1.
“Theory of
Human Becoming”
Rosemarie
Rizzo Parse

2.
INTRODUCTION OF THE
THEORIST
 Rosemarie Rizzo Parse earned her Bachelor of
Science degree in Nursing and her Master’s
Degree in Nursing and Ph D from Duquesne
University , Pittsburgh.
 Is a fellow of American Academy of Nursing
 Parse is the founder and editor of Nursing Science
Quarterly
 She has several books, papers and years of
experience in theory development , research
,administration and nursing practice and
education.

3.
THEORY DEVELOPMENT
1981 Parse presented a unique theory
of nursing titled “Man- Living-Health”
which synthesized principles and
concepts from Rogers and concepts
from existential phenomology.
 In 1992, Parse changed the name of
her theory of “Man- Living-Health” to
theory of human becoming.

4.
PARSE’S THEORY DEVELOPMENT
Originally there were 9
assumptions , but using Parse’s
1992 language revision, the
original 9 assumptions are now
read as four assumptions
concerning human and five
concerning becoming.

5.
MAJOR THEMES OF
PARSE’S THEORY
MEANING
RHYTHMICITY
TRANSCENDENCE

6.
MEANING
 The first theme, meaning, is expressed
in the first principle of human becoming,
which states that “Structuring meaning
is the imaging and valuing of
languaging’’ .
 This principle means that people
coparticipate in creating what is real for
them through self-expression in living
their values in a chosen way.

7.
RHYTHMICITY
 The second theme, RHYTHMICITY, is expressed in the
second principle of humanbecoming, which states that
"Configuring rhythmical patterns of relating is the
revealing-concealing and enabling-limiting while
connecting-separating".
 This principle means that the unity of life encompasses
apparent opposites in rhythmic patterns of relating.
 It means that in living moment-to-moment one shows and
does not show self as opportunities and limitations
emerge in moving with and apart from others.

8.
TRANSCENDENCE
 The third theme, transcendence, is expressed in the
third principle of humanbecoming, which states that
"Cotranscending with possibles is the powering and
originating of transforming”
 This principle means that moving beyond the "now"
moment is forging a unique personal path for oneself in
the midst of ambiguity and continuous change

9.
The themes and principles of humanbecoming are
permeated by four postulates:
 ILLIMITABILITY is "the indivisible unbounded knowing
extended to infinity, the all-at-once remembering and
prospecting with the moment“
 PARADOX is "an intricate rhythm expressed as a pattern
preference" . Paradoxes are not "opposites to be reconciled
or dilemmas to be overcome but, rather, lived rhythms" .
 FREEDOM is "contextually construed liberation" Humans
are free and continuously choose ways of being with their
situations.
 MYSTERY "is the unexplainable, that which cannot be
completely known" . It is the inconceivable, unutterable,
unknowable nature of the indivisible, unpredictable,
everchanging human universe

10.
Assumptions about Human and Becoming
Human is open and free, choosing
meaning in situation and bearing
responsibility for decisions
Becoming is the humans’ pattern of
relating values and priorities

11.
HUMAN
 The Human is coexisting while coconstituting rhythmical
patterns with the universe
 The human is an open being, freely choosing meaning
in the situation bearing responsibility for decisions
 The human is a living unity continuously coconstituting
patterns of relating.
 The human is transcending multidimensionally with the
possibles.

12.
BECOMING
 Becoming is an open process, experienced by the
human.
 Becoming is the rhythmically coconstituting process of
human – universe interrelationship.
 Becoming is the human ‘s pattern of relating value
priorities.
 Becoming is an intersubjective process of
transcending with the possibles.
 Becoming is human unfolding.

13.
The Theory of Human Becoming as it relates to
:
Client/Person
Health
Environment
Nursing

14.
Client/Person
Open being who is more than and
different from the sum of the parts
Goal is to show qualities of life through
client’s perspective
Quality of life emerges through the
nurse-person process
The nurse bears witness to the client’s
own living of value priorities

15.
Health
Parse advocates that health is flowing
progression of human becoming
Hope is a living experience of health
connected to quality of life
Health is living experience of ongoing
human-universe change

16.
Environment
The human and the environment
are mutually and simultaneously
interrelating as a unit
Humans co-create health in
relationships with the environment

17.
Nursing
 Enhances the quality of life from each client’s
own perspective
 Parse defines the nursing practice as a
science and art. It is innovative and creative.
 Nurses’ responsibility to society is in the
guiding of individuals and their families
 The client is the authority figure and primary
decision maker

18.
Nursing cont’d
Nursing is not based on medical
or nursing diagnoses
Nursing does not deal with
disease prevention or health
restoration
Being with clients and family,
rather than doing for clients and
family

19.
CHARACTERSTICS OF THEORY AND
PARSE’S THEORY
Theories can interrelate concepts in such a way to
create a different way of looking at a particular
phenomenon.
- Creates a new way of looking at human beings ,
environment , health and nursing. Parse creates a
theory in which humans are open beings who , with
their universe, cocreate health.

20.
Theories must be logical in
nature.
 Parse’s theory is logical in nature
as it describes logical sequence of
events.
Concepts from Roger’s +
Existential Phenomenology were
drawn to synthesize principles
,concepts to create assumptions

21.
Theories should be relatively simple yet
generalizable.
 Though generalizable, but
far from simple.
 Terminology is difficult and
unfamiliar to nurses.

22.
Theories can be the basis for hypotheses
that can be tested or for theory to be
expanded.
Hypothesis can not be
framed for testing Parse’s
theory. Rather qualitative
studies are used to expand
this theory.

23.
Theories contribute to and assist in
increasing the general body of
knowledge within the discipline through
research implemented to validate them.
This theory contribute in increasing the general body
of knowledge as research studies guided by her
theory have generated descriptive and theoretical
structures about lived experience of hope, Meaning of
living with AIDS, the lived experience of aging and
health in the oldest old.

24.
Theories can be used by
practitioner’s to guide and
improve their practice.
Not congruent with traditional use of
nursing process. It guides practice
through its own practice methodology.

25.
Theories must be consistent with
other validated theories, laws and
principles but will leave open
unanswered questions that needs
to be investigated.
 Parse’s theory of human becoming is consistent with
Roger’s principles as well as with the tenets and
concepts of existential phenomology.

26.
A framework for practice
Personal connection
between nurse and client
Care plan must address
emotional and
psychological needs of
client

27.
A framework for practice
 Using the human connection
 Joy
 Sorrow
 Laughter
 Compassion
 Empathy

28.
What nursing ought to be…
Monitor the client’s experiences
moment to moment
Prevent further injury or injustice
by attending to their physical,
psychological and spiritual
needs
Teach the client to be the leader
of their health needs

29.
Conclusion
Parse’s Human Becoming Theory
values the most idealistic views of
holism…of what nursing ought to
be. Her theory could have a huge
impact on the way our society
views the role of nursing.

30.
CRITICISM
Verbose language of the
theory makes it hard to
understand
It is open to misinterpretation
It is difficult to put into
practice

31.
THANKS