Margaret Newman's Theory of Health as Expanding Consciousness and a Nursing Intervention from a Unitary Perspective

This mini-review aims to introduce Margaret Newman's theory of health as expanding consciousness and caring partnership as a nursing intervention. Emanating from a unitary and transformative perspective of nursing, caring partnership enables nurses to identify with cancer patients as well as to help the patients find meaning in their situation and their lives. In genuine patient-nurse interactions, both patients and nurses experience higher levels of consciousness.

Integrative Review of Research Related to Margaret Newman’s Theory of Health as Expanding Consciousness

Since 1978 when Margaret Newman first introduced her theory of health as expanding consciousness, the theory has been widely expanded upon by Newman and nursing scholars around the world. This manuscript provides an integrative review of research related to the theory of health as expanding consciousness and analyzes strengths, limitations, and directions for the future. A consistent method of praxis within a unitary, participatory worldview was found. Health as expanding consciousness praxis provides a lens for guiding and interpreting meaning and has cross-cultural appeal and utility.