Applying Parse's Humanbecoming Theory to Patient Care Plan

[newbiepnp, MSN, RN, NP, CNS]

I already have read many of the threads on here relating to everyone's disdain about dealing with nursing theories. However, the fact remains that us nursing students still need to use them and disect them, write about them and compare.

My group is presenting a care plan on a patient who has diminshed neurological function and we are to use Porifice's Humanbecoming theory. I've read through her papers, websites, theologist book, cliff notes and charts and am still lost on how to actually produce a care plan based on this theory. It is so out there in transcending the real world I am losing my mind on how to even begin applying it.

Can someone suggest a source that could help me with at least an outline or an example? I'm not asking for the answers, but time is running out and I've exhausted much of my resources and am just looking for a shove in the right direction.

Thanks a million.

[llg, PhD, RN]

A lot of theory textbooks include case studies using the theories they are discussing. You might go to a local nursing library and look at whatever theory textbooks they have there. Both of the 2 textbooks by Alligood and Tomey include chapters on Porifice that end with case studies that illustrate how to use the theory in practice.

The two books are:

Nursing Theory: Utilization & Application and

Nursing Theorists and Their Work

Both are edited by Martha Raile Alligood and Ann Marriner Tomey

Another thing you might want to do is to simply browse old issues of Nursing Science Quarterly. That is Porifice's journal and you might find articles there that include case studies that illustrate the use of the theory in practice.

Finally ... actually using a theory usually requires that you step away from it a little bit -- so that you can look at the case situation through the lens of the theory rather than focusing on the theory itself. You may be focusing so much on the theory itself that you are not able to see through the theory to see the case situation. To apply a theory, use the key ideas in the theory and ask, "How does this apply to my patient?" "What about this patient situation relates to ideas/concepts within the theory?"

I hope that helps.

[newbiepnp, MSN, RN, NP, CNS]

You are so right! I am so immersed in trying to understand this theory that I'm losing sight as to what it is really trying to accomplish. I have the Theorists and Their Work text, I'll look again with fresh eyes and try to pick up where I looked too close.

Thanks again for smacking me on the head to pull it out of the ground.