THE PHILIPPINE WOMEN’S UNIVERSITY

GRADUATE SCHOOL
MASTER OF ARTS IN NURSING
IN-CAMPUS (2014-2015)

“The Seesaw Theory”

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK IN NURSING

(Term Paper)

IVAN DEREK V. WYCOCO, RN

Ivan V. Wycoco: The Seesaw Theory in Nursing Hygiene and Motivational
Performance Factors

Career Growth Company policies

Motivation Achievement
Quality of supervision
Career advancement
Hygiene Factors Relations with others
Motivational Factors Personal growth
(Herzberg Two-Factor Theory) Personal life
Job interest
Rate of pay
Recognition
Job security
Responsibility
Working condition

Neutral form/position
Ivan V. Wycoco: The Seesaw Theory in Nursing

Company policies
Quality of supervision
Relations with others
Personal life
Rate of pay
Job security
Working condition
Achievement
Career advancement
Personal growth
Recognition

Job resignation
Performance
Career growth
Motivation

Negative form
Ivan V. Wycoco: The Seesaw Theory in Nursing

Company policies
Quality of supervision
Relations with others
Personal life
Rate of pay
Job security
Working condition
Achievement
Career advancement
Personal growth
Job resignation Recognition
Performance
Career growth
Motivation

Positive form
Ivan V. Wycoco: The Seesaw Theory in Nursing

PHILOSOPHICAL UNDERPINNINGS OF THE THEORY

Ivan Wycoco’s Seesaw Theory approach to nursing was

developed inductively from his first hospital work practice
experience. The theory was created to give emphasis and
knowledge with nursing and is most applicable to nursing
management and practice. Ivan’s work inspired by the model,
Imogene King’s “Goal Attainment Theory” and used concepts and
theories from a number of disciplines in Administration and
Management in the development of his theory like “The Two-Factor
Theory” of Frederick Herzberg.
Although it was intended to guide Nurses in the hospital, it also has
growth-producing motivations for employees and prevent lost
productivity due to dissatisfaction.
Ivan V. Wycoco: The Seesaw Theory in Nursing

MAJOR ASSUMPTIONS, CONCEPTS, AND RELATIONSHIPS

Assumptions

The Seesaw theory lists several assumptions relating to individuals as a

Nurse and as a human being, nurse-client interactions and nursing discipline as
well. When describing individuals, the model states that (1) individuals are social,
sentient, and rational beings and (2) individuals are controlling, purposeful,
action oriented, and time oriented in their behavior (King, 1995).
In terms of nursing, Ivan used the modern definition of nursing that the
unique function of the nurse is to assist the individual, sick or well, in the
performance of those activities contributing to health or its recovery that he
would perform unaided if he had the necessary strength, will or knowledge, and
to do this in such a way to gain independence as rapidly as possible.
Ivan V. Wycoco: The Seesaw Theory in Nursing

Concepts

Ivan’s Seesaw theory defines the metaparadigm concepts

of nursing as well as a number of additional concepts.

Ivan V. Wycoco: The Seesaw Theory in Nursing

Concept Definition

Social beings who are rational and

Individuals sentient. Humans communicate their
thoughts, actions, customs, and beliefs
through language. Persons exhibit
common characteristics such as the ability
to perceive, to think, to feel, to choose
between alternative courses of action, to
set goals, to select the means to achieve
goals, and to make decisions.

A process of action, reaction, and

Nursing interaction whereby nurse and client share
information about their perceptions in the
nursing situation. The nurse and client share
specific goals, problems, and concerns
and explore means to achieve a goal.
Ivan V. Wycoco: The Seesaw Theory in Nursing
A process of perception and
Interaction communication between
person and environment and
between person and person
represented by verbal and
nonverbal behaviors that are
directed.
The background for human
Environment interactions. It is both external
to, and internal to, the
individual.
The desire to learn; the
Motivation condition of being eager to act
or work; the force or influence
that causes something to do
something.
Ivan V. Wycoco: The Seesaw Theory in Nursing

Relationships
Ivan’s Seesaw theory encompasses a great many
relationships, many of them complex. Ivan has broken
these into useful propositions that enhance the
understanding of the relationships of the theory. The
following is a review of some of the relationships among
concepts of the theory.
 Nurse and patient are purposeful interacting systems.
 Nurse and client perceptions, judgments, and actions,
if congruent, lead to goal directed transactions.
 Nurses’ desire jobs that are meaningful, provide them
with the opportunity to be personally responsible for
the outcome of their work (autonomy), and provide
them with feedback of the results of their efforts
(Hackman & Oldman, 1976).
Ivan V. Wycoco: The Seesaw Theory in Nursing

 If there is a discrepancy between the extent to

which a job provides these three outcomes and
an employee’s need for these outcomes, the
employee will be less likely motivated.
 A discrepancy between an employees’ needs,
values, and wants, and what a job offers can
also lead to low levels of motivation and
satisfaction (Morris & Campion, 2003).
 Goal setting influences a person’s behavior by
directing energy and attention, sustaining effort
over time, and motivating the person to
develop strategies for goal attainment.
Ivan V. Wycoco: The Seesaw Theory in Nursing

USEFULNESS
Ivan’s theory approach was constructed to be useful to
nursing and is most applicable to nursing management and
practice, with the driving force for it being in nursing
education, information and materials used in Ivan’s theory
were from other discipline as well. The theory is useful for
nursing practice and education.

PARSIMONY
The conceptual system was presented together in
several versions and writings from other discipline. The theory is
open for revision, update, and enhancement for future
reference and guide. It is not parsimonious, having numerous
concepts, however, mirrors the complexity of matter of the
model. The model is general and universal and can be
umbrella for more than one theory and future reference.
Ivan V. Wycoco: The Seesaw Theory in Nursing

VALUE IN EXTENDING NURSING SCIENCE

In addition to application in practice, Ivan’s Seesaw
theory can be a basis for development of several nursing
theories and other discipline as well. For example, the
theory of Goal Attainment was used by Rooda (1992) to
develop a model for multi-cultural nursing practice. King’s
systems Framework was reportedly used by Alligood and
May (2000) and so on. The Two-Factor Theory believed that
job-related factors could be job-related elements that result
from but do not involve the job itself.
In addition, monitoring job satisfaction is important.
The effects of many human resource strategies are
examined with respect to their impact on job satisfaction.
Ivan V. Wycoco: The Seesaw Theory in Nursing