Foundation of Humanistic Nursing Theory
Logic of Phenomenological Methodology
THEORETICAL ROOTS
Humanistic Nursing Practice Theory
Chapter One
Humanistic Nursing Practice Theory
This chapter covers "Uniqueness-Otherness, Authenticity-Experiencing, Moreness-Choice, Value-Nonvalue." It also covers phenomenological description and the evolution of humanistic nursing practice theory.
The words "Humanistic Nursing" were chosen to reflect the experience between people where all are influenced to some degree by this interaction. The nursing interaction does not occur in a vacuum, that is, the nurse doing for or to someone or something but rather is a two way road where both are integrated into a relationship even for the moment. For this (uniqueness-otherness) to happen, the reflection of the uniqueness of each human including self occurs in the human species. The term "all-at-once" is a dichotomy meaning each is unique but also like all other humans.
"Authenticity-experiencing" refers to an existential awareness of self and in relating to the other and experiencing of their world view. Polonius advising his son Laertes (Shakespeare, 1603) said it best; "To thine own self be true." Additionally as part of existentially relating, man can envision and choose alternatives and relate this in a relationship with another. As we experience this, man becomes wise in the process.
The responsibility of choice is given to all men. Man has the inherent capacity to choose how to respond to another or is given "free agency." Nursing's concern with this "moreness-choice" is to be aware of the other's view and choices as well as their own and to respond or relate based on this.
"Value-nonvalue" refers to the offering of genuine presence to others, with the belief that there is value within the other person. It is a belief in the "worth of souls" (Smith, 1830). A nurse either brings a genuine presence or not into a nursing situation. This quality is what separates the "good, a natural" nurse from one that is practicing in a void. These concepts are basic and necessary for the development of humanistic nursing.
Phenomenological description is to study the "thing itself." Humanistic nursing is a description of each unique nursing situation from the nurse's view, the other's response and the reciprocal call and response. Much of these nursing situations deal with life changing events that are bridges of the two worlds and the description of this.
Why is the experience described phenomenologically and how? "Humanistic nursing proposes that human forms of existence in nursing situations need attestation and that through describing, nurses will understand better and relate to man as man is." The how entails 1.) deliberate responsible conscious, aware, nonjudgmental existence of the nurse in the nursing situation followed by 2.) disciplined authentic reflection and description, and 3.) common themes become apparent to ponder for compilation, complementary synthesis, and on-going refinement . (P & Z, p. 8)
For 40 years Paterson & Zderad along with others came to value these interactive situations with Paterson pursuing it through a phenomenological approach and Zderad's approach was the artistic science of nursing.
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