The Human Becoming Theory: Personal Reflection Essay

The writer had an opportunity to listen to the client’s stories and health experiences. Through the interactions, the writer was able to understand his care needs, which was a new learning experience for the writer. The patient was worried that he will have to undergo dialysis at least twice a week. The writer spent three weeks with Mr. X. During this period, he interacted with the client daily and helped him develop an appropriate plan of care for his condition. The writer also had the opportunity to work alongside experienced nurses, social workers and a multidisciplinary care team caring for this client. He learned that the client, besides specialist medical care, needed constant social support from the nurses and family. Through interpersonal interactions, the client revealed his views and concerns in relation to the dialysis procedure. The writer also honed his nursing skills on blood sugar monitoring and patient referrals after complications. He also learned about the complications that arise due to renal failure and the ethical and legal issues associated with end-of-life care. In summary, the experience helped the writer to understand the challenges that the residents face. It also allowed the writer to help the client formulate his plan of care.

The Human Becoming Theory

The human becoming theory, which was put forward by Rosemarie Parse in 1981, focuses on a new approach to nursing that is different from the psycho-social-spiritual and bio-medical theories. In this theory, a patient’s quality of life is defined by the patient and becomes the central goal of nursing care (Edwards, 2008). Parse called this approach the man-living-health theory. However, later the theory was renamed to the human becoming theory to reflect the changes in the definition of the term “man” (Edwards, 2008). The three basic assumptions of Parse’s theory include transcendence, ‘rhythmicity’, and meaning, which are derived from the works of Merleau-Ponty, Sartre, Martha Rogers, and Heidegger.

Transcendence means that the “human” element in a person transcends all possible environmental limits (becoming) and exceeds his/her set limits (Melnechenko, 1995). This means that an individual will constantly transform to reach personal goals. ‘Rhythmicity’ refers to the rhythmic patterns of interpersonal relationships in the larger universe (Melnechenko, 1995). It entails the relationships between a person and his/her environment (becoming). A person establishes some patterns of relating in the universe, which are multi-dimensional. Meaning is the tendency to choose a subjective meaning in a given situation, which is shaped by individual experiences and priorities. It implies that a person will tend to assume responsibility for choices that reflect his/her values or priorities.

In summary, the human becoming theory presents two new paradigms: (1) the totality paradigm; and (2) the simultaneity paradigm. Under the totality paradigm, man is viewed as a social, biological, spiritual, and psychological being (Edwards, 2008). In contrast, under the simultaneity paradigm, a person is viewed as a “unitary being in a continuous, mutual interaction with the environment” (Edwards, 2008, p. 194). In the context of nursing, Parse’s theory describes a person as an open being who is influenced by physical, social, psychological and spiritual factors (the environment). The environment is the inseparable component in a person’s lived experience. On the other hand, health entails the process of ‘human becoming’, which is structured around personal values. In light of this view, nursing, as a science, should serve different aspects of a person’s health, which should reflect his/her lived experiences, values, or priorities.

Critical Analysis

The writer’s professional goals are rooted in Parse’s theory and the assumption of “meaning”. According to Edwards (2008), meaning refers to the perceptions that a person has about his/her beliefs and values in their interactions with the environment. Based on this point of view, nurses are expected to serve their patients without prejudgment regarding the person’s state of health, age, or culture. The writer utilizes this concept of nursing care in his interactions with patients. During the writer’s placement, he perceived Mr. X as someone’s father and grandfather, who deserves respect and consideration when seeking medical advice about his condition. The writer considered his interaction with Mr. X as sacred. Tanner (2006) defines a human interaction as a “learning moment” for a nurse (p. 204). It is through interpersonal interactions that nurses build therapeutic relationships with the patients.

The human becoming theory highlights the true charact