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478 UNIT IV Nursing Theories

of humanbecoming. Firing on all cylinders is the than with the actual concepts. The nondirectional
driving force of pushing-resisting in powering statements that do not specify causal or predictive
onward with the buoyant momentum of fortify- relationships about humanuniverse are discomforting
ing assuredness. The fortifying assuredness with for some.
feeling respected arises with illimitable imagin- The concepts of humanbecoming often resonate
ings that cocreate anew the familiar-unfamiliar with people when considered at the level of human
preferred preferences lived with opportunities experience. For instance, the concept of valuing at the
amid limitations. The euphoric feeling in the level of human experiences focuses on the ways per-
metaphor is the fulfilling delight of being ele- sons choose and act on what is important in their
vated with regard, yet with the remembered and lives. This idea should be inherently familiar, as
ever-present potential for disregard. The living should the idea that people sometimes disclose inti-
paradox of regard-disregard reveals and at once mate details about their lives and sometimes keep
conceals the diversity in connecting-separating secrets from others (revealing-concealing). Pickrell,
with prized alliances that surface with feeling Lee, Schumacher, and Twigg (1998) noted that a first-
respected. The metaphor “firing on all cylinders time reader might be tempted to dismiss the concepts
. . . [with euphoria]” brings feeling respected to as too simple to convey the complexity inherent in
light as a powerful force of unwavering buoy- the theory, but they caution that to do so would be a
ancy in confirming human engagements. It mistake. Parse’s principles describe a complex and real-
shows the lived experience of feeling respected as istic picture of humanbecoming that provides a mean-
a cocreation languaged in the emerging now ingful framework for understanding the illimitability,
that all-at-once incarnates the mystery of being mystery, freedom, and paradox of humanuniverse.
human. (p. 14)
Generality

Critique The humanbecoming school of thought was selected
as a theoretical guide by nurses and other health profes-
Clarity sionals in different settings, including acute care, long-
Humanbecoming is an abstract and complex school term care, and community. The theory helped nurses
of thought that includes the humanbecoming theory be with individuals, families, and groups and was evalu-
(the principles). It is a theory, rather than a model, ated in practice settings where patients commented on
since its concepts and interrelationships are in prin- the positive difference it made (Jonas, 1995; Mitchell,
ciples written at an abstract level of discourse—the Bernardo, & Bournes, 1997; Bournes & Ferguson-Paré,
language of science. The theory penetrates the foun- 2007; Northrup & Cody, 1998; Williamson, 2000).
dations of traditional nursing and health care in gen- Humanbecoming has helped leaders to create beneficial
eral. This penetration may be limited to cracklike change in organizational culture, and it has informed
fissures or streams of activity to expand opportunities development of standards of care (Mitchell & Bournes,
and advance thinking. This requires nurses to explore 1998), best-practice guidelines (Nelligan, Grinspun,
ways that are helpful to enhance the quality of life for Jonas-Simpson, et al., 2002; Registered Nurses Associa-
patients. tion of Ontario, 2002), decision-making tools for nurse
regulators (Benedict, Bunkers, Damgaard, et al., 2000;
Simplicity Damgaard & Bunkers, 1998, 2012), mentoring pro-
In keeping with the theoretical discourse, the major grams for novice nurses (Bournes & Plummer, 2011;
concepts of humanbecoming are defined in abstract Bournes, Plummer, Hollett, et al., 2011), and leadership
philosophical terms. The language has been a source and research programs for nurses who work at the point
of comfort and discomfort for nurses (Mitchell & of care (Bournes, 2013). The theory of humanbecoming
Bournes, 2000; Mitchell, Bournes, & Hollett, 2006). changes what professionals see when they engage with
Discomfort with the language is sometimes related persons in practice and research. The theory changes
more with unfamiliar beliefs and assumptions about the thinking, acting, attitudes, and approaches that pro-
human beings and how they relate with the universe fessionals rely on to fulfill their intentions with others