Martha Rogerss Science of

Unitary Human Beings

Simplified.With a case
scenario included

Martha Rogers
Born May 12,1914 in Dallas, Texas
Received Nursing diploma from Knoxville General Hospital in

1936.
She completed her BSN in Public Health Nursing in 1937
from George Peabody College Nashville in 1937 and worked
as a public health nurse.
Earned her master's degree in public health nursing from
Teacher's College Columbia University.
Public Health nursing was her professional focus
Head of Division of Nursing at New York University (19541975)
Shifted focus of doctoral research from nurses and their
functions to humans in mutual process with the environment
Martha Rogers Science of Unitary Human Beings

Martha Rogers Theory of Unitary

Human Beings

Roger's theory on the Science of

Unitary Human Beings: Assumptions

Five basic assumptions that helped describe man and

the life process were

1st Assumption
First 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.

2nd Assumption
The individual and the

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

3rd Assumption
The life process of

human
beings
evolves irreversibly
and unidirectionally
along a space time
continuum.

4th Assumption
Identifying

individuals
and
reflecting
their
wholeness is life's
patterns

5th Assumption
Finally

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

Major components
of the
SUHB

Four
Key concepts

Energy Fields
Open Systems
Pattern
Pandimensionality

Energy Fields
Fundamental unit of the
living
and non-living - human
beings and
the environment are
energy fields.

Human Field
It

can be a person, group

community
Patient and nurse
Macro view versus micro view

or

Environment Field
The setting in which the human

exists
Encompasses all things around
the human

Human-Environment
They are linked
Change occurs simultaneously
No cause and effect

Open Systems
energy fields are infinite, open,
and integral with each other

Pattern
Pattern identifies fields,
manifestations identify unique
behaviours and
are constantly changing

Pandimensionality
Energy fields have no
spatial or temporal attributes

Principle of Homeodynamics

Due

to the inseparability of human

beings and their environment,
sequential life process are continuous
revisions, occurring from the interactions
between human beings and their
environment.
Rogers chose Homeodynamics, instead of
homoeostasis which means maintaining

Principles of
Resonancy
Helicy
Integrality

Principle of
The continuous
change from
Resonancy

lower to higher
requency wave patterns in human
and environmental fields.

Principle of Helicy
The continuous innovative,
unpredictable, increasing
diversity
of human-environmental
field patterns

Principle of
Integrality
The continuous mutual
interaction of
human field and
environmental field .

Defining Person
"Rogers defines person as an open system in

continuous process with the open system that

is the environment. (Gunther, 2010).
She defines "unitary human being as an
'irreducible, indivisible, pandimensional
energy field identified by pattern and
manifesting characteristics that are specific to
the whole' (Gunther, 2010).

Defining Environment
In Roger's model, environment and person are

intertwined and vital to each other.

"The environment is an 'irreducible, pandimensional energy field identified by pattern
and integral with the human field.'
Each environmental field is specific to its
given human field. Both change continuously,
creatively, and integrally. (Alligood & Tomey,
2010)

Defining Health
Roger's defined health as an expression of the

life process.
A person's environment and culture influence
their views on health and health
choices( Rogers Theory, 2011).

(Vital Life Force, 2011)

Defining Nursing
She challenged us to view nursing as understanding

and caring 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. (Alligood & Fawcet, 2004)
Nursing involves directing and redirecting patterns in
energy fields to assist the patient in grasping the
meaning of and reaching their greatest potential on
the health continuum (Alligood & Tomey, 2011).
One of Martha's hopes was that "knowledge would
continue to evolve to benefit the care of people in an
ever changing world."(Watson, 2002)

Energy Fields
Nursing

Nursing activity:
All the usual activity, but in
addition.

IntuitionPoetry
HumourRitual
Music Phantom Sensation
Colour Ageing
Intent

Acupuncture

Crystal Therapy

Therapeutic Touch

Chakra Healing

Sound Healing

Prayer

Thoughts on the Art of Nursing

Nursing

seeks to promote symphonic

interaction between the environment and
man, to strengthen the coherence and
integrity of the human beings, and to direct
and redirect patterns of interaction between
man and his environment for the realization of
maximum health potential. (Roger,1970)
Creative use of the science of nursing for
human betterment. (Roger, 1970)

3 Steps in Theory
Process
1. Assessment
Includes both the patient and their
environment.
2. Voluntary mutual patterning
Includes sharing knowledge, empowering the
patient, utilizing innovative therapy
3. Evaluation

Use the Rogerian Model to assist the client in

finding solutions to better optimize her health
status.
(in process)

1. Assessment
Person
Environment

2. Mutual Patterning
Sharing Knowledge
Empowering the client

3. Evaluation

Case Study
Using the Rogerian Model of assessment and patterning.

(Society of Rogerian Scholars, 2010)

Case Study
48 year old female, recently diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

History includes 24 year 1 pack/day smoking history, admittedly

has 4-6 alcoholic drinks per week. States she doesnt exercise.
Frequently eat fast food (on average 2 meals/day). History of
hypertension, currently poorly controlled with medication.
History of hyperlipidemia, no current treatments.
She is a divorced mother of 2 teenage children. Recently went

back to college to pursue her nursing degree. She currently

works as an office assistant for an accounting firm. She lives in
an apartment approximately 1 mile from her place of
employment and 3 miles from campus. Her family admittedly
eats microwavable meals for meals at home.
Client states, I would like to quit smoking and lose weight, but

my life is just so hectic and I dont know what to do.

Examples of Homeodynamic Elements in NursePatient Interactions

A patient in acute pain (= low level of

resonancy)
Medicating a patient in pain (= high level
of resonancy; synchrony between person
and environment)
Alternative treatment modalities such as
Reiki, Imagery, Therapeutic Touch (=
helical interventions)
Working collaboratively with the patient
(person) to address what he/she considers
health, such as a weight loss program (=
synchrony, helicy)
The nurse approaches the patient (person)
in a calm manner and the patient responds
positively (= reciprocy, synchrony)
43

Case Scenario
Bill is hospitalized for unrelenting chest pain and shortness of

breath.
Bills resonancy level is quite low, requiring pain
medication, oxygen, and supportive care provided by nursing. Bill
is experiencing integrality, synchrony and reciprocy with his
environment.
Bill undergoes a cardiac catherization, followed by a successful
CABG procedure and receives wound care, pain management,
disease and medication education by nursing. Bill tells his nurse he
values having survived his heart attack and believes he has a
chance to start over.
He wants to quit smoking and reduce his stress level to become
more healthy. The nurse educates Bill on smoking cessation
options and stress reduction techniques, such as meditation, and
guided imagery.
Bill has received helical interventions and
continues in a state of integrality with his environment.
44

Theory Applied 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 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 life-affirming
environmental context that involves meaningful use of theory and associated health patterning
modalities.

Theory Applied to Our Practice

School
Health Pattern:
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

Theory Applied to Our Practice

Long term and 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.
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.

References
Alligood, M. R., & Fawcett, J. (2004). An interpretive study of Martha Rogers' conception of pattern.
Visions: The Journal of Rogerian Nursing Science, 12(1), 8+. Retrieved from: Infotrac Nursing
and Allied Health Collection
Gunther, M. E. (2010). Martha E. Rogers: Unitary human beings. In M. R. Alligood & A. M. Tomey
(Eds.), Nursing theorists and their work (7th ed., pp. 242-264). Maryland Heights, MO: Mosby
Elsevier.
Leddy, S. K. (2003). A unitary energy-based nursing practice theory: Theory and application [PDF].
Visions: The Journal of Rogerian Nursing Science, 11(1), 21-28. Retrieved from
http://www.societyofrogerianscholars.org/Visions/Visions-Volume11.pdf
Martha Elizabeth Rogers (1914-1994) 1996 Inductee. (n.d.). Retrieved October 12, 2012, from ANA
Nursing World website: http://www.nursingworld.org/MarthaElizabethRogers
Open systems & the science of unitary man. (n.d.). Retrieved October 12, 2012, from
http://www.squidoo.com/Rogerian-Theory
Rogers theory of unitary human beings. (2011). Retrieved October 12, 2012, from Nursing Theory
website: http://nursing-theory.org/theories-and-models/roger-theory-of-unitary-humanbeings.php
Society of Rogerian Scholars. (2012, September 9). Retrieved October 12, 2012, from
http://www.societyofrogerianscholars.org/index.html
Venes, D. (2009). Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary - 21st Ed. Philadelphia, PA. F. A. Davis
Company. Retrieved from: STAT!Ref Online Electronic Medical Library.
Vital life force energy: Our source for health, healing and empowerment. (2011, July 7). Retrieved
October 12, 2012, from Kaizen website:
http://www.kaizenlifecoach.com/Vital_Life_Force_Energy.html
Watson, J. & Smith, M. (2002).
Caring science and the science of unitary human beings: a trans-theoretical
discourse for nursing knowledge development. *Journal of Advanced Nursing,

THANK YOU

Important Definitions in
Understanding Rogers Model
Energy Fields
irreducible, indivisible, pandimensional unitary human beings and

environments that are identified by pattern and manifesting

characteristics that are specific to the whole and cannot be predicted
from knowledge of the parts. (Venes, 2009). Humans and their
environment have separate energy fields, but they are dependent on
one another.

Openness
A characteristic of human and environmental energy fields; energy fields

are continuously and completely open (Venes, 2009).

Pattern
Unique feature of an energy field that gives the field its identity. It cannot

be seen, what we see are the manifestations of the pattern (Venes,

2009).

Pandimensionality
a nonlinear domain without spatial or temporal attributes. (Venes,

2009). It may help to think of it in terms of a spiritual domain.

Roger's Theory
Theory reflects on the concept that nursing is

both a science (organized body of knowledge)

and an art (creative use of science to better
people).
A nurse's safe practice depends on the
nature and amount of knowledge the nurses
brings to her practice. (Rogers Theory,
2011).

6 Domains of Energy Patterning

and Corresponding Nursing Interventions:
Connecting
Guided

Imagery, therapeutic touch, Reiki, Music/Color therapy,

Aromatherapy

Conveying
Accupressure,

Reflexology

Converting
Nutrition,

Herbal therapy, Exercise, Music/Color therapy, Purpose and

meaning

Conserving
Biofeedback,

Relaxation/Meditation, Breathing, Herbal therapy, Sleep

and rest

Clearing
Music/Color

therapy, Accupressure, Aromatherapy, Postural movement

Coursing
Yoga,

Massage, Polarity therapy, Exercise (Leddy, 2003).