Introduction

It’s important to look at a patient from a holistic perspective. A patient is not simply the illness or
injury being treated, but an entire person. In fact, every aspect of a patient can contribute to how that
patient deals with treatment and recovery, and it should all be considered when caring for the patient.
In Betty Neuman’s nursing theory, patients are cared for from holistic perspective in order to ensure
they are cared for as people and not simply ailments.

Biography of Betty Neuman

Born in Lowel, Ohio in 1924, Betty Neuman earned her diploma as a Registered Nurse in 1947 from
the Peoples Hospital School of Nursing in Akron, Ohio. She went on to complete her Bachelor of
Science in Nursing in 1957 and her Master of Science in Mental Health, both from the University of
California-Los Angeles in 1966. She also earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Pacific Western
University in 1985. In 1992, Neuman was given an Honorary Doctorate of Letters at the Neumann
College in Aston, Pennsylvania. Finally, in 1998, the Grand Valley State University in Michigan gave
her an Honorary Doctorate of Science.

Career of Betty Neuman

After earning her Masters degree, Neuman began working as a nurse. Specifically, she was a pioneer
in nursing involvement in community mental health. While she was developing her systems model,
she was working as a lecturer at the University of California-Los Angeles in community health
nursing.. Due to her work in nursing, Neuman was named as an Honorary Member of the Fellowship
of the American Academy of Nursing.
Betty Neuman’s first book. The Nuemann system model was published in 1982. The book included
nursing process format and care plans, and was a total approach to client care. Newer editions were
published in 1989, 1995, 2002, and 2010.
After the publication of her model, Neuman spent her time educating nurses and professors about it
through her work as an author and speaker.
Development of the model
• neumann’s model was influence by a variety of sources
• the philosophy writers DeChardin and Cornu (on wholeness in sysytem)
• von bertalanfy, and lazlo on general system theory
• selye on stress theory
• lararus on stress and coping
Basic assumptions
1. each client system is unique a composite of factors and characteristics within a given range of
responses contained within a basic structure
2. many known, unknown, and universal stressors exist. Each differ in its potential for disturbing
a clients usual stability level or normal line of defense (LOD)
3. the particular inter relationships of client variables at any point in time can affect the degree to
which a client is protected by the fexible line of defense (LOD) against possible reaction to
stressors
4. each client/ client system has evolved a normal range of responses to the environment that is
reffered to as a normal LOD. The normal LOD can be used as a standard from whichj to
measure health deviation
5. when the flexible LOD is no longer capable of protecting the client/ client system against an
environmental stressor, the stressor breaks through the normal LOD
6. the client whether of wellness or illness, is a dyanamic composite of the inter -relationships of
the variables. Wellness is on a continuum of available energy to support the system in an
optimal state of system capability
7. implicit with in each client system are internal resistance factors known as ( lines of
resistance)LOR, which function to stabilize and realign the client to the ususal wellness state
8. primary prevention relates to GK. Thai is applied in client assessment and interventions, in
identification and reduction of possible or actual risk factors.
9. Secondary prevention relates to symptomalogy following a reaction to stressor, appropriate
ranking of intervention priorities and treatment to reduce their noxious effects.
10.Tertiary prevention relates to adjustive processes taking place as reconstitution begins and
maintenance factors move the back in circular manner toward primary prevention
11.the client as a system is in dynamic, constant energy exchange with the environment
concepts
1. content
the variables of the person in interaction with the internal and external environment comprise
the whole client system
2. Basic structure/ central core
• common client survival factors in unique individual characteristics representing basic system
energy resources. The basic structure, or core central score, is made up of the basic
survivalfactors that are common to the species.
• These factors include normal temperature. Range, genetic structure- response pattern. Organ
strength or weakness, ego structure
• stability, or homeostasis, occurs when the amount of energy that is available exceeds that
being used by the system
• a homeostatic body system is constantly in a dynamic process of input, output, feedback, and
compensation, which leads to a stste of balance.
Degree to reaction
• the amount of system instability resulting from stressor invasion of the normal line of defence
Entropy
• a process of energy depletion and disorganization moving the system toward illness or possible
death
flexible line of defence
• a protective, accordion like mechanism that surrounds and protects that surrounds and protects
the normal line of defense from invasion by stressors
normal line of defense
• it represents