Describes the work of Nursing Theorist Martha Rogers, and implications for nursing practice, education, and research.

1. MARTHA ROGERS
The Science of Unitary Human Beings
Angeli Lagasca, RN BSN CCRN
Columbia University, Teachers College
October 9, 2015

2. Martha Rogers
(1914-1994) EDUCATION
-1931: Studied science at University of Tennessee
-1936: Nursing diploma, Knoxville General Hospital
-1937: BS, George Peabody College, Nashville, TN
-1945: MA, public health nursing supervision,
Columbia University Teachers College, New York, NY
-1952: MPH, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
-1954: ScD, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

3. Martha Rogers
(1914-1994) NURSING CAREER
Practice: Rural public health, MI
Visiting nurse, CT
Management: Visiting nurse supervision/education, CT
Est’d VNS of Phoenix, AZ
Academia: Professor/Head of Nursing Division, NYU
Professor Emerita, NYU
Published 3 books, >200 articles
Theory: Published An Introduction to the
Theoretical Basis of Nursing (1970),
described conceptual model for nursing

4. Rogers’ Science of Unitary Human Beings
“The study of the moving,
intuitive experience of nurses
in mutual process with those
they serve”
(Rogers, 1970, p. 9).

5. Rogers’ Science of Unitary Human Beings
Theoretical Sources: Multidisciplinary
ANTHROPOLOGY PSYCHOLOGY SOCIOLOGY ASTRONOMY
RELIGION PHILOSOPHY HISTORY BIOLOGY
PHYSICS MATHEMATICS LITERATURE NIGHTINGALE

6. Rogers’ Science of Unitary Human Beings
Theoretical Sources: Nightingale
“FOUNDATION FOR THE SCOPE
OF MODERN NURSING”
(Rogers, 1970, p. 30)
Re: Relationship of human being
and environment

7. Rogers’ Science of Unitary Human Beings
Theoretical Sources: Science
Abstract concepts: unable to be tested using measurable empirical evidence.
Instead, Rogers’ work builds on theoretical concepts of multiple disciplines:
QUANTUM PHYSICS GENERAL SYSTEMS THEORY ELECTRODYNAMICS
Einstein von Bertalanffy Burr & Northrop

8. Rogers’ Science of Unitary Human Beings
Theoretical Sources: Eastern Philosophy
Hanchett (1992) identifies Buddhist concepts as predecessors for Rogerian assertions:
THE SENTIENT BEING
- An organism which experiences the totality of
living, and thus, is capable of enlightenment
- Composed of matter, sensation, perception,
mental formations and consciousness
EMPTINESS
- Openness, capacity for perception of the abstract
- Boundless reality void of space, time
DEPENDENT ARISING, KARMA
- Chain of causes which contribute to rebirth

9. Major Concepts and Definitions
Building Blocks
PATTERN PANDIMENSIONALITY
UNIVERSE OF
OPEN SYSTEMSENERGY FIELD

10. Major Concepts and Definitions
Building Blocks: Pandimensionality
PANDIMENSIONALITY:
The unitary whole is...
PANDIMENSIONALITY is an attribute of the unitary whole.
INFINITE
NONLINEAR
SPACELESS TIMELESS
LIMITLESS

11. Major Concepts and Definitions
Building Blocks: Pattern
PATTERN
Represents characteristics which DEFINE an ENERGY FIELD:
PATTERN is a varying, single wave only perceivable via manifestations (ex: sense of self,
degree of well-being, fast or slow perception of time, degree of pragmatism vs.
imaginativeness), which are unique to the individual energy field.
Continuously changes
in innovative and
unique ways
Varies constantly,
thereby giving identity
to the Energy field.
Manifests as a result of
interaction between
human & environment
(integral fields)

12. Major Concepts and Definitions
Building Blocks: Universe of Open Systems
UNIVERSE OF
OPEN SYSTEMS
Energy fields are…
INFINITE
Energy fields are…
OPEN
Energy fields are…
INTEGRAL
The HUMAN FIELD and ENVIRONMENTAL FIELD interact continuously
within a UNIVERSE OF OPEN SYSTEMS.

13. Major Concepts and Definitions
Building Blocks: Energy Field
ENERGY
FIELD
FUNDAMENTAL UNIT of living and nonliving things, including: (1) human being (2) environment
Exists in a UNIVERSE of OPEN SYSTEMS:
change is dynamic, continuous, creative,
unpredictable, and infinite
Is identifiable by PATTERN:
Identity changes with changes in pattern
Is PANDIMENSIONAL:
Exists as an infinite, indivisible, irreducible
entity unbound by time or space

14. Major Concepts and Definitions
Building Blocks: Energy Field
ENERGY FIELD
HUMAN FIELD
ENVIRONMENTAL
FIELD
The Human Field and Environmental Field are in a process of continuous
mutual change. They are integral to each other, and influence each
other in ways that may be unquantifiable or imperceptible.
The Human Field and Environmental Field are each identified by wave
patterns whose changes are manifested in the whole.

15. Major Concepts and Definitions
Nursing Metaparadigm
NURSING METAPARADIGM
NURSING
PERSON HEALTH
ENVIRONMENT

16. Major Concepts and Definitions
Nursing Metaparadigm
PERSON
A unitary human being is...
...an “irreducible, indivisible,
pandimensional energy field identified by
pattern and manifesting characteristics
that are specific to the whole” (Rogers, 1992,
p. 29).
...an open system or human field
...in constant process with the environment
...more than the sum of his or her parts

17. Major Concepts and Definitions
Nursing Metaparadigm
ENVIRONMENT
An environmental field is...
...irreducible, infinite, pandimensional.
...specific to its human field.
...more than the sum of its parts.
...subject to innovative, unpredictable change.
...characterized by increasing diversity.

18. Major Concepts and Definitions
Nursing Metaparadigm
NURSING
Nursing is an empirical science. It
becomes an art when used creatively
for human betterment.
Its focal concern is people, the world
they live in, and the life process, which
causes them to change.
Its purpose is to advance health and
well-being on a large scale.
It aims to promote harmony between
human field and environmental field in
a way which optimizes well-being.

19. Major Concepts and Definitions
Nursing Metaparadigm
HEALTH
“Health” is a value term.
it is defined by the individual or group based
on manifestations that are considered to have
high value (“health”) or low value (“illness”).
“Wellness” refers to the activity of an
individual’s energy field.
Dynamic change represents movement along
the wellness continuum. In an energy field,
wellness is manifested in rhythmic
consistency, higher frequency, and increasing
pattern diversity.
Iatrogenesis & hypochondriasis are the
major health problems in the US.
These indicate discord in the process
between human field and environmental
field-- specifically, between patient and
healthcare environment.

20. Theoretical Assertions
Definitions & Evolution, 1970-1992
H E L I C Y
(EVOLUTION)
R E S O N A N C Y
(CHANGE INTENSITY)
I N T E G R A L I T Y
(WHOLENESS)
Continuous and nonrepeating:
essential properties of change
Intensity of the evolution of an
energy field, i.e. its wave
pattern
Presence of a continuous mutual
process of exchange between
energy fields
From probabilistic, became
unpredictable
Came to specify a change from
lower to higher wave frequency
Evolved from the concepts of
synchrony, reciprocy
H O M E O D Y N A M I C S
(QUALITIES OF CHANGE)
The principles which describe the nature of the intrinsic change occurring in
wave patterns, energy fields and the universe as a whole:

21. Theoretical Assertions
Five Supportive Assumptions
4. P A T T E R N :
“Pattern and organization identify man
and reflect his innovative wholeness”
(p. 54)
5. S E N T I E N T B E I N G :
“Man is characterized by the capacity for
abstraction and imagery, language and
thought, sensation, and emotion” (p. 73)
1. E N E R G Y F I E L D :
“Man is a unified whole possessing his own
integrity and manifesting characteristics
more than and different from the sum of
his parts” (p. 47)
2. I N T E G R A L I T Y :
“Man and environment are continuously
exchanging matter and energy with one
another” (p. 54)
3. H E L I C Y :
“The life process evolves irreversibly and
unidirectionally along the space-time
continuum” (p. 59)
(Rogers, 1970)

22. Acceptance by the Nursing Community
NURSING
COMMUNITY
RESEARCH
EDUCATION
PRACTICE

23. Acceptance by the Nursing Community
Nursing Practice
CONCEPT: Existence is a totality of experience
APPLICATION: Focus on continuum of care vs. episodic illness
C: Nursing is theoretical knowledge translated into creative action
A: Act using the intellectual, the abstract, AND the human; unify theory and practice
C: Wellness, not health, is the goal
A: Do not target change that is traditionally valued as a “healthy,” favorable outcome;
evaluate outcomes based on change in perception (observable pattern of human field)
C: Pattern manifests characteristics of the whole
A: Address disturbances using a holistic critical thinking process:
(1) Pattern appraisal, (2) mutual pattern exploration, (3) evaluation of emerging perception

24. Acceptance by the Nursing Community
Nursing Practice: Rogerian Patterning Modalities
E X A M P L E S
ACUPUNCTURE AROMATHERAPY TOUCH /
MASSAGE
GUIDED
IMAGERY
GUIDED
REMINISCENCE
HUMOR HYPNOSIS DIETARY
MANIPULATION
MEDITATION SELF-
REFLECTION
TRANSCENDENT
PRESENCE
MUSIC

25. Acceptance by the Nursing Community
Nursing Practice: Rogerian Patterning Modalities (Cont’d)
V I T A L C O M P O N E N T S
MEANINGFUL
DIALOGUE
CENTERING PANDIMENSIONAL
AUTHENTICITY
GENUINENESS
TRUSTWORTHINESS
ACCEPTANCE
KNOWLEDGEABLE
CARING

26. Acceptance by the Nursing Community
Nursing Practice: Rogerian Patterning Modalities (Cont’d)
FACILITATORS EDUCATORS ADVOCATES
ASSESSORS PLANNERS
COORDINATORS/
COLLABORATORS
N U R S E S ‘ R O L E S
ACCEPT
DIVERSITY
RECOGNIZE
PATTERNS
VIEW CHANGE
AS POSITIVE
ACCEPT THE
CONNECTED-
NESS OF LIFE
QUESTION
TRADITIONAL
VALUES
WHILE
ACTING
AS

27. Acceptance by the Nursing Community
Nursing Education
ASSERTIONS
SEPARATE LICENSURE
CURRICULUM
RESEARCH COMPETENCIES
Nursing is a SCIENCE and a LEARNED PROFESSION.
Nurses must commit to LIFELONG LEARNING.
Nursing uses KNOWLEDGE for HUMAN BETTERMENT.
Associate’s Degree Nurse (technically oriented)
Bachelor’s Degree Nurse (professionally oriented)
Professional Nurses should be WELL ROUNDED:
educated in humanities, sciences, and nursing
Bachelor’s: Identify problems
Use knowledge to improve practice
Read research intelligently
Master’s: Conduct applied research
Doctoral: Conduct theoretical, fundamental research

28. Acceptance by the Nursing Community
Nursing Research: Emerging Theories
ROGERIAN
MODEL
GRAND THEORY
NEWMAN:
Health as
Expanding
Consciousness
PARSE:
Human
Becoming
MIDRANGE THEORY
HOMEODYNAMICS SELF-TRANSCENDENCE,
ENLIGHTENMENT,
SPRITUALITY
TURBULENCE AND
DISSONANCE AGING
INTENTIONALITY
UNITARY CARING
HUMAN FIELD MOTION
CREATIVITY,
ACTUALIZATION,
EMPATHY
BARRETT (2010),
BULTEMEIER (2002),
FLOYD (1983) REED (2003), MALINSKI
(1994), SMITH (1994)
ALLIGOOD & MCGUIRE
(2000), BUTCHER (2003)
UGARIZZA (2002),
ZAHOUREK (2005)
WATSON & SMITH (2002)
FERENCE (1986)
ALLIGOOD (1991)
BUTCHER (1993),
BULTEMEIER (2002)

29. Acceptance by the Nursing Community
Nursing Research: Approach
PURPOSE:
Examine unitary
human being as
integral with
environment
Examine and
understand
the
phenomenon
Develop
patterning
activities
TYPES OF DATA:
QUALITATIVE:
Appropriate. Descriptive,
experiential, acknowledges
diversity, universality, patterned
change, demonstrates value of
perception/sentient awareness
QUANTITATIVE:
Less appropriate. Seeks to prove
causal relationships, thereby
oversimplifying causality
METHODS:
Instruments and practice
tools derived from the
Rogerian model
Used to measure human-
environmental field
activity, interaction,
manifestation

30. Critique
CLARITY - Principles are difficult to understand
- Lack of operational definitions
- Inadequate tools of measurement
- Applied for development of nursing science
- Clear implications for nursing research
SIMPLICITY - Complex upon first inspection
- Study / use uncovers “elegant simplicity” (Alligood, 2013, p. 230)
- Few major concepts/assumptions, offers comprehensive theory
GENERALITY - Abstract model = broad in scope
- Provides a framework for grand or middle-range theories
ACCESSIBILITY - Deductive: no immediate empirical support
- Rogerian science has yielded testable theories, measurement tools
IMPORTANCE - Supports nursing’s developing identity as a science
- Contains many suggestions for future studies
- Utility for nursing practice, education, administration, research

31. Thank you for your attention!
Questions?

32. References
Gunther, M. E. (2013). Unitary Human Beings. In M. R. Alligood (Ed.), Nursing Theorists and Their
Work (220-239). Missouri: Mosby Elsevier.
Hanchett, E. S. (1992). Concepts from eastern philosophy and Rogers’ Science of Unitary Human
Beings. Nursing Science Quarterly, 5(4), 164-170.
Rogers, M. E. (1970). An Introduction to the Theoretical Basis of Nursing. Philadelphia: F. A. Davis.