The human becoming theory of nursing presents an alternative to both the conventional bio-medical approach and the bio-psycho-social-spiritual (but still normative) approach of most other theories of nursing. The human becoming theory posits quality of life from each person's own perspective as the goal of nursing practice. Rosemarie Rizzo Parse first published the theory in 1981 as the "Man-living-health" theory. The name was officially changed to "the human becoming theory" in 1992 to remove the term "man," after the change in the dictionary definition of the word from its former meaning of "humankind." The human becoming theory was developed as a human science nursing theory in the tradition of Dilthey, Heidegger, Sartre, Merleau-Ponty, and Gadamer. The assumptions underpinning the theory were synthesized from works by the European philosophers, Heidegger, Sartre, and Merleau-Ponty, along with works by the pioneer American nurse theorist, Martha Rogers. The theory is structured around three abiding themes: meaning, rhythmicity, and transcendence.
The first theme, MEANING, is expressed in the first principle of the theory, which states that "Structuring meaning multidimensionally is cocreating reality through the languaging of valuing and imaging." This principle means that people coparticipate in creating what is real for them through self-expression in living their values in a chosen way.
The second theme, RHYTHMICITY, is expressed in the second principle of the theory, which states that "Cocreating rhythmical patterns of relating is living the paradoxical unity of revealing-concealing and enabling-limiting while connecting-separating." This principle means that the unity of life encompasses apparent opposites in rhythmic patterns of relating. It means that in living moment-to-moment one shows and does not show self as opportunities and limitations emerge in moving with and apart from others.
The third theme, TRANSCENDENCE, is expressed in the third principle of the theory, which states that "Cotranscending with the possibles is powering unique ways of originating in the process of transforming." This principle means that moving beyond the "now" moment is forging a unique personal path for oneself in the midst of ambiguity and continuous change.
Nurses who PRACTICE guided by the human becoming theory live the processes of the Parse practice methodology - illuminating meaning, synchronizing rhythms, and mobilizing transcendence. RESEARCH guided by the human becoming theory sheds light on the meaning of universal humanly lived experiences such as hope, taking life day-by-day, grieving, suffering, and time passing. For references on any of these topics - the practice method, the research method, or specific studies - see the reference list.
For more information about Human Becoming please visit Dr. Parse's website at www.discoveryinternationalonline.com