Myra Estrin Levine: Conservation Model Flashcards
Nursing theorist known for her esoteric model of nursing
Myra Estrin Levine
To promote adaptation and maintain wholeness using the 2 principles of conservation
The goal of nursing
An individual who has a sense of integrity, unity, able to feel, able to think, and someone who is whole; a being that is capable of multiple kinds of perception such as being able to think, feel, and create a structure of their own beliefs around him and his environment; able to feel through emotions.
Man
The pattern of adaptive change of the whole being and the ability to function in a reasonable manner. It is not the healing of an injury of an illness but rather the return to selfhood; Referred to as the return to selfhood.
Health
Composed of internal and external environment
Environment
Homeostasis & Homeorhesis
Internal Environment
The process of maintaining a relatively stable internal environment
Homeostasis
The coordinated control of body tissues, necessary to support our physiological state.
Homeorhesis
Operational & Conceptual
External Environment
Composed of natural factors that can affect the patient physically but cannot see them (radiation, micro-organisms, and pollution)
Operational
Influenced by language, culture, ideas, and cognition received by sensory organs
Conceptual
Defined as a human interaction that relies on communication. Added that this naturally roots from the fact that we are also dependent on our relationships formed with other beings; Strongly supported by communication between individuals which is also of an organically dependent relationship with other human beings around us.
Nursing
1) Wholeness
2) Adaptation
3) Conservation
Three major concepts of conservation model
An open system; It is not only about being healthy. Not just because someone is healthy, they’re whole as a person; A completeness of a person in all aspects of human existence such as emotionally, psychologically, spiritually, and socially stable and capable; Exists when an individual is able to adapt whatever changes within the internal and external environment.
Wholeness
A process of change wherein an individual can grasp the realities of the internal and external environment. This means that for a person to live harmoniously, an individual must conquer or survive the challenges which could threaten his or her wellbeing. It’s about grasping the reality.
Adaptation
1) Historicity
2) Specificity
3) Redundancy
3 Characteristics of Adaptation
The ability to adapt or survive situations due to past experiences. The way you coped with the past experience may help you in your present.
Historicity
The fail-safe anatomical, physiological, and psychological options available to ensure continued adaptation. Levine describes this as occurring in “cascades” or in sequence.
Specificity
The adaptive pattern that can be genetic to the individual. Could be from genes or influence by social and cultural factors. It is based on how their genes adapt to situations or it may be based on how the people around you react to that certain situation. You may adapt their coping mechanism.
Redundancy
The way that we are able to continue to function even when severely challenged. This is the product or the result of adaptation. Once you adapt or grasp the situation, you can face your challenges properly.
Conservation
1) Conservation of energy
2) Conservation of structural integrity
3) Conservation of personal integrity
4) Conservation of social integrity
4 Principles of Conservation
Evolves around avoidance of “fatigue” which is a state where we have fully used up all of our energy. This conservation highlights the importance of balancing the input and output of the energy we use which is gained through nutrition, rest, and healing; conservation related to energy where we must rest in order to function.
Conservation of energy
Noted to be achieved through examples such as good amount of rest, balanced nutrition, and consistent exercise
Energy conservation
Highlights the process of keeping our body structures in shape and giving them enough time to heal to prevent any of our bodily structures from breaking down; keeping our body in top shape gives them more time to stay strong and prevent their structures from breaking down; also a way of promoting healing within the body; An example would be helping maintain the patient’s body hygiene to keep them both clean and strong.
Conservation of structural integrity
Reminds us that as individuals, we need to acknowledge our need for recognition, selfhood, self-awareness, and self-determination; Part of what makes up the whole person.
Conservation of personal integrity
Defined as someone who is part of a family, community, ethnic group, religion, community, nation, and political system; we must acknowledge the different factors that affect our society towards the individuals we encounter; e attention to the fact that our patients are members of society and we must help them in maintaining this relationship; example of this includes interactions and contact with other patients and being able to access different media such as newspapers and television.
Conservation of social integrity
Helps improve and promote a patient’s physical and emotional well-being. The concept of the theory can be applied to any age group since every individual needs to expand and reserve bodily energy.
Implications to Nursing Practice
This is used as a guideline for nursing students to have an early nursing care plan. As students, it allows us to be mindful of what we should and should not do with the patients that we may encounter in the future.
Implications to Nursing Education
1) Conservation model can be used to provide nursing care to children with cancer.
2) Helps patients (children) to continue functioning even though faced with very severe challenges and obstacles
Application to actual healthcare situations
