Struggling in change: from the traditional approach to Parse's theory-based practice

This paper presents the struggle of a nurse who changes in practice from being guided by the traditional problem-based approach to being guided by Parse's theory of nursing. Experiences that led to the change are described, and specific practice situations from an acute care setting demonstrate how values and beliefs about human beings and health transformed over time. The nurse's changed values and beliefs lead to a different approach in practice. The nature of the nurse-person relationship is described as it relates to Parse's practice dimensions and processes: illuminating meaning through explicating what is, synchronizing rhythms through dwelling with, and mobilizing transcendence through moving beyond. Emerging patterns of health are presented as an alternative to problem-based statements for guiding nurse-person activities. The value of Parse's theory for guiding practice is offered as it relates to the individual's perspective of enhanced quality of life and the nurse's perspective of professional practice.