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466 UNIT IV Nursing Theories

reduced to component parts and be understood. The basic tenet, human subjectivity, means viewing
Rather, persons are living beings who are different human beings not as things or objects, but as indivis-
from schemata that divide them. Parse challenges the ible, unpredictable, everchanging beings (Parse, 1998,
traditional medical view of nursing and distinguishes 2007b) and as a mystery of being with nonbeing.
the discipline of nursing as a unique, basic science Human beings live all-at-onceness as the becoming
focused on human experiences. She supports the no- visible–invisible becoming of the emerging now
tion that nurses require a unique knowledge base (Parse, 2012b). Parse posits that humans’ presence
that informs their practice and research, knowledge with the world is personal and that humans live mean-
of humanuniverse and health that is essential to ful- ing as their becoming who they are. As people choose
fill their commitment to humankind (Parse, 1981, meanings and projects according to their value priori-
1987, 1993, 2007b, 2010, 2012b). ties, they coparticipate with the world in indivisible,
She drew on Rogers’ principles of helicy, inte- unbounded ways (Parse, 1981, 1998, 2007b, 2012b).
grality, and resonancy and her postulates (energy Persons are inseparable from the world and craft
field, openness, pattern, and pandimensionality) unique relationships. A person’s becoming is complex
(Parse, 1981; Rogers, 1970, 1992). These ideas un- and full of explicit-implicit meaning (Parse, 1981,
derpin Parse’s notions about persons as open beings 1998, 2007b, 2012b).
who relate with the universe illimitably, that is, Coconstitution means any moment is cocreated
“with indivisible, unbounded knowing extended to with the constituents of the situation (Parse, 1981,
infinity” (Parse, 2007b, p. 308), and who are indivis- 1998, 2007b, 2012b). Human beings choose mean-
ible, unpredictable, everchanging, and recognized ing with the particular constituents of day-to-day
by patterns (Parse, 1981, 1998, 2007b, 2012b). life. Life happens, events unfold in expected and
From existential-phenomenological thought, Parse unexpected ways, and the human being coconsti-
drew on the tenets of intentionality and human sub- tutes personal meaning and significance. Coconsti-
jectivity and the corresponding concepts of coconsti- tution surfaces with opportunities and limitations
tution, coexistence, and situated freedom (Parse, for human beings as they live their presence with
1981, 1998, 2007b, 2012b). She uses the prefix co on the world, and as they make choices about what
many of her words to denote the participative nature things mean and how to proceed. The term coconsti-
of persons. Co means together with, and, for Parse, tution refers to creating different meanings from the
humans can never be separated from their relation- same situations. People change and are changed
ships with the universe—thus her 2007b conceptual- through their personal interpretations of life situa-
izations of humanbecoming and humanuniverse as one tions. Various ways of thinking and acting unite
word. Relationships with the universe include all the familiar patterns with newly emerging ones as peo-
linkages humans have with other people and with ple craft their unique realities.
ideas, projects, predecessors, history, and culture Coexistence means “the human is not alone in any
(Parse, 1981, 1998, 2007b, 2012b). dimension of becoming” (Parse, 1998, p. 17). Human
From Parse’s perspective, humans are intentional beings are always with the world of things, ideas, lan-
beings. That is, human beings have an open and guage, unfolding events, and cherished traditions,
meaningful stance with the universe and people, proj- and they also are always with others—not only con-
ects, and ideas that constitute lived experience. Hu- temporaries, but also predecessors and successors.
man beings are intentional whose involvements are Humans are community (Parse, 2003). Indeed, Parse
not random but are chosen for reasons known and posits that “without others, one would not know that
not known. Parse says that being human is being in- one is a being” (Parse, 1998, p. 17). Persons think
tentional and present, open, and knowing with the about themselves in relation to others and how they
world. Intentionality is also about purpose and how might be with their plans and dreams. Connected
persons choose direction, ways of thinking, and act- with freedom, Parse describes an abiding respect for
ing with projects and people. People choose attitudes human change and possibility.
and actions with illimitable options (Parse, 1981, Finally, situated freedom means that human be-
1998, 2007b, 2012b). ings emerge in the context of a time and history,