Health as Expanding Consciousness Theory PDF

HEALTH AS EXPANDING CONSCIOUSNESS Margaret Newman  Newman's theory of Health as Expanding Consciousness, which proposes that all individuals can achieve a state of health that involves the experience of interacting and connecting with the environment. According to the theory, relatio...

HEALTH AS EXPANDING CONSCIOUSNESS Margaret Newman  Newman's theory of Health as Expanding Consciousness, which proposes that all individuals can achieve a state of health that involves the experience of interacting and connecting with the environment. According to the theory, relationships are the focus of nursing, which assists individuals in expanding consciousness.  The theory of health as expanding consciousness stems from Rogers' theory of unitary human beings. The theory of health as expanding consciousness was stimulated by concern for those for whom health as the absence of disease or disability is not possible, (Newman, 2010).  The theory has progressed to include the health of all persons regardless of the presence or absence of disease, (Newman, 2010). The theory asserts that every person in every situation, no matter how disordered and hopeless it may seem, is part of the universal process of expanding consciousness – a process of becoming more of oneself, of finding greater meaning in life, and of reaching new dimensions of connectedness with other people and the world, (Newman, 2010). BACKGROUND OF THE THEORIST Born on October 10, 1933. Bachelor’s degree - University of Tennessee in 1962 Master’s degree - University of California in 1964 Doctorate - New York University in 1971 She has worked in - University of Tennessee, New York University, Pennsylvania State University, University of Minnesotat, University of Minnesota THEORY DEVELOPMENT She was influenced by following theorists: Martha Rogers oMartha Roger’s theory of Unitary Human Beings was the main basis of the development of her theory, Health as Expanding Consciousness Itzhak Bentov – The concept of evolution of consciousness Arthur Young – The Theory of Process David Bohm – The Theory of Implicate ASSUMPTIONS 1. Health encompasses conditions described as illness, or, in medical terms, pathology 2. These pathological conditions can be considered a manifestation of the total pattern of the individual 3. The pattern of the individual that eventually manifests itself as pathology is primary and exists prior to structural or functional changes 4. Removal of the pathology in itself will not change the pattern of the individual 5. If becoming ill is the only way an individual's pattern can manifest itself, then that is health for that person 6. Health is an expansion of consciousness. DESCRIPTION OF THE THEORY “The theory of health as expanding consciousness (HEC) was stimulated by concern for those for whom health as the absence of disease or disability is not possible. Nurses often relate to such people: people facing the uncertainty, debilitation, loss and eventual death associated with chronic illness. The theory has progressed to include the health of all persons regardless of the presence or absence of disease.  The theory asserts that every person in every situation, no matter how disordered and hopeless it may seem, is part of the universal process of expanding consciousness – a process of becoming more of oneself, of finding greater meaning in life, and of reaching new dimensions of connectedness with other people and the world” (Newman, 2010).  Humans are open to the whole energy system of the universe and constantly interacting with the energy. With this process of interaction humans are evolving their individual pattern of whole. According to Newman understanding the pattern is essential. The expanding consciousness is the pattern recognition. The manifestation of disease depends on the pattern of individual so the pathology of the diseases exists before the symptoms appear so removal of disease symptoms does not change the individual structure.  Newman also redefines nursing according to her nursing is the process of recognizing the individual in relation to environment and it is the process of understanding of consciousness. The nurse helps to understand people to use the power within to develop the higher level of consciousness. Thus it helps to realize the disease process, its recovery and prevention.  Newman also explains the interrelatedness of time, space and movement. Time and space are the temporal pattern of the individual, both have complementary relationship. Humans are constantly changing through time and space and it shows unique pattern of reality.  In this model, nursing is “caring in the human health experience.” It is seen as a partnership between the nurse and patient, with both growing in the “sense of higher levels of consciousness.”  Newman’s theory is considered a grand nursing theory. She states that people cannot be divided into parts. Health is central to the theory, and is seen as a process of a developing awareness of the individual self and the person’s environment. She also states that “consciousness is a manifestation of an evolving pattern of person- environment interaction.”  Newman’s Health as Expanding Consciousness Theory is beneficial because it can be applied in any setting and “generates caring interventions.” However, its drawbacks are that it is abstract, multidimensional, and qualitative, and there is little discussion on environment within the model. CONCLUSION Newman's theory can be conceptualized as A grand theory of nursing Humans can not be divided into parts Health is central to the theory and is seen “and is seen as a process of developing awareness of self and the environment” “Consciousness is a manifestation of an evolving pattern of person-environment interaction”