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LIFE OF THE THEORIST
THEORIST AND THEORY
THEORY

ROSEMARIE RIZZO PARSE

HUMAN BECOMING
 SYMBOLS
IMPORTANCE
PARADIGM
CONCEPTS
FOCUS
FACTORS
LIFE OF THE THEORIST

THEORY
ROSEMARIE RIZZO PARSE

HUMAN BECOMING

THEORIST AND THEORY

 HUMAN BECOMING THEORY
• The Parse theory of human becoming guides nurses In their practice
to focus on quality of life as it is described and lived (Karen &
Melnechenko, 1995).

• The human becoming theory of nursing presents an alternative to

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both the conventional bio-medical approach and the bio-psycho-
IMPORTANCE

social-spiritual (but still normative) approach of most other theories

INTRODUCTION
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FACTORS of nursing.
FOCUS

• The human becoming theory posits quality of life from each

person's own perspective as the goal of nursing practice.

• Rosemarie Rizzo Parse first published the theory in 1981 as the

"Man-living-health" theory.

• The name was officially changed to "the human becoming theory"

in 1992 to remove the term "man," after the change in the
dictionary definition of the word from its former meaning of
"humankind."
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THEORIST AND THEORY

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• Rosemarie Rizzo Parse was born in Pennsylvania in 1938.

• Educated at Duquesne University, Pittsburgh
• MSN and Ph.D. from University of Pittsburgh
• Published her theory of nursing, Man-Living-Health in 1981
• Name changed to Theory of Human Becoming in 1992
• Editor and Founder, Nursing Science Quarterly
• Has published eight books and hundreds of articles about
Human Becoming Theory
• Professor and Niehoff Chair at Loyola University, Chicago
 THEORY DEVELOPMENT
• The Human Becoming Theory was developed as a
human science nursing theory in the tradition of
Dilthey, Heidegger, Sartre, Merleau-Ponty, and

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THEORIST AND THEORY

Gadamer and Science of Unitary Human Beings by
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Martha Rogers.
FOCUS

• The assumptions underpinning the theory were

synthesized from works by the European
philosophers, Heidegger, Sartre, and Merleau-Ponty,
along with works by the pioneer American nurse
theorist, Martha Rogers.

• The theory is structured around three abiding

themes: meaning, rhythmicity, and transcendence.
 FOCUS
Directing the profession of nursing
to concentrate on the quality of

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THEORIST AND THEORY

IMPORTANCE

life as it is described and lived by

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the individual and presenting an
alternative from the usual medical
model to one that is geared more
towards the study of human
experiences and activities.
 THREE MAJOR ASSUMPTIONS OF HUMAN
BECOMING
MEANING:
• Human becoming is freely choosing

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personal meaning in situations in the

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intersubjective process of living value
priorities.
• Man’s reality is given meaning through
lived experiences
• Man and environment cocreate.
 THREE MAJOR ASSUMPTIONS OF HUMAN
BECOMING
RHYTHMICITY:
• Human Becoming is cocreating

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rhythmical patterns of relating in

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mutual process with the universe.
• Man and environment cocreate
(imaging, valuing, languaging) in
rhythmical patterns.
 THREE MAJOR ASSUMPTIONS OF HUMAN
BECOMING
TRANSCENDENCE:
• Human Becoming is co-transcending

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multidimensionally with emerging

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possible.
• Refers to reaching out and beyond
the limits that a person sets.
• One constantly transforms.
 PERSON
- Open being who is more than
and different from the sum of
the parts.

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ENVIRONMENT
- Everything in the person and his
experiences. Inseparable,
complimentary to and evolving
with.
 HEALTH
- Open process of being and
becoming. Involves synthesis of
values

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NURSING
- A human science and art that
uses an abstract body of
knowledge to serve people.
 IMPORTANCE OF THEORY TO NURSING
PRACTICE
• A transformative approach to all levels of
nursing.

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• Differs from the traditional nursing process,

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particularly in that it does not seek to “fix”

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problems.

• Ability to see patients perspective allows

nurse to “be with” patient and guide them
toward desired health outcomes.

• Nurse-person relationship cocreates changing

health patterns.
Parse's theory includes a symbol with three
elements:

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- The black and white colors represent the opposite
paradox significant to ontology of human becoming,
while green represents hope.
- The joining in the center of the symbol represents the
co-created mutual human universe process at the
ontological level, and the nurse-patient process.
- The green and black swirls intertwining represent the
human-universe co-creation as an ongoing process
of becoming.