INTRODUCTION

y y y

Betty Neuman s system model provides a comprehensive flexible holistic and system based perspective for nursing. It focuses attention on the response of the client system to actual or potential environmental stressors. And the use of primary, secondary and tertiary nursing prevention intervention for retention, attainment, and maintenance of optimal client system wellness.

I.
y y y y y

HISTORY AND BACKGROUND OF THE THEORIST

Betty Neuman was born in 1924, in Lowel, Ohio. She completed BS in nursing in 1957 and MS in Mental Health Public health consultation, from UCLA in 1966. She holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology She was a pioneer in the community mental health movement in the late 1960s. Betty Neuman began developing her health system model while a lecturer in community health nursing at University of California, Los Angeles. The models was initially developed in response to graduate nursing students expression of a need for course content that would expose them to breadth of nursing problems prior to focusing on specific nursing problem areas. The model was published in 1972 as A Model for Teaching Total Person Approach to Patient Problems in Nursing Research. It was refined and subsequently published in the first edition of Conceptual Models for Nursing Practice, 1974, and in the second edition in 1980.

y y

II.

SYSTEMS MODEL

DEVELOPMENT OF THE MODEL

y y y y y

Neuman s model was influenced by a variety of sources. The philosophy writers deChardin and cornu (on wholeness in system). Von Bertalanfy, and Lazlo on general system theory. Selye on stress theory. Lararus on stress and coping.

FOUR MAJOR CONCEPTS PERSON

y y

The focus of the Neuman model is based on the philosophy that each human being is a total person as a client system and the person is a layered multidimensional being. Each layer consists of five person variable or subsystems: o Physiological- Refer of the physicochemical structure and function of the body. o Psychological- Refers to mental processes and emotions. o Socio-cultural- Refers to relationships; and social/cultural expectations and activities. o Spiritual- Refers to the influence of spiritual beliefs. o Developmental- Refers to those processes related to development over the lifespan.

ENVIRONMENT
y y

The environment is seen to be the totality of the internal and external forces which surround a person and with which they interact at any given time. These forces include the intrapersonal, interpersonal and extra-personal stressors which can affect the person s normal line of defense and so can affect the stability of the system. o The internal environment exists within the client system. o The external environment exists outside the client system. o Neuman also identified a created environment which is an environment that is created and developed unconsciously by the client and is symbolic of system wholeness.

HEALTH
y

Neuman sees health as being equated with wellness. She defines health/wellness as the condition in which all parts and subparts (variables) are in harmony with the whole of the client (Neuman, 1995) . The client system moves toward illness and death when more energy is needed than is available. The client system moved toward wellness when more energy is available than is needed

NURSING
y y y

y y

Neuman sees nursing as a unique profession that is concerned with all of the variables which influence the response a person might have to a stressor. The person is seen as a whole, and it is the task of nursing to address the whole person. Neuman defines nursing as action which assist individuals, families and groups to maintain a maximum level of wellness, and the primary aim is stability of the patient/client system, through nursing interventions to reduce stressors. Neuman states that, because the nurse s perception will influence the care given, then not only must the patient/client s perception be assessed, but so must those of the caregiver (nurse). The role of the nurse is seen in terms of degree of reaction to stressors, and the use of primary, secondary and tertiary interventions

Neuman S SYSTEM MODEL FORMAT Neuman s nursing process format designates the following categories of data about the client system as the major areas of assessment. ASSESSMENT
y y y y y y

Potential and actual stressors. Condition and strength of basic structure factors and energy sources. Characteristics of flexible and normal line of defenses, lines of resistance, degree of reaction and potential for reconstitution. Interaction between client and environment. Life process and coping factors (past, present and future) actual and potential stressors (internal and external) for optimal wellness external. Perceptual difference between care giver and the client.

NURSING DIAGNOSIS
y y y y y

The data collected are then interpreted to condition and formulate the Nursing diagnosis. Health seeking behaviors. Activity intolerance. Ineffective coping. Ineffective thermoregulation.

GOAL
y

In Neuman s systems model the goal is to keep the client system stable.

PLANNING
y

Planning is focused on strengthening the lines of defense and resistance.

IMPLEMENTATION The goal of stabilizing the client system is achieved through three modes of prevention
y y y

Primary prevention : actions taken to retain stability Secondary prevention : actions taken to attain stability Tertiary prevention : actions taken to maintain stability

EVALUATION
y

The nursing process is evaluated to determine whether equilibrium is restored and a steady state maintained.

BETTY NEUMAN S SYSTEMS MODEL

PERSON Physiological Socio-cultural Psychological Spiritual

Developmental ENVIRONMENT HEALTH NURSING internal environment external environment created environment

III.

APPLICATION

Although nursing has recognized spirituality as an important aspect of holistic patient care, exactly what spirituality means has remained rather amorphous. These aspects are presented both in relation to reciprocal interaction or simultaneous action world-views and in relation to the extent of focus on the concept within the model or theory. The systems model of Neuman can be applied to spiritual nursing through several ways. One is by boosting the spiritual life of an individual. Seeking help from the ultimate being, through praying and leaving everything to Him to lessen the burden of an individual just like lyrics from a song that says lift up your hands to God and he ll show you the way . This is a way of relieving stress, thus doing this things can create a stress free environment. Stress free environment could promote health by decreasing the cortisol levels, a hormone that suppresses the immune system of a stressed individual. As Agustinian nurses molded with Agustinian values we must keep our clients away from stressors both internal and external with therapeutic hands, passionate heart and rational minds. We must talk to them therapeutically utilizing the therapeutic communication, encouraging them to verbalize their feelings, providing spiritual care like reading a verse from a bible and explaining to them the implication of the said verse in our life.

IV.

REFERENCE

(http://currentnursing.com/nursing_theory/Neuman.html, 2010)

Betty Neuman's System Model

SUBMITTED BY: VILLAFLOR, EDGAR ALJON GESTAT, CHRISTALYN MAGBANUA, JANINE TILLAMAN, RHEA MICHELLE VILLARANDA, SHERYL TRASPADILLO, KATHERINE SUBMITTED TO: MR. NIEL SULLESTA, RN