 “the human being

in the complexity of
health and illness
was challenging
and demanding”

 “Best of my intellect
as well as the
utmost of my
humanness” (1986,
1994)
 Caregiver for her mother who had ALS
◦ Call to nursing
 University of Tennessee School of
Nursing
 1964 - University of California, San
Francisco
◦ Graduate study in Medical-Surgical
◦ Received Masters
 1964-1967 – University of Tennessee
◦ Director of Nursing – clinical research center
◦ Assistant Professor
 1971- New York University
◦ Graduate study for Ph.D.
◦ Taught (1971-1977)
 Developed ideas as a student and colleague
of Martha Rogers
 1977 – Penn State
◦ Professor-in-charge of graduate study
 1978 – Nursing theory conference, New
York
◦ 1st time she gathered her ideas on theory of
health
 1984 – University of Minnesota
◦ Nurse Theorist
◦ Continuing the development of the theory and
related research with graduate students
 1996
◦ Retires from teaching
A Margaret Newman Theory
“The human is unitary, that is cannot be divided into
parts and is inseparable from the larger unitary
field”
 Humans are open energy systems in
continual contact with the environment.
 Humans are continuously active in evolving
their own patterns of “whole” and are
intuitive.
 “the person does not possess consciousness-
the person is consciousness”
 Newman published the HEC theory in 1979
 HEC theory:

◦ assumes that life is a process of expanding

consciousness.
 Consciousness: Cognitive and affective awareness and
interconnectedness with the environment.
 Health: Outcome of interaction with the environment
◦ Centers on life patterns
 Health is a pattern
 Nurses help clients get in touch with the
meaning of life by identifying their health
patterns.
 Patterns that people see, hear and feel show

and describe relationships:

 Relationships within the person, with other people and
with the environment.
 Patterns depict relationship and connectedness.
 Pattern recognition is a form of caring.
 Nursing: “caring of the human health experience”

• Caring, a form of knowing, is transformed

into more inclusive caring at a higher level
of consciousness.

• Researchers and nurses employing HEC

see their practices as a way of forming
caring relationships with clients.
 HEC and the Nursing Role
 Newman’s Challenge to nurses:
◦ Examine your own process of interaction
“…the goal of within a relationship. This self knowledge
nursing is not to will enhance your ability to sense the
make people unfolding pattern in patient’s, families,
well or to and communities.
prevent their
getting sick, but  Caring in the HEC perspective is
to assist people nonjudgmental, noninterventionist, and
to utilize the involves being with rather than just
power that is doing for.
within them as
they evolve
toward higher  By spending time with the patient,
levels of nurses are able to take the initiative to
consciousness… promote health, not just treat the
” problems caused by disease.
–
M.Newman
 Margaret Newman :

• Discover new rules/patterns for higher

consciousness

• Intervention is pattern recognition

• Equal partnership between client and nurse