Margaret Newman's theory of health as expanding consciousness

Newman's theory of HEC

The main purpose of nursing theories is to improve the nursing practice, hence improving the health as well as quality of life of people, families or the community at large (Parker & Smith, 2010). Nursing theories usually provide logical methods of approaching and viewing the care of people in their own environment. Through the use of the theoretical model in care organization, the nursing focus on quality care strengthens significantly (Parker & Smith, 2010). In addition, there is consistency in communication as well as related activities in the nursing care. The development of nursing theories together with theory-guided practice models significantly improves the discipline and the professional practice of nursing (Parker & Smith, 2010).

One of the most key issues facing the nursing discipline is the artificial isolation of nursing theory and practice (Parker & Smith, 2010). Practicing nurses have the responsibility of studying and valuing nursing theories, just the same way that student nurse has the responsibility of understanding and appreciating daily practice of nursing. Just like theories in any other professional, nursing theories become useless if they do not impact the nursing practice (Parker & Smith, 2010). When practicing nurses and student nurses work together, both the practice and discipline of nursing significantly benefit. In addition, nursing service to the clients and the society at large improves.

Nursing practice is crucial in the process of developing, refining and testing nursing theories (Parker & Smith, 2010). The development of various nursing theories is through dialogue and reflection regarding actual nursing situations. Despite the fact that nurses do not conceptualize their thoughts on nursing theoretically, their perspectives and values are always consistent with certain nursing theories. They always make these perspectives and values explicit through the embracement of various nursing theories.

Nursing practice and theories usually reflect the same values and beliefs. Values, beliefs and knowledge always guide nurses in practice (Parker & Smith, 2010). The reflection of these values, beliefs and knowledge, is in the literature regarding nursing's metaparadigm, theories and philosophies. Moreover, nurses in practice together with nursing theorist usually work with the same phenomena in the nursing context (Parker & Smith, 2010).

Margaret Newman's Theory

Margaret Newman's Theory is a nursing theory which is similar to the unitary-transformative nursing paradigm (Newman, 2008). According to this theory, the focus in the field of health searches for wholeness patterns rather than prediction and identification of causes of diseases. Margaret Newman planted the seeds of this theory during her childhood and her experience in caring for her mother. Newman's study in various universities played a significant role in influencing her quest for articulating and exploring the knowledge of nursing discipline (Newman, 2008).

Newman's perspectives on the field of nursing substantially enriched the theory of HEC. Work, as well as dialogue, further enriched this theory. During her study at the University of California, she explored how nurses were responding to patients in an effective way (Newman, 2008). She then began making deliberative observations regarding patients putting into consideration the reflection of the patient's observations. This specific attention led to stimulation of patients to respond through talking about the things that were meaningful in their unique circumstances.

Within the Margaret Newman's Theory of HEC, relationship is the primary focus in the nursing discipline. In addition, this theory views health as objective of the nursing relationship (Newman, 2008). According to Newman, it is not possible to lose the wholeness in an individual, although the patterns of wholeness can take different forms depending on various factors. In addition, Newman considered health as a transforming process to achieve higher levels of consciousness (Dorothy, 2006).

Consciousness is the whole information of the pattern, and it involves the information capacity of an individual to interact effectively with his or her environment (Newman, 2008). In addition, it includes interconnection of the entire living system of human being including physiochemical maintenance, growth processes and the immune system (Dorothy, 2006). Expanding consciousness involves the process where an individual becomes more of oneself, finding greater meaning of life. It also involves reaching new connectedness with various types of people all over the world.

Newman maintained that movement through different levels of consciousness usually occurs continuously. Nevertheless, disorganization as well as disharmony in people's patterns such as sickness, changing circumstance and catastrophic events can significantly fuel potential movement from one level of consciousness to another (Dorothy, 2006). This can results in transformation or even expansion of consciousness.

With regard to Margaret Newman's Theory of HEC, pattern is the main aspect of nursing practice as well as research. Each individual has a unique interaction pattern between him or her and the environment. These patterns usually provide information about the meaning of life and whole understanding (Newman, 2008). Proper attention to space-time, contrast and movement are vital identification of pattern. Patterns always vary depending on the unique configuration of the environmental situation of each individual. Nevertheless, Newman's theory of HEC posits that there are pattern similarities among various people who have similar life experience. In such a situation, it is easy to identify the general pattern (Dorothy, 2006). Pattern identification is one of the most fundamental things in the field of nursing.

Margaret Newman's Theory describes an interactive nurse-client process for the purpose of recognizing patterns, which focus on relationships, interactions and events, and their meaning in the lives of people (Dorothy, 2006). Identifying, as well as recognizing patterns, usually opens new possibilities for expansion as action of consciousness (Newman, 2008).

Assumptions of Margaret Newman's Theory of HEC

Reflecting her theoretical works, Newman was able to prepare her toward a theory of presentation. It was during this presentation theory that Margaret Newman's Theory of HEC explicated formally. There are several assumptions that Newman outlined with regard to her theory. First, Newman posed that health constitutes conditions known as pathology or disease, or states, in case the disease is not present. Secondly, pathology or disease can be regarded as manifestations of the underlying patterns of the individual (Dorothy, 2006).

The third assumption of Newman's theory is that the patterns of individual manifestation themselves as a disease was present before the structural as well as functional changes of the disease. The other assumption is that the disease will not change the individual's patterns (Dorothy, 2006). If becoming sick is the only way of manifesting the pattern of a person, then this implies that is health for the individual. The last assumption of this theory is that health is essentially the expansion of consciousness (Newman, 2008).

Newman's presentation of her theory drew a conclusion that the roles of nurses are not to make people become well or even prevent them from getting sick, but to assist them in recognizing the power which is within them. This is for the purpose of moving them a higher level f consciousness.

HEC and Nursing Science

Participation in HEC needs the intentional presence of the nurse engaging in an effective interaction with the individual, family or even the community (Brown, 2011). The process is one which is knowledge driven as well as mutually experienced by both the nurse and the client. The focus of the practice of nursing usually occurs within a process which moves from the disease, and associated problems to focus on recognition of patterns and opportunities for change which will foster health, promote growth, and expand the potential of the human within the process of life (Dorothy, 2006).

Nurses play a vital role in creating a caring environment which promotes healing through recognition of pattern and mutual interaction (Brown, 2011). Through engaging in mutual interaction with the people, families or communities during times of problems and opportunities, the nurses can help individuals identify past strategies, which have become less effective. Through this, the individuals are able to develop new rules in their environment for the purpose of supporting insight, as well as transformation (Dorothy, 2006).

HEC in Nursing Research, Education and Practice

Newman proposed the research methodology which the researcher has now become part of the theory. Newman considered research as praxis, a method which enables the researcher to become part of experience with regard to their relationship with the participants (Brown, 2011). Through the use of this methodology, researchers in nursing gain new insights which plays a significant role in helping to inform a family caring for dying patients (Dorothy, 2006). In addition, it helps in providing support, as well as strength for people during the dying process illnesses in the end stage.

HEC is also useful in providing a framework that guides practice while reforming the clinical care environment (Brown, 2011). There has been development, implementation and evaluation by the use of HEC in various contexts including nursing home settings, preadmission testing area, a vascular clinic, work with individuals with chronic illnesses and community with adolescence (Kathleen & Paula, 2011). The effects of these models have led to the promotion of patient comfort, increase in nurse satisfaction and promotion in theory-guided patient care (Brown, 2011).

HEC Impact and Knowledge Development

HEC plays a crucial role in supporting ontology of nursing science experienced through a caring partnership (Brown, 2011). Through effective dialogue as well as the intentional presence of the nurse, the pattern appraisal of the patients usually occurs and the meaning is uncovered. In addition, there is gaining of new insights, which promotes opportunities for change and choices (Brown, 2011). Through the initiation of actions for the purpose of fostering change, there is growth and movement and increased awareness of the patient and nurse. In addition, there is fostering in personal information and discovery.

Newman's Theory of HEC takes part in promoting the nursing knowledge across research, theory and practice (Kathleen & Paula, 2011). This fosters the development of new knowledge, which advances the science of nursing as well as the application of this knowledge for the purpose of improving the lives of people all over the world.

With regards to my teaching career, I usually use Newman's Theory of HEC in providing care to my patients (Brown, 2011). For instance, I have recently interviewed a patient suffering from HIV in order to get enough details of his background while treating him. Through this dialogue created awareness in me regarding the social problems that the patient was going through (Kathleen & Paula, 2011). Through the application of the HEC, I was able to help the patient overcome most the problems which in turn improved his medical condition.

Conclusion

Newman's Theory of HEC provides an excellent perspective of nursing which assist nurses to provide quality services to patients. The application of this theory in research provides a transformative perspective to the logical underpinning of other related theories in the field of nursing. Essential to this theory is the strong believe that each individual exhibits a distinct pattern. This pattern constantly unfolds and evolves as the individual interacts with his or her environment. Pattern depicts the whole relationship of a person with the environment, and this gives an understanding of all relationships at once. Patterns involve meaning as well as the manifestation of consciousness.

The perspective of Newman's Theory of HEC views disease, violence and disconnection as an exposition of the underlying pattern of the individual, family or even the community. Reflecting on the patterns of all these conditions is a part of the process of involving expanding consciousness of individuals.