an art. To her the science aspect

She related spirituality and science to present a new definition of adaptation and related scientific and philosophical assumptions. Roy’s stance on the philosophy emphasizes that nurses see persons as co-extensive with their physical and social environments. Roy has used the term cosmic unity to describe that persons and the earth have common patterns and mutuality of relations and meaning and that persons through thinking and feeling capacities, rooted in consciousness and meaning, are accountable for deriving , sustaining, and transforming the universe. These ideas were explained in a 1997 publication and included in the 1999 revision of the theorist’s textbook on the model.

Today there are many nursing theorists who have developed their own nursing philosophies that help nurses shape their personal nursing philosophy. Rosemarie Rizzo Parse is a nursing theorist that captures some of the essentials of nursing philosophy and created the Human Becoming Theory of Nursing. Parse’s Theory of nursing causes one to think differently about the client, health, environment and nursing. This theorist has caught my attention because it focused on many of the beliefs and values that I identify with. My personal values include: compassion, integrity, professionalism and commitment.

She is the first nursing theorist to support the idea of soul and to accentuate the spiritual dimension of human existence. Watson describes nursing as an art and a human science with the major focus being the process of a human care for individuals, families and groups. According to her beliefs, body, mind and soul are distinquished from each other. Nevertheless, Watson also states that harmony is required among the three to be the highest form of health and that it is the nursing goal to help people to reach this equanimity. This goal can be accomplished through transpersonal relationship.

When looking at the postmodern worldview, many people believe that science is unable to explain the meaning to life. The post-modernistic theory explains that the world consists of an energy that can be manipulated and controlled. As a result of this many scientists and health care workers are looking for a more holistic way of treating patients. In this way the physical, psychological and spiritual needs of the patient are met. This leads to the patient being in complete harmony with their environment (Shelly & Miller, 2006). As a result patients will not be thought of as just a disease but a whole person.

Parse’s theory of human becoming is one of the influential theory in nursing. It basically helps to guides nurses as they care for the sick to concentrate on the quality of life their patients lived as they go through that difficult time. Parse’s theory of human becoming consisted of three structures, which are, meaning, rhythmicity, and transcendence. Parse’s theory of human becoming described meaning as the experiences and reality that one lived (Nursing theory, 2011). On the other hand, Parse’s theory of human becoming described rhythmicity as “Human Becoming is co-creating rhythmical patterns of relating in mutual process with the universe” (Nursing theory, 2011). While Parse’s theory of human becoming described transcendence as going beyond certain limits that one possesses. This paper will discuss Parse 's theory of Human Becoming as well as another theory contribution to the advancement of knowledge in support or multidisciplinary science or teams.

Nurses that listen to their patients, not only notice that they are physically hurt, but they can also notice their emotional wounds. The empathy of knowing that the patient is emotionally hurt is part of the spirituality connection. Therefore, they might need comfort. O’Brien (2001) states that, “ No other profession provides the opportunity to touch and be touched by the human spirit as does the practice of nursing. It is this intimacy that calls us to reverence: reverence for God as our creator and Lord…” (pg.110). Nurses have the privilege to connect with people in ways that no other profession may be able to provide. Since nurses are patients advocate, our duty is to connect them with their spiritual beliefs and

Jean Watson's theory of nursing is based on the ideas of a number of philosophers and psychologists, including Carl Rogers, most specifically on his "phenomenological psychology and philosophy" (Tourville and Ingalls, 2003, p. 21). Her theory evolved over at least two decades of diverse experiences. Watson's theory is referred to as Transpersonal Caring because it emphasizes unity in the world (Tourville and Ingalls, 2003). Watson proposed that caring is a natural act for humans and it becomes a moral principle at the point when a patient and a nurse share a caring experience (Watson 2007). According to Watson, the goal of nursing is to help the patient achieve harmony of mind, body and spirit (Watson, 2007).