Levine theory

Theorists began applying biological, medical, and social sciences to nursing (Aita VA, 1995)

Levine had incorporated the conservation of energy, structure, personal, and social integrity into a theory that guided nurses in the provision of care that promotes health through environment, predictably, and illuminates the fact that humans are greater than the sum of their parts, that human response is predictable, that humans are unique, are capable of assessing conditions, situations and objects, and drawing an understanding of those perceptions. Further, Levine extrapolated that humans are self-determinate (even during periods of stress and emotion and that they will formulate their own opinions via reflection (Four Conservation Principals, 2016).

Philosophical Underpinnings Continued

Levine’s focus was on influences and responses, energy supply and demand

Her theory allows for the enhancement of health by working with the patient instead of ‘on’ the patient (Frauman and Rasch, 1995)

Theory was built responsively to her era

Based on patient care perspective and scientific perspective (Myra Levine’s Remarks, 1995)

-Levine’s focus was on influences and responses, energy supply and demand- and the patient outcome when that patient is acted upon and exists with structural, personal, and social integrity and is capable of conservation of energy. Her theory incorporated and explained homeostatic and homeorhetic states of existence and the fluidity of adaptation

-Levine’s theory is the antithesis of authoritarianism and is principally and philosophically balanced to allow healing.

-The fact remains that Levine’s esoteric theory began to develop in a time when a patient’s ‘need to know’ about their care or disease process(es) was nearly nil and physicians were a rarified group and usually authoritarian. It appears that Levine’s theory was built responsively to her era of medical understanding and practice. She developed the highly adaptive model of care that was responsive to the patient’s specific context/need and less focused on medical procedures and standard interventions.