FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY

INSTITUTE OF NURSING GRADUATE STUDIES

WRITTEN REPORT ON NURSING THEORIST:

MARTHA E. ROGERS SCIENCE OF UNITARY AND IRREDUCIBLE HUMAN BEINGS
(THEORY ON UNITARY MAN)

SUBMITTED BY:
KRISTAN KEITH M. ECO

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS

FOR THE COURSE IN MASTER OF ARTS IN NURSING 203: THEORETICAL
FOUNDATIONS IN NURSING

SUBMITTED TO:
DR. RACHEL D. LAXAMANA

AUGUST 9, 2014

MARTHA ELIZABETH ROGERS

(1914 - 1994)

Birth date:

May 12, 1914

Birthplace:

Dallas, Texas

Address:

Knoxville, Tennessee

Mother:

Lucy Mulholland Keener

Father:

Bruce Taylor Rogers

Family:

Eldest of 4

Died:

March 13, 1994 (79 years old)

She died at home in Phoenix due to pulmonary failure complicated by
emphysema (Tomasson, 1994)

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
1931 1933

College Education Science

University of Tennessee

1936 -

Nursing Diploma
Knoxville, General Hospital School of Nursing

1937 -

BS degree
George Peabody College
Nashville, Tennessee

1945 -

Masters of Arts in Public Health Nursing

Teachers College, Columbia University
New York City

1952-

Masters in Public Health

John Hopkins University, Baltimore

1954-

Doctor of Science
John Hopkins University, Baltimore

WORK EXPERIENCE

Visiting nurse supervision

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Rural Public Health in Nursing at Michigan

Established Visiting Nurse Service of Phoenix, Arizona

Professor / Division Head of Nursing (1954 1975)
New York University

Professor Emerita (1979 1994)

New York University

PUBLICATIONS

Books about Theoretical Writings

o An Introduction to the Theoretical Basis of Nursing (1970)
o Nursing: A Science of Unitary Man (1980)
o Science of Unitary Human Being: A Paradigm for Nursing (1983)
o Nursing: A Science of Unitary Human Beings (1989)
More than 200 articles

ACHIEVEMENTS

Honorary doctorates
o Duquesne University
o University of San Diego
o Iona College
o Fairfield University
o Emory University
o Adelphi University
o Mercy College
Washburn University of Topeka
Citations for Inspiring Leadership in

Recognition of Your Outstanding

Contribution to Nursing at New York
University
o Later on, established
Martha E. Rogers Center
for the Study of Nursing

the Field of Intergroup Relation

given by Chi Eta Phi Sorority

Science
Distinguished Service to Nursing

given by Teachers College

Posthumous Hall of Fame (1996)
given by American Nurses
Association (ANA)

THE SCIENCE OF UNITARY AND IRREDUCIBLE HUMAN BEINGS

(THEORY OF UNITARY MAN)

INTRODUCTION
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Person and his or her environment are integral to each other. That is, a patient
can't be separated from his or her environment when addressing health and treatment. By
practicing nursing with this view of the coexistence of the human and his or her
environment, a nurse can apply Martha E. Rogers's Science of Unitary Human Beings to
treat patients and help them in the process of change toward better health.

Studying the theory concept of Martha Rogers Science of Unitary Human

Beings requires an open mind. The terminology is esoteric and dense. It cannot be easily
comprehend and grasp without applying to the practice. But address the framework with
an open mind and you will be directed to study varied and diverse subjects such as
quantum physics, astronomy, and philosophy.

The theory was abstract because it was synthesized from theories of

numerous sciences because Roger is aware of the interrelatedness of knowledge bases of

anthropology, psychology, sociology, astronomy, religion, physics and others (Alligood
2010). Rogers was influenced by: von Bertalanffys theory on general systems with the
concepts of entropy and negentropy and open systems in constant interaction with the
environment; Rapoports work on open systems; and the work of Herrick, who added to
the principle of the evolution of human nature. Rogers blend of the works of these
scientists shaped the basis of her proposition that human systems are open systems within
larger, open environmental systems. She included the idea that living systems have
organization and pattern, that time is unidirectional, that human beings are responsive,
aware and capable of choosing and feeling.

She developed her original Theory of Unitary Man in 1970. Then she

continuously refined and elaborated her theory, which she retitled Science of Unitary

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Humans in 1990. And finally, shortly before her death, she changed the title of her theory
into the Science of Unitary and Irreducible Human Beings in 1994. (Wills, 2011)

THEORY OR SCIENCE
From Theory of Unitary Man to the Science of Unitary and Irreducible Human
Beings, Roger stated that she did not create a theory but rather an abstract system, a
science, from which many theories may be derived. Because science is open-ended and
continuously evolving, new knowledge emerges continuously, thus she preferred using
the term "postulate" rather than concept. All science, she said, undergoes corrections,
alterations, revisions, and change for greater clarity and accuracy. Science is updating
through basic theoretical research and testing. Therefore, Rogers' "postulates," like any
science, offers a tentative view of nursing that requires continuous validation through
rigorous scientific research and logical analysis.

ASSUMPTIONS

Five basic assumptions that helped describe man and the life process were

1. The Human being is unified whole possessing an individual integrity and manifesting
characteristics that are more than and different from the sum of their parts.

The characteristics and totality of an individual is what gives him his

identity as a human being. Human beings are not just characterized by his body parts, but
by mass, structure, function, thoughts, and feelings. Rogers disagreed with the idea that
dissecting something is the only way to attain knowledge or understanding it.

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2. Human being and the environment are constantly exchanging energy with each other and
the human being is visible only when particulars disappear from view.

Everyday life experiences illustrate how an individual affects or is being

affected by the world around him/her. People are connected to the natural world.

3. The life process of human beings evolves irreversibly and unidirectional along a space
time continuum.

In other words, conception, birth, infancy, childhood, adolescence,

adulthood, old age and death follow one another through sequential stages of
development.
4. Pattern and organization identify man and reflect his innovative wholeness

Humans ability to self-regulate himself in spite of the continuous change

or new patterns in his life and the environment. He is capable of adapting and adjusting
himself in the changes in his life.

5. The human being is characterized by the capacity for abstraction and imagery, language,
thought, sensation and emotion.

Man is different and unique from other living form because he has the

power to think himself.

MAJOR CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS (POSTULATES)

The major components (postulates) of Rogers model revolve around the building

blocks (energy field, openness, pattern, and pandimensionality) and the principles of
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homeodynamics (resonancy, helicy, and integrality) which explains the nature of, and
direction of the interactions between human and environment.

A. Energy Fields (Unitary Energy Fields)

a. The fundamental unit of the living and the non-living.
b. Field is a unifying concept it provides a way to perceive people and
environment as irreducible wholes
c. Energy signifies the dynamic nature of the field; a field is in continuous motion
and is infinite
d. Energy is the potential for process, movement, and change
e. Because energy fields have no parts, they are considered irreducible. Irreducible
means that it is indivisible.

B. Openness
a. Refers to qualities exhibited by open systems
b. It is what unifies (human and environment) as one essential unity.
c. Human beings and their environment are open systems -- constantly exchanging
their energy; there are no boundaries or barrier that inhibit energy flow between
fields
d. Refers to the diversity or characteristics of the energy fields and the freedom to
knowingly participate in change.

C. Pandimentional
a. A non-linear domain without spatial or temporal attributes -- refers to viewing
reality where both time and space are conceptualized as nonlinear -- provides an
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.

explanation of seemingly inexplicable events and processes.

Best expresses the idea of a unitary whole
The parameters that human use in language to describe events are arbitrary
Psychic phenomena become "normal" rather than "paranormal."
The present is relative, there is no temporary ordering of lives
Distance healing, the healing power of prayer, therapeutic touch, out of body
experiences, phantom pain, precognition, dej vu, intuition, tacit knowing,

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mystical experiences, clairvoyance, and telepathic experiences are a few of the

energy field manifestations patients and nurses experience that can be better
understood as natural events in a pandimensional universe characterized by
nonlinear-nonlocal

human-environmental

field

integrality

propagated

by

increased awareness and intentionality.

g. Originally, Four-dimentional (Einstein influenced) This new synthesis, spacetime, is postulated in the theory of relativity where the whole universe postulated
to be four-dimensional. In 1990, Rogers replaced the term four-dimensionality
with multidimensionality to reflect advances in modern physics.

D. Pattern
a. The distinguishing characteristic of an energy field perceived as a single wave
b. Each human field pattern is unique and is integral with the environmental field.
c. Pattern is an abstraction and it gives identity to the field
d. The term "patterning" reflects the dynamic changing nature of pattern. Pattern is a
"distinguishing characteristic" because we perceive differences in pattern. For
example, the only difference between me and someone else is how our energy is
organized. Everything, color, light. sound, all objects, emotions, even thoughts are
forms of energy. What distinguishes one from the other is how its energy is
organized. Differences in the organization of energy lead to differences in its
pattern.

HOMEODYNAMIC PRINCIPLES

The principles of homeodynamic postulates the way of perceiving unitary human beings
Identifies the 3 principles of homeodynamic
o Resonancy

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Is an ordered arrangement of rhythm characterizing both human field and

environmental field that undergoes continuous dynamic metamorphosis in

the human-environmental process

Borrowed from the physics terminology Resonant meaning lower to

higher frequency
Defined as a continuous change from lower to higher frequency wave

patterns in human and environment fields.

Refers to how change takes place
Examples: Touch therapy, guided imagery, storytelling, uses of
imagination, enjoyment, concentration, and deep involvement

o Helicy
continuous innovative, unpredictable, increasing diversity of human and

environmental field pattern

Postulates an ordering of the humans evolutionary emergence
Being the nature of change
Refers to being how change takes place
Butterfly effect
The power in the nurse's healing is often hidden in the subtle
compassionate actions such as spending extra time with a patient
or a family in crisis or the subtle effect of compassionate and

calming words and the gentle touch of soothing hands.

Therapeutic Communication, the words one uses, can have a
profound effect on healing. At the same time, the vital subtle caring
actions can appear to make nurse's contributions to health and

healing invisible.
The deep connectedness and infinite sensitivity of helicy means
one individual, or one group can deeply transform the world.
Acting collectively and as individuals, butterfly power provides the
means by which nursing's voice and visibility can become

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commensurate with the size and importance of nursing in health

care. In a pandimensional universe, one may not know the
immediate outcome or if a specific action leads to a particular
transformation, but one can act with intention compassion, and
with awareness that the subtlest actions can potentate major
transformation. Through our collective efforts one can make the
invisible subtlety of caring visible and educate the populace about
the invaluable contribution nurses make to the health of society.

o Integrality
Mutual, continuous relationship of the human energy field and the

environmental field
Changes occur by the continuous repatterning of the human and

environmental fields by resonance waves

The fields are one and integrated by unique to each other
Refers to being the process for change to take place
Example: Meditation, Humor, Music therapy can be use for positive
human-environment

NURSING METAPARADIGM

1. Nursing
a. Learned profession
b. Both science and art
i. Science integrality of people and environment points to a new paradigm
and initiates the identity of nursing
ii. Art creative use of the science of nursing for human betterment
c. Focuses on concern with people and the world in which they live a natural fit
for nursing care
d. PURPOSE: To promote health and well-being for all people
e. It exists for the care of people and the life process of humans.

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f. According to Rogers, nursing's focus on unitary human beings and their

environment is what distinguishes nursing from other disciplines.
Professional practice in nursing seeks to promote symphonic interaction
between human and environmental fields, to strengthen the integrity of the human
field, and to direct and redirect patterning of the human and environmental fields for
realization of maximum health potential

2. Person
a. Open system in continuous process with the open system that is the environment
(integrality)
b. In 1990, the term man was revised to human being to coincide with the request for
gender-neutral language in the social sciences and nursing science
c. Unitary Human Beings
i. Irreducible, indivisible, pandimensional energy field identified by pattern
and manifesting characteristics that are specific to the whole
ii. Are not disembodied entities, nor are they mechanical aggregates
iii. Is a unified whole possessing his own integrity and manifesting
characteristics that are more than and different from the sum of his parts.

3. Environment
a. Specific to its given human field
b. Infinite and change is continuously innovative, unpredictable, and characterized
by increasing diversity.
4. Health
a. Passive health
i. To symbolize wellness and the absence of disease and major illness
b. Wellness is a much better termbecause the term health is very ambiguous
(1994)
c. Value term defined by the culture or the individual
d. Health and Illness are manifestations of pattern and are considered to denote
behaviors that are of high value and low value

THEORY ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION

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1. Simplicity
a. Complex if examined and viewed in total-perspective
b. Simple with its continued use in practice, research, and education
c. As Whall (1987) notes, with only 3 principles, a few major concepts, and 5
assumptions, Roger has explained the nature of man and the life process
2. Generality
a. Abstract and generalizable and powerful
b. Broad in scope, providing a framework for the development of nursing knowledge
through the generation of grand and middle range theories.
3. Empirical Precision
a. Difficult-to-understand principles
b. Lack of operational definitions, and inadequate tools for measurement
c. Deductive in logic with an inherent lack of immediate empirical support
4. Derivable consequences
a. It has a fundamental intent of understanding human evolution and its potential

It coordinates a universe of open systems to identify the focus of new

paradigm and initiate nursing identity as a science (Roger 1989, p182, as cited in
Alligood 2009, p254)
b. It suggests many ideas for future studies
Example:
1.
2.
3.
4.

The perspective rhythm model (Patrick 1983)

Theory of health as expanding consciousness (Neuman, 1986)
Theory of creativity, actualization and empathy (Alligood 1991)
Power as knowing participation in change (Barrett 1998)

NURSING PROCESS / CRITICAL THINKING PROCESS

1. ASSESSMENT / PATTERN APPRAISAL

a. The assessment should be a comprehensive assessment of:
i. Human field patterns of communication, exchange, rhythms, dissonance
(abnormalities/illness), harmony
ii. Environmental field patterns of communication, rhythms, dissonance,
harmony
b. Intuitive reflection
c. Validate appraisal
i. With self
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ii. With client

iii. With others
d. For Client:
i. Self-reflection
1. Nutrition
2. Work/leisure activities
3. Exercise
4. Sleep/wake cycle
5. Relationships
6. Discomfort/Pain
7. Fears/hopes
8. Dreams
2. MUTUAL PATTERNING OF HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL FIELD
a. sharing knowledge
b. offering choices
c. empowering the patient
d. fostering patterning
3. EVALUATION
a. Repeat pattern appraisal, which includes nutrition, work/leisure activities,
wake/sleep cycles, relationships, pain, and fear/hopes
b. identify dissonance and harmony
c. validate appraisal with the patient

APPLICATION TO NURSING PRACTICE

Nursing practice should be noninvasive modalities, such as therapeutic touch, humor,

guided imagery, use of color, light music, meditation focusing on health potential of the
person.
Emphasis should be on pain management, supportive psychotherapy motivation for
rehabilitation.
Nursing practice knows rather than doing and as human service based on knowing rather
than isolated functional activities.
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 Nursing practice challenged to understand and care for human beings in the wholeness
and mutuality of the person-environment process rather than as isolated actions and
responses in a limited cause and effect manner.
Patterning- the active dynamic or active process of the life of the human being. People
are helped to become aware of feelings, thoughts and attitudes within a gentle lifeaffirming environmental context that involves meaningful use of theory and associated
health patterning modalities.

In School,

Involve the student in their knowing participation in change; focusing sometimes on

lifestyle change, through sharing knowledge so as to empower the adolescent.
Engage in meaningful dialogue; encourage self-reflection.
Appraisal of multiple lifestyle rhythm such as nutrition, exercise, sleep/wake cycles,
relationships and work/leisure activities.
Use of therapeutic imagery, music, art or humor in developing self confidence.

Rehabilitation

Environment: Create a restful and relaxing environment for patients

Energy fields: Use therapeutic touch to ease pain and promote relaxation.
Open systems: Use non pharmacological methods like turning on the radio to the
patients favorite music channel, the sound of the tunes may allow memories of happy
events to replace the anxiety and pain.
Pattern: Identify changes in vital signs, or pain. For example; Is the patient's blood
pressure elevated in the morning, or in the evenings, what alleviates or aggravates
patient's pain.

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 Unitary Human being: If a patient has come in with a neurological problem, there could
be no understanding of him if only his neurological system is viewed, therefore, assess
the patient as a unified whole.

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SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

Gave much focus on how a nurse should view the patient with an emphasis on viewing
human beings and their environment as irreducible wholes, which has brought nursing
focus on holism. Stresses that human beings are unified wholes, greater than the sums of

their parts.
The role of the nurse is to serve people.
Rogers proposes noninvasive modalities for nursing, such as therapeutic touch, humor,
music, meditation and guided imagery, and even the use of color. The interventions of
nurses are meant to coordinate the rhythm between the human and environmental fields,

help the patient in the process of change, and to help patients move toward better health.
The practice of nursing, according to Rogers, should be focused on pain management,

and supportive psychotherapy for rehabilitation.

Healing process can happen with interaction with energy field as it is evidently accepted
and approved from NANDA nursing diagnosis of Disturbed Energy Field which defines
as a disruption of the flow of energy surrounding a persons being that results in

disharmony of body, mind, and/or spirit.

Nurses every action whether small or big provides an impact to the patient and to his

family.
What differentiates other profession from nurses is that nurses viewed human holistically
and unitary.

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References

1. Alligood, M.R. and Tomey, A.M. (2010). Nursing theory. 7th ed., Singapore: Elsevier
2. Blumenschein, L. (2009). Analysis and application of Rogers' science of unitary human
beings. Visions: The Journal Of Rogerian Nursing Science, 16(1), 55-61.
3. Butcher, H. Chapter 5 The Science of Unitary Human Beings Principles. Rogerian
Nursing Science website. Retrieved from http://rogeriannursingscience.wikispaces.com/
Chapter+5+The+Science+of+Unitary+Human+Beings+Principles
4. Klemm, P., & Stashinko, E. (1997). Educational innovations. Martha Rogers' Science of
Unitary Human Beings: a participative teaching-learning approach. Journal Of Nursing
Education, 36(7), 341-343.
5. McEwen, M and Wills, E.M. (2011). Theoretical basis for nursing. 3rd ed. Philadelphia:
Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
6. Society of Rogerian Scholars. Martha E. Rogers: A short biography. Retrieved from
http://www.societyofrogerianscholars.org/biography_mer.html
7. Tomasson, R. E. (1994). Martha Rogers, 79, an author of books on nursing theory.
Retrieved

from

http://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/18/obituaries/martha-rogers-79-an-

author-of-books-on-nursing-theory.html
8. Udan, J.Q. (2011). Theoretical foundations of nursing. Manila: Educational Publishing
House.

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