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Abstract:
The scope of the paper addresses Parse's theory without detailed exploration of the methodology of research, as that is an investigation in its own right. Parse's Human Becoming Theory might be applied to a family experiencing the loss of a pregnancy or neonate. A nurse or doula may only encourage a patient to follow the advice of the experts, but after embracing Parse's theory, can facilitate the family's exploration of their choices. This paper explores Parse's theory applied to those experiencing the trauma of the loss of a pregnancy or infant.
Keywords: grief, Parse, miscarriage, neonatal loss, maternal loss
Introduction
Nursing theories offer a structure to the vision of the human and health, and from that create a foundation for nursing practice. In nursing programs, students study nursing theory to assist with understanding practice from an abstract perspective, and to understand how research is supported with a theoretical framework. Since nursing was considered a profession, theory has been part of understanding nursing care, goals, and roles (Im & Ju Chang, 2012),
Nursing Science has been historically classified as a natural science. Natural Science posits methodologies that consider quantitative data from observable phenomenon. Data reveals cause and effect relationships. This approach deals with the reduction of a phenomenon to parts and the parts are examined using a theoretical framework. The human being is approached from the study of parts. We, as humans, are more complex than parts; we are more than the sum of our parts. Parse's theory embraces the advantages of nursing viewed instead as a human science. Proficient understanding of Rosemarie Rizzo Parse's Theory of Human Becoming requires some comprehension of the philosophers and theorists that influenced her.
The Human Becoming Theory, considered a mid-range nursing theory developed by Rosemarie Rizzo Parse, emphasizes the patient perception of the experience and their wisdom to make choices in their own health care. This theory fits well into ICEA's vision of empowering the family to make their own informed choices during the childbearing years (ICEA, 2016).
Parse was led to the assumptions that underlie her theory through a combination of other nursing theory work and readings of philosophers such as Kierkegaard, Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty and Sartre (Wallace & Coberg, 1988). Nietzsche and Dilthey are also referred...