HEALTH AS EXPANDING CONSCIOUSNESS

Margaret Newman

 Margaret Newman proposed the theory of Health as Expanding Consciousness to

address ‘health’ for the individual that the absence of disease may not be plausible.
 She later expanded the theory to include all patients.
 The theory is based on the concept that disease is a part of health and not the antithesis
to it.
 FIRST PRESENTED IN 1978
 Newman was raised in a family that valued education, but due to the time period in
which she was raised, she was cautioned to not let boys know she was intelligent, or
challenge them academically.
 She attended high school and then college at Baylor.
 After the death of her mother she attended nursing school at the University of Tennessee
ultimately earning her doctorate in nursing from NYU.
 Newman initially loathed the idea of becoming a nurse but quickly realized the impact
she could have on people and fell in love with the science of nursing-she was drawn to
the puzzle.
 Newman stated in an interview that she did not set out to propose a nursing theory but
rather found that she had ‘slipped into it’

“Patterns are created with

periods of stability and chaos.”

 Newman believed that illness interrupted the pattern of the individual. This observation
was made first after her personal experience in caring for her mother who died of ALS.

New-
Disease
Disease Health

 Theory Selection
 Blatant curiosity
 Not ‘cure’ focused
 Holistic based
 Aimed at living the best life
- Patient
- Family - Caregivers
  Expanded consciousness growth and connection to the environment and people
around you to find meaning, with or without disease or illness.
 Illness: can create immobilization in space and time.
 Patterns: life experiences including what is of value and the response to the pattern.

Assumptions
1. Health encompasses conditions described as illness, or, in medical terms, pathology.
2. These pathological conditions can be considered a manifestation of the total pattern
of the patient.
3. The pattern of the individual patient the eventually manifests itself as pathology is
primary, and exits prior to structural or functional changes.
4. If becoming ill is the only way an individual patient’s pattern is able to manifest itself,
then that is the health of the patient.
5. Health is an expansion of consciousness.

Grand Nursing Theory

 Highly abstract
 Discusses broadly the whole health of the individual.
 Concerned with the third school of thought: Outcomes
Application of Theory in Literature
A Boolean search revealed that many articles can be found in relation to the theory of Health
as Expanding Consciousness. Overall, this theory is very relevant today and stated to be on
the forefront of a paradigm shift in nursing care.
 A patient with cancer and her family in caring partnership based on Margaret
Newman’s Theory of health as expanding consciousness.
 Patient disconnected from family by feelings of insecurities. Believes she will let her
spouse down.
 Patient is diagnosed with cancer-fragile family unit shuts down.
 Nursing as external force: Interviews with patient and family reveal room for
growth and discussion.
 Patient feels support and love from family members in a new and meaningful
way.
 New way forward.
Chinn and Kramer Systematic Model for Evaluation
 What is the purpose of the theory?
 To explain illness as a part of health.
 What are the concepts of the theory?
 Disease must not be seen separate or in opposition to health.
- Much can be understood by asking ‘what is meaningful in your life?’
 What are the definitions of the theory?
 Expand consciousness, patterns, illness/ health.
 What are the relationships of the theory?
 Disease ≠ unhealthy
 Health = health and illness patterns
 The body cannot be broken into parts-Grand theory.
 What is the structure of the theory?
 Built on concepts of space and time.
 What are the assumptions of the theory?
 Health is a unitary pattern of the whole
 Consciousness is the informational capacity of the whole.
Christian Worldview
Application of a Christian Worldview is a natural fit.
Times of chaos can be addressed by the meaningful understanding of and belief in a higher
power.
Worldly pain and suffering can be tolerated with the hope for eternal bliss.
Christian nurse act as an external force to help patients know of his healing power-may not
be absence of the disease.
Inability to hope for eternal life may be contribute to become stuck in space and time.
Relevance Today
 Provides for holistic
 Addresses ‘health’ in chronic illness
 Promotes optimal functioning
 Addresses care-giver role strain
 Applicable to all ages and stages.