Newman’s Theory of Expanding Consciousness
Type/Purpose: Grand Theory/using consciousness to reach a higher level of growth and development. Nursing is concerned with the patterns of human health experiences (including crises) within the environment.
Philosophical Claims: Simultaneous Interaction r/t human being is unitary and continuous with the undivided/wholeness of the universe. Human begins = consciousness and is identified by using patterns. Context:
Metaparadigm (Concepts)
- Human Beings: Dynamic, identified by patterns of consciousness.
- Environment: Very abstract and open power and energy systems; manifested patterns; body temp, diet, bp, rest, social, cognition, emotions- anything observable.
- Health: Unitary pattern of the whole and includes both health and disease; focus not on treatment/disease but a higher level of consciousness.
- Nursing: NOT DEFINED. Some scholars would consider Newman’s Theory of Expanding Consciousness a conceptual framework, but she does not clearly define the nursing paradigm. However, it is suggested that “Nursing is “caring in the human health experience” & Nursing is seen as a partnership between the nurse and client, with both growing in the “sense of higher levels of consciousness” –Current Nursing
About the Theory & Purpose
- PARADIGM SHIFT: from the previous theories consisting of medical symptoms -> to search for patterns. Disease is not negative but is used to reach higher levels of consciousness.
- WHEN NURSING IS NEEDED? A disruption in pattern and patient is at a choice point. Not with a disease/illness/treatments.
- GOAL OF NURSING: is not to make people well/better or prevent sickness but to assist patients to EXPAND OR REACH A HIGHER LEVEL OF CONSCIOUSNESS
Focus of the Model: the health of persons and the interactions w/environment that is unique and individualized and consists of 2 concepts; consciousness & patterns:
Consciousness; the informational capacity of the human being, seen as quantity and quality of the interaction btw. the information of the human/environment
Pattern: identified as the wholeness of a person with 7 manifestations; moving, communicating, perceiving, feeling, knowing, relating, choosing. Patterns have 3 dimensions (movement, space, & time).
Movement-space-time: reflects the organization, identifies the pattern in movement (0 movements = death), also a physical sense (work, school), movement is when space and time is a reality.
- Space/Time linked together: space is decreased via physical or social immobility. Time includes subjective or time perceived to be passing/objective i.e. a clock actual time
- Rhythm: a basic unit of movement/pattern, powerful interpersonal relations, and communications (silence, pauses, vocals, tone)
- Diversity: individual patterns btw. different people represent variations
Dr. Neuman was influenced by the following theorists:
- Martha Rogers: Martha 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
| Newman Stages: to reach higher consciousness | Arthur Young (a mathematician); Theory of Evolution |
|---|---|
| Potential Consciousness: comes into being | Potential Freedom |
| Time: one loses freedom when bound in time (normal) | Binding |
| Space: own identity in space | Centering |
| Movement: choice point; no longer have power or control -DISRUPTION; nursing is needed | Choice |
| Infinite Space: no boundaries, unlimited thinking; freedom to reach higher consciousness | De-centering |
| Timelessness: increase freedom | Unbinding |
| Absolute Consciousness: equated with love (goal) | Real Freedom |
Clinical Application
The Phenomenon of Interest: expanding consciousness (4) steps;
- Interview: rn/client meet, discuss the purpose, set a mutual goal with trust, both emerge higher consciousness. Client agrees to the study, agrees to be recorded for an interview on tape.
- Transcription: rn listen carefully and transcribe soon as the interview is completed.
- Development of Narrative: pattern recognition, rn selects statements most important in segmented chronological order to highlight significant events and persons. Arranges natural breaks in the form of sequential patterns.
- Diagram: rn transmutes the narrative into a simple diagram of the sequential pattern configurations.
Follow-up: 2nd interview shares the diagram of pattern, RN DOES NOT INTERPRET diagram. A client may express signs that pattern recognition is occurring or not. PATTERN REC. IS NOT FORCED.
If the pattern is recognized, the RN determines which stage the client is at and if it’s at stage 4 or CHOICE POINT; nursing is needed. The application was r/t describing life patterns of people who moved to a new country.
Additional Information & References
- A simple outline by Current Nursing
- Information about Dr. Neuman, outlining her theory by Nurse Key
- Newman’s Theory of Health as Expanding Consciousness as a generic tool applicable to guide psychosocial nursing care of clients infected with HIV by Research Gate
