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CHAPTER 13 Martha E. Rogers 225

homeodynamic. . . . these principles postulate the Rogers explains nursing by referring to broader
way the life process is and predict the nature of its principles that explain human beings. She explains
evolving” (p. 96). Rogers identified the principles of human beings through principles that characterize
change as helicy, resonancy, and integrality. The helicy the universe, based on the perspective of a whole
principle describes spiral development in continuous, that organizes the parts.
nonrepeating, and innovative patterning. Rogers’ Rogers’ model of unitary human beings is deductive
articulation of the principle of helicy describing the and logical. The theory of relativity, the general system
nature of change evolved from probabilistic to unpre- theory, the electrodynamic theory of life, and many
dictable, while remaining continuous and innovative. other theories contributed ideas for Rogers’ model.
According to the principle of resonancy, patterning Unitary human beings and environment, the central
changes with the development from lower to higher components of the model, are integral with one
frequency, that is, with varying degrees of intensity. another. The basic building blocks of her model are
Resonancy embodies wave frequency and energy field energy field, openness, pattern, and pandimensionality
pattern evolution. Integrality, the third principle providing a new worldview. These concepts form the
of homeodynamics, stresses the continuous mutual basis of an abstract conceptual system defining nursing
process of person and environment. The principles of and health. From the abstract conceptual system,
homeodynamics (nature, process, and context of Rogers derived the principles of homeodynamics,
change) support and exemplify the assertion that “the which postulate the nature and direction of human
universe is energy that is always becoming more beings’ evolution. Although Rogers invented the
diverse through changing, continuous wave frequen- words homeodynamics (similar state of change and
cies” (Phillips, 2010, p. 57). In addition, Todaro- growth), helicy (evolution), resonancy (intensity of
Franceschi (2008) reminds us that this changing change), and integrality (wholeness), all definitions
nature is intrinsic to, not outside of, fields. are etymologically consistent and logical.
In 1970, Rogers identified the following five assump-
tions that are also theoretical assertions supporting Acceptance by the Nursing Community
her model derived from literature on human beings,
physics, mathematics, and behavioral science: Practice
1. “Man is a unified whole possessing his own integ- The Rogerian model is an abstract system of ideas
rity and manifesting characteristics more than from which to approach the practice of nursing.
and different from the sum of his parts” (energy Rogers’ model, stressing the totality of experience
field) (p. 47). and existence, is relevant in today’s health care sys-
2. “Man and environment are continuously exchang- tem, where a continuum of care is more important
ing matter and energy with one another” (open- than episodic illness and hospitalization. This model
ness) (p. 54). provides the abstract philosophical framework from
3. “The life process evolves irreversibly and unidirec- which to view the unitary human-environmental
tionally along the space-time continuum” (helicy) field phenomenon. Within the Rogerian framework,
(p. 59). nursing is based on theoretical knowledge that
4. “Pattern and organization identify man and reflect guides nursing practice. The professional practice of
his innovative wholeness” (pattern and organiza- nursing is creative and imaginative and exists to
tion) (p. 65). serve people. It is rooted in intellectual judgment,
5. “Man is characterized by the capacity for abstrac- abstract knowledge, and human compassion.
tion and imagery, language and thought, sensation, Historically, nursing has equated practice with
and emotion” (sentient, thinking being) (p. 73). the practical and theory with the impractical. More
appropriately, theory and practice are two related
components in a unified nursing practice. Alligood
Logical Form (1994) articulates how theory and practice direct and
Rogers uses a dialectic method as opposed to a logis- guide each other as they expand and increase unitary
tical, problematic, or operational method, that is, nursing knowledge. Nursing knowledge provides the