Toward understanding the self

Others may know "me" but only "I" am the knower of myself. The metaparadigm of nursing includes four concepts: health, environment, nurse, and person. Each concept is complex and can be interpreted in diverse ways. The concept analysis in this article focuses on one aspect of person, specifically "self:" its birth, development, and loss. The author makes suggestions for using the analysis in nursing education, theory development, and clinical practice in caring for and promoting the health of individuals, groups, and families.