MARA DANICA CRUZ

EFFECTIVE NURSING THROUGH

NURSING PHILOSOPHY

(2000 – Present)

”School may not be enough to educate but experience does. Nurses should learn and
not waste a chance in every case they encounter; this would help them in the rest of
their life.” (Cruz, 2019)

(1) Background of the theorist:

Early life:

Mara Danica Cruz was born in 2000 in Malolos, Bulacan. She has two

siblings: her older brother and her twin brother (who died after 2 years of being

born because of a car accident). In junior high school, she began to experience a

lot of personal and family problems. At an early age, she already went through a

lot making her wise and reliable. Her friends depended on her a lot and that

made her want to help others with their problems – mostly mentally and

emotionally.

Education:

She wanted to take psychology as a major in college but was disapproved

by her parents. It was the last year of her senior high school when she and her

parents decided to take nursing in Our Lady of Fatima University but eventually

studied at Bulacan State University.

Career & Experiences:

She had her immersion in Graman Medical & Maternity Hospital. She was

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 appointed at different posts every day and experienced the possible works for a

hospital med tech, rad tech, nurse, info clerk and pharmacist. After completing 80

hours of immersion, she decided to take nursing – being her 2 nd course choice.

She saw nursing as light for her to continue helping others, this time more wide

and broad.

Awards & Recognition:

She was a consistent honor student during her high school days. She also

had a lot of awards and recognition when she represented her school and

college for dancing.

(2) Theoretical Sources:

She used Peplau (1952)’s definition of environment as her definition too and

used Ray's idea of defining nursing – that seeks the good for self and the others. The

theorist also used Martinsen's view in caring to further elaborate her definition of

nursing.

Cruz’ theory was inspired by the three (3) philosophers; John Locke, Paul

Churchland, and Kari Marie Martinsen (who was also a nurse).

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(3) Conceptual Framework:

>> Complex Interrelationship

Model of Dualism + Nursing

This model shows how the

mind-body connection can

positively or negatively affect each

other. Listed inside are the factors

to consider in performing effective

nursing not only through physical

assistance.

(4) Major Concepts and Definitions

1. ASSESS THYSELF – Nursing is not only about caring – it is a professional work

that deals with life so before accommodating others, a nurse should examine if

he or she is physically, mentally and emotionally ready to perform duties.

Problems cannot be avoided hence; a nurse should be able to take care of

themselves first because if not, their performance and patients would be affected.

2. SELF IS BRAIN (Paul Churchland) – Brain functions not only for our body organs

but also for our mind. How we think defines us and defines why one’s overall

wellness of health is in its present condition. As per Churchland, the physical

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 brain is where we get our sense of self. Thus, having a healthy brain is equals to

being overall fit and well as our decisions would always be the wise and the

must.

3. EXPERIENCE BASED KNOWLEDGE – When we go through experiences, our

knowledge about certain thing expands. Like how a mother knows what to do

when her child has a fever. The same thing goes by the nurse. School may not

be enough to educate but experience does. Nurses should learn and not waste a

chance in every case they encounter; this would help them in the rest of their life.

4. PERSON – ORIENTED PROFESSIONALISM (Kari Martinsen) – It demands

engagement in what we do so that one wants to invest in something of oneself in

encounters with the other and so that one is obligated to do one’s best for the

person one is to care for, watch over, or nurse (Martinsen, 2000).

5. THE HIDDEN DIMENSION – This term refers to the personal life of each party –

the thing that we must not interfere, the boundaries that are already set even

before the meeting of the both parties. This hidden dimension could be found

depending on the nurse-patient relationship and must be respected not forced.

6. THE MIND AND THE BODY (DUALISM) – The mind and the body can either

positively or negatively affect each other as it is connected to perform biological

functions needed to sustain life.

Mind is a part of the brain which is responsible for one’s way of thinking.

The body is directly controlled by the brain but is affected by our mind. So,

nursing is not only caring physically but must reach each individual in need’s

psychological health too to ensure overall wellness of health. Nurses should also

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 ensure their own psychological health to physically perform effectively.

(5) Metaparadigms in Nursing:

Nursing: Nursing is caring that seeks the good for self and others, both the well

and the unwell. Its goal is to reach every individual in need’s way of thinking to improve,

achieve, and maintain overall wellness of health.

Nursing requires practice and proper education. Martinsen (1990) stated, without

professional knowledge, concern for the patient becomes mere sentimentality. Thus, it

requires proper education to effectively aid person in need of care.

Person: As defined by Cruz (2019), person is the identity of living organisms

called individuals who have different perspectives, needs, and wants. Individuals can be

classified as the well or the unwell, relating to its personal health. These individuals

have their own mind and body – a thinking being that has reason and reflection and can

consider itself as itself.

Environment: Forces outside the organisms and in the context of the socially –

approved way of living, from which vital human social processes are derived such as

norms, customs, and beliefs (Peplau, 1952).

Health: This is the overall condition of the physical, emotional, and mental state

of a person and does not necessarily means "absence of disease". It is the measure of

balance between their mind and body’s compatibility.

(6) Reflection:

Explain how your personal nursing theory can contribute to the following:

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 (A) Education – The proposed theory can help student nurses to have a

wider understanding about how different approaches of nursing care and theory

could help them in their practice as future nurses. It provides knowledge and

proficiency required to further develop professional skills and better grasp of real

world concerns in the future.

(B) Practice – It can help in the application in actual situations. It can also

serve as a guide or advice for health care providers/nurses.

(C) Research – This theory can serve as a reference for the future

researchers who want to conduct a study or research about the topic. It can also

serve as a support for the research study.

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