MARTHA E.

ROGERS
The Science of
Unitary Human
Beings

Presented by:
Adam Ratliff, Thi Le, & Sherri
Winchester

Marthas Background

Born: May 12, 1914 in Dallas, Texas

Death: March 13, 1994 from pulmonary failure complicated by
emphysema

EDUCATION:
Diploma: Knoxville General Hospital School of Nursing (1936)
Bachelors: George Peabody College, TN, 1937
Masters: Teachers college, Columbia University, NY, 1945
Doctorate in nursing: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, 1954

EMPLOYMENT
Public health nurse
Head of the Division of Nursing at New York University

Origins

Her motivation for the development of her

abstract system was to consider humans and
their environment
Marthas early liberal arts interest and love of
sciences is apparent in her theory about human
science and its concepts.
Her goal was to improve nursing education that
emphasis a more distinct basis on scientific
knowledge

MARTHAS ABSTRACT
SYSTEM OF NURSING

Key Points

Person and environment are energy fields

that evolve simultaneously.
Nursing is both a science and an art
Nursing is using knowledge for human
betterment.
The unique focus of nursing is on the unitary
or irreducible human being and the
environment (both are energy fields) rather
than health and illness.

ENERGY

Is the first key concept

in Marthas abstract
system
She defines energy as

the fundamental unit

of life
Energy helps people

to view people and the

environment as unitary
wholes

OPENNESS

Is the second key concept

There are no boundaries

or barriers inhibiting the
flow of energy between
humans at the
environment
This helps allow for

continuous movement of
matter and energy between
humans and the
environment

PATTERN

Third concept in
Marthas abstract

Is the distinguishing
characteristic that
makes up the field

Reflects change
between nature and
mans wholeness

PANDIMENSIONALITY

This is the fourth

concept in Marthas
abstract system
Is non linear without
time or spatial
characteristics
Time and causality are
human abstractions

HOMEODYNAMICS

Resonancy-Is an ordered arrangement of rhythm characterizing

both human field and environmental field that undergoes
continuous dynamic metamorphosis in the human environmental
process.
o
o

Is the flow of energy between people and the stuff around them
Touch, talking and guided imaging

Helicy- Describes the unpredictable, but continuous, nonlinear

evolution of energy fields as evidenced by non repeating
rhythmicties.

Integrality-The mutual, continuous relationship of the human

energy field and the environmental field.
We effect the environment and the environment effects us

Nursing Paradigms
Unitary Human Being (person)

A unitary human being is an "irreducible, indivisible, pan dimensional

(four-dimensional) energy field identified by pattern and manifesting
characteristics that are specific to the whole and which cannot be
predicted from knowledge of the parts" and "a unified whole having its
own distinctive characteristics which cannot be perceived by looking
at, describing, or summarizing the parts

Environment

The environment is an "irreducible, pan dimensional energy field

identified by pattern and integral with the human field"
The fields coexists and are integral.
Manifestations emerges from this field and are perceived.

Health

Health and illness are the part of the same continuum.

The multiple events taking place along life's axis denote the extent to
which man is achieving his maximum health potential and very in
their expressions from greatest health to those conditions which are
incompatible with the maintaining life process.

Nursing

Two dimensions Independent science of nursing

An organized body of knowledge which is specific to nursing is
arrived at by scientific research and logical analysis.
Art of nursing practice:
The creative use of science for the betterment of the human.
The creative use of its knowledge is the art of its practice.
Nursing exists to serve people.
It is the direct and overriding responsibility to the society.

EVALUATION

Unique to nursing
Her system adequately addressed and
defined the 4 global concepts
Her system facilitates use in many different
areas of nursing including medical,
rehabilitation, psych and others
Many different theories have been derived
from Marthas Science of Unitary Human
Her concepts are abstract and open to
interpretation

Theories derived from Marthas Science

of Unitary Human

Theory of Power as
Knowing Participation in
Change

Theory of Perceived
Dissonance

Theory of Healthiness

Theory of Enfolding
Health-as-Wholeness
and Harmony

Theory of Enlightenment

Theory of Aging as
Emerging Brilliance

A little clarification

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=play
er_detailpage&v=S72wj2h6NO0 - t=185s

CASE STUDY QUESTIONS

1. List as many nursing diagnosis that you can think of.
Dont forget to look at the sum of all the parts, not just
what is going wrong.
2. Of the nursing diagnoses listed, which one would you
consider and utilize as most important and influential
to Mrs. W?

References
Web-links:
Butcher, H. K., Editor (2013). In The Science of Unitary Human Beings: Theoretical Basis for Nursing wik.
Retrieved June 26, 2013, from http://rogeriannursingscience.wikispaces.com/
Current Nursing. (2012, January 26). In Nursing Theories: a companion to nursing theories and models.
Retrieved June 26, 2013, from http://currentnursing.com/nursing_theory/unitary_human_beings.html
Society of Rogerian Scholars. Retrieved June 19, 2013, from http://www.societyofrogerianscholars.org/
index.html

Scholarly Articles:
Farren, A. T. (2009). An oncology case study demonstrating the use of rogers's science of unitary human
beings and standardized nursing languages. International Journal of Nursing Terminologies and
Classifications, 20(1). doi:doi:10.1111/j.1744-618X.2008.01111.x
Plummer, M., & Molzahn, A. E. (2009). Quality of Life in Contemporary Nursing Theory: A Concept Analysis.
Nursing Science Quarterly, 22, 134-140. doi:10.1177/0894318409332807
Wright, B. W. (2007). The evolution of Rogers' science of unitary human beings: 21 st century reflections.
Nursing Science Quarterly, 20, 64-67. doi:10.1177/0894318406296295