Martha Rogers Science of Unitary Human Beings Susie Clabots

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Martha RogersScience of Unitary Human Beings

• Susie Clabots, Kristi Eilers, Liz Hopewell, Sarah
  Kline, Robin Simmons

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Background

• Diploma in nursing, 1936
• Bachelor of Science degree, 1937
• MSN from Teachers College, 1945
• Doctorate degree in science at John Hopkins
  University, 1954
• Public Health Nurse
• Visiting Nurse
• Head of Nursing, NYU

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Origins

• Evolutionary theory
• General systems theory
• Physics
• Adaptation
• More specifically, her love of science fiction
  and
• Music (Meleis, 2007)

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Central Questions

• 1. What is the focus of nursing?
• 2. What knowledge gives
• nursing an identity?
• 3. Who is the nursing client?
• 4. What is the relationship between man and
  environment?
• 5. What are the phenomena of concern in
  nursing?
• 6. What knowledge is needed to develop the
  science of nursing?

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Four Basic Concepts (Meleis, 2007)

• Energy fields
• Openness
• Pattern
• Four-dimensionality

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Energy Fields

• Fundamental unit of living and non-living.
• Energy refers to dynamic nature, i.e., continuous
  motion or change.
• Infinite.
• Humans and environment do not HAVE energy fields.
  THEY ARE ENERGY FIELDS.

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Openness

• Openness is a characteristic of both humans and
  environment.
• Transcend time and space.
• The energy fields of man and environment are
  integral with one another.

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Pattern

• Characteristics of an energy field perceived as a
  single wave (pg 235).
• Refers only to an energy field (man and
  environment).
• Changes continuously.

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Four-Dimensionality

• Energy fields (man and environment) are not bound
  by time or space.
• Also referred to as pandimensionality

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Important Definitions

• Unitary Her theory is called the science of
  Unitary Human Beings. Unitary refers to being a
  whole which cannot be broken down into parts, or
  irreducible.
• Nursing While the energy fields of man and
  environment are outside of time, nursing takes
  place along a space-time continuum (Meleis, 2007).

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Essence of Theory

• The energy field of the human being interacts
  with the energy field environment. (The human
  being and the environment cannot be understood in
  isolation of each other).
• Nursing Client Human beings-environment energy
  fields relationship.
• Nursing therapeutics Repatterning of man and
  environment for more effective fulfillment of
  lifes capabilities (Meleis, 2007).

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Environment Energy Field
Human Being Energy Field
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Clinical Applications

• Others have expanded on Rogers theory.
• Use of an assessment framework
• Living in the Relative Present
• Experiencing comfort from past/present
• Shared Communication
• Sense of Rhythm
• Connection to Environment
• Sense of Self-Identity

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Clinical Applications (cont.)

• Creation of Nursing Diagnoses
• Disturbed Energy Field
• Nursing Interventions
• Therapeutic Touch
• Meditation/Imagery
• Light, Color and Music Therapy

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Marthas You Tube Video

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vNbNEbh8YY70

http//library.utmem.edu/exhibits/newman/
www.medweb.uwcm.ac.uk
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Evolution of Science of Unitary Human Beings

• 1970 Rogers describes principles of
  homeodynamics as reciprocity, synchrony,
  helicy, and resonancy.
• Rogers identifies people as the central
  phenomenon of interest to nursing.
• Rogers describes characteristics of humans to
  be unified wholes, continually exchanging energy
  with the environment.
• 1986 Ferences Field Motion Test (Research)
• Barretts Human Field Power Test
  (Research)
• Newmans Theory of Health as Expanding
  Consciousness (Theory)
• 1992 Rogers principles change to integrality,
  helicy, and resonancy.
• Rogers modifies characteristics to be human and
  environmental energy fields, openness, pattern,
  and pandimensionality.

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Evolution of Science of Unitary Human Beings

• 1997 Carbonis Rogerian Process of Inquiry
  (Research)
• Bultemeiers Photo-Disclosure Method (Research)
• 1998 Parses Human Becoming Theory (Theory)
• Barretts Health Patterning (Practice)
• 2005 Butchers Unitary Field Pattern Portrait
  (Practice)
• Cowlings Unitary Appreciative Inquiry (Practice)

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Nursing Theory Pioneer
Identified people and the world they live in
as the core focus of nursing (Fawcett,
1995). Focus on patterns and repatterning.
Introduced concept of energy to nursing theory
(Meleis, 2007). Emphasized nursing as a
unique empirical science. Advocated
nursing-specific body of knowledge.
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Scope of the Science of Unitary Human Beings

• Relatable to ADLs and daily human needs (Meleis,
  2007)
• Inspiration for environment-patient
  interactionist theories and practice methods.
• Therapeutic touch
• Barrets theory of power as knowing
  participation in change (Malinski, 2006)
• Zahoureks theory of intentionality (Malinski,
  2006)

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Increasing Popularity of Rogers Theory

• Nursing focus on holism
• Empowers the patient and the professional nurse
  as agents for change

www.societyofrogerianscholars.org
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Conceptual Problems

• This is a theory whose complexity of the
  primitive concepts has undermined the clarity of
  the relationship between the concepts as well as
  the boundaries Meleis, p. 404.
• Overly esoteric one is also faced with the
  limitations of the existing English language in
  describing pandimensionality of a human being
  field and the influence of the tremendous
  acceleration of change on humanity. (Rogers,
  1980a)
• Vague definitions leading to debate even
  among Rogerian scholars. Example the TT HEF
  (human energy field) vs. the Rogerian HEF.

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Conceptual Problems (cont.)

• Central Concepts (i.e. energy fields) have
  limited practical application.
• Contraindications in the theory occur.
  Example delineating the boundary of the human
  field with instruments (p. 113) but also states
  that the human field extends to infinity without
  boundaries.
• Criticized as a closed system in which
  most studies are conducted and/or published
  within Rogerian scholar circles and publications.

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The Science of Rogerian Nursing

• Not only is nursing theory an
  articulation of phenomena and
• their relationships, but such articulation
  has to be communicated
• to colleagues in ways that make it
  possible to test, evaluate,
• interpret and use these
  articulations. (Meleis, p. 41)
• Rogers labeled her work as a science, or
  conceptual model.
• She reinforced the idea that nursing is based on
  a science. (Meleis, p. 406)
• However, she was openly critical of
  evidence-based practice.
• References to quantum physics are apparent
  attempts to legitimize the concepts.
• Existing scientific methodology fails to capture
  the immeasurable components of the theory.

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Research Studiesor Lack Thereof

• Nursing theorists also tend to avoid crucial
  experiments which could jeopardize the theory in
  the rare cases where the theory is coherent
  enough to permit testing or, as noted for
  therapeutic touch, reinterpret the theory to make
  it possible to test. (Raskin)
• The research studies conducted tend to be
  qualitative and/or anecdotal in nature, with
  poorly defined or irreproducible outcomes.
• Infamous study published in JAMA (1998) cast
  serious doubts on efficacy of TT.
• Two meta-analyses and a systematic review
  relating to TT concluded that any conclusion of
  effects are qualified by a methodological concern
  ( Peters, 1999 Winstead-Fry Kijek. 1999 Astin
  et al., 2000).

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Final Resolution (?)

• Perhaps it is becoming clear that there are no
  answers, in the sense of last word or final
  resolutions, within the system. The world view
  underlying the Science of Unitary Human Beings,
  one of total openness and continuous change
  fosters ongoing inquiry (Malinski, 1986).

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References (1)

• Astin J.A., Harkness E. Ernst E. (2000) The
  efficacy of distant healing a systematic
  review of randomized trials. Annals of Internal
  Medicine, 132, 903910.
• Fawcett, J. (1995). Analysis and evaluation of
  conceptual models of nursing (3rd ed.). F.A.
  Philadelphia, PA Davis.
• Kenny, J. (2002). Philosophical and Theoretical
  Perspectives for Advanced Nursing Practice (3rd
  ed.). Sudbury, Massachusetts Jones and Bartlett
  Publishers.
• Malinski, V.M. (1986). Explorations of Martha
  Rogers Science of Unitary Human Beings. East
  Norwalk, CT Prentice-Hall.
• Malinski, V. M., Manhart Barrett, E. A. (1994).
  Martha E. Rogers Her Life and Her Work.
  Philadelphia F. A. Davis Company.
• Manhart Barret, E. (2000). The Theoretical
  Matrix for a Rogerian Nursing Practice. Theoria
  Journal of Nursing Theory.
• Manhart Barrett, E. (1990) Visions of Rogers
  Science-Based Nursing. New York, NY National
  League for Nursing.
• Meleis, A. I (2007). Theoretical Nursing
  Development Progress. (4th Ed)., Philadelphia,
  PA Lippincott Williams Williams.

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References (2)

• OMathúna, p. A critical evaluation of the
  theory and practice of therapeutic touch.
  Blackwell Science Ltd 2002 Nursing Philosophy, 3,
  pp. 163176.
• Raskin, Jef. "Rogerian Nursing Theory A Humbug
  in the Halls of Higher Learning", Skeptical
  Inquirer 245 September/October 2000 pp 30-36.
  (http//jef.raskincenter.org/published/NursingTheo
  ryForSite.html, accessed 9/25/08)
• Rogers, Martha E. 1970. An Introduction to the
  Theoretical Basis of Nursing. Philadelphia F.A.
  Davis Company.
• Rosa, L., E. Rosa, L. Sarner and S. Barrett.
  1998. "A Close Look at Therapeutic Touch". JAMA 1
  April 1005-1010.
• Winstead-Fry P. Kijek J. (1999) An integrative
  review and meta-analysis of therapeutic touch
  research. Alternative Therapies in Health and
  Medicine, 5, 5867.
• Wright, B.W. (2007) . The evolution of Rogers
  Science of Unitary Human Beings 21st century
  reflections. Nursing Science Quarterly. 20(1),
  64-67.