This document outlines some of the key concepts and assumptions of humanistic nursing according to Josephine G. Paterson and Loretta T. Zderad. [1] Nursing is concerned with understanding the individual's unique experiences and supporting their personal growth. [2] A person is viewed as a competent being that exists in relationship to others. [3] Health is described as a process of finding meaning and potential for well-being and growth, rather than just the absence of disease, and nursing aims to support this process.

1. Josephine G.Paterson and
Loretta T. Zderad

2. Concepts and Assumptions
• Central Theme: Humanistic
Nursing
– Nursing is concerned with the
individual’s unique being and
striving towards becoming,
nurtured in relationships.
– Concerned with the
phenomenological experiences of
individuals and the exploration of
human experiences

3. PERSON
• Man is an individual being
necessarily related to other men in
time and space.

4. PERSON
• Capable, open to options, with
values, and the unique manifestation of
their past, present and future

5. PERSON
• Interactive and needs to be viewed as
competent.

6. ENVIRONMENT
• The phenomenon of
society or environment
is the community.
• Community is defined
as two or more persons
striving together, living-
dying all at once.

7. HEALTH
• A matter of personal survival, a process of
experiencing one’s potential for well being and
more-being, a quality of living and dying; not
merely the absence of disease. It is a process
of finding the meaning of life
– More-being refers to being in the process of
becoming all that is humanly possible.
– Well being – a steady state

8. NURSING
• A nurturing response of one
person to another in a time of
need that aims toward
development of well being and
more being
• Helps increase the possibility
of making responsible choices,
since this is how human
beings are able to become