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CHAPTER 12 Myra Estrin Levine 207

MAJOR CONCEPTS & DEFINITIONS—cont’d
alert to find more information and to ensure their nursing is required (Levine, 1973, pp. 193–195). The
safety and well-being (Levine, 1973). primary focus of conservation is keeping together
the wholeness of individuals. Although nursing
Inflammatory Response interventions may deal with one particular conser-
This defense mechanism protects the self from vation principle, nurses also must recognize the
insult in a hostile environment. It is a way of heal- influence of the other conservation principles
ing. The response uses available energy to remove (Levine, 1990).
or keep out unwanted irritants and pathogens. It is Levine’s (1973) model stresses nursing interac-
limited in time because it drains the individual’s tions and interventions that are intended to promote
energy reserves. Environmental control is impor- adaptation and maintain wholeness. These interac-
tant (Levine, 1973). tions are based on the scientific background of the
conservation principles. Conservation focuses on
Response to Stress achieving a balance of energy supply and demand
Selye (1956) described the stress response syndrome within the biological realities unique to each indi-
to predictable, non–specifically induced organismic vidual. Nursing care is based on scientific knowl-
changes. The wear and tear of life is recorded on the edge and nursing skills. There are four conservation
tissues and reflects long-term hormonal responses principles.
to life experiences that cause structural change. It is
characterized by irreversibility and influences the Conservation Principles
way patients respond to nursing care. The goals of the Conservation Model are achieved
through interventions that attend to the conservation
Perceptual Awareness principles.
This response is based on the individual’s perceptual
awareness. It occurs only as individuals experience Conservation of Energy
the world around them. Individuals use responses The individual requires a balance of energy and a
to seek and maintain safety. It is the ability to gather constant renewal of energy to maintain life activi-
information and convert it to a meaningful experi- ties. Processes such as healing and aging challenge
ence (Levine, 1967a, 1969b). that energy. This second law of thermodynamics
applies to everything in the universe, including
Trophicognosis people.
Levine (1966a) recommended trophicognosis as an Conservation of energy has long been used in
alternative to nursing diagnosis. It is a scientific nursing practice, even with the most basic proce-
method of reaching a nursing care judgment. dures. Nursing interventions “scaled to the indi-
vidual’s ability are dependent upon providing care
Conservation that makes the least additional demand possible”
Conservation is from the Latin word conservatio, (Levine, 1990, pp. 197–198).
which means “to keep together” (Levine, 1973).
“Conservation describes the way complex systems Conservation of Structural Integrity
are able to continue to function even when severely Healing is a process of restoring structural and func-
challenged” (Levine, 1990, p. 192). Through conser- tional integrity through conservation in defense of
vation, individuals are able to confront obstacles, wholeness (Levine, 1991). The disabled are guided to
adapt accordingly, and maintain their uniqueness. a new level of adaptation (Levine, 1996). Nurses can
“The goal of conservation is health and the strength limit the amount of tissue involved in disease by early
to confront disability” as “. . . the rules of conserva- recognition of functional changes and by nursing
tion and integrity hold” in all situations in which interventions.

Continued