The human becoming theory by Rosemarie Rizzo has its basis on the idea that the goal of nursing is to achieve a quality of life and that this quality of life is based on each person’s perspective. Essentially, each human has their individual perception on what the quality of life entails. The theory has three major paradigms including meaning, rhythmicity, and transcendence (Parker, Marilyn and Smith, 273). The meaning paradigm is embedded on the assumption that human becoming is the ability to find a personal meaning in the situations around them and that the reality of human is based on the lived experiences such that man and the environment coexist and co-create. The second paradigm, rhythmicity assumes that in the context of co-creating and coexisting with the environment, the human has to find and develop a mutual relationship with their environment thus creating the rhythmical patterns (Parker, Marilyn and Smith, 308).
In the third paradigm of transcendence in a multidimensional environment of the now moments is based on the continuous change to fit within that environment and maintain the rhythmical patterns which then implies that transformation is a necessity for the human. The theory has its focus on developing the nurse-patient relationship as the first step towards allowing the nurse to help the patient in experiencing life rather than changing the patient to achieve a desired pattern. The theory is largely applicable within the nursing environment especially in the contemporary setting where the patient has assumed a proactive role in the management of their health (George, 92).
A case scenario of the applicability of the theory is the situation of MR. RD who works as a clerk in one of the major automobiles in the city. RT is 33 years old and is not married. He presents to the clinic complaining of his weight issues and notes that in the last 12 months his weight has increased by over 80 pounds. He indicates that he would be very willing to undertake bariatric surgery as a solution to his weight gain but he notes that it is a problem that has been so since his childhood. RT indicates that he lives a solitary life since his family abandoned him due to his atheist beliefs. He has no friends save for colleagues at the work place and he drinks a lot over his free time. The nurse opted that bariatric surgery was necessarily and would not only help in weight management but also raising the self-esteem of the patient. Once this was agreed, the nurse interrogated the patient on his desires beyond the weight management and his professional career. He mentioned that he would definitely hope that he connects back with his family and that he could soon get into marriage. He also mentioned that he was very willing to quit his drinking habits if the family accepted the reunion.
The nurse facilitated RT’s rehabilitation after the surgery and helped them connect back to the family with an agreement that the family would not impose any religious conditions on him. RT’s progress in the next six months was noted as positive as he had lost 40 pounds and dating a colleague from the city. the nurse’s response to RT’s situation is a typical case of how the quality of life has to be achieved based on how it is lived and described as opposed to the traditional assumptions of nursing that are based on the bio-medical approach or bio-psycho-social-spiritual aspects. The theory allows the nurse to provide the patient an open route towards achieving a quality of life by becoming a helper rather than an authority.
Works Cited
George, Julia B. Nursing Theories-The base for professional Nursing Practice. 6th ed. Fullerton, CA: Department of nursing California State University., 2011. Print.
Parker, Marilyn E., and Marlaine C. Smith. Nursing theories & nursing practice. 4th ed. FA: Davis, 2010. Print.
