Nursing Theorist

Nursing Theorist

Conservation Theory by Myra Levine

The Conservation Model developed by Myra E. Levine in 1973. Levine's work is a conceptual model of nursing that focuses on conservation of the person's wholeness (Watson, 2007). It is defined as "keeping together" of the life systems and the integrity of the individual. The Theory of Conservation is based on the assumption that all nursing actions are conservation principles (Levine, 1996). Conservation is further defined in the model as achieving a balance of energy supply and demand that is within the unique biological realities of the individual. The model proposes that the nurse participates actively in the patient's environment, and much of what the nurse does supports the patient's adaptations as he struggles in the predicament of illness. Maintaining or conserving a patient's viable resources such as skin integrity, immunity, oxygen demand and blood supply are essential in providing an environment in which the patient can heal (Levine, 1996).

Levine's theory of nursing is built upon the foundations of humanities and sciences. In particular, the influence of psychological theories of Kurt Goldstein and Erik Erikson's theory of Hans Selye on stress and patterns of outdoor M. Bates. Levine for the nursing is constituted by a series of interventions and supportive therapeutic based on scientific knowledge and on the technical. Human interaction is the essence of nursing, nursing as a discipline that is based on the interdependence of relationships between people (Levine, 1996).

The Levine has a holistic view of the person and therefore the patient. Very important in his theory is the concept of environment: the 'internal environment is the body with its operation, the' external environment instead consists of three dimensions: perceptual, regarding the five senses, operational, referring to forces, and conditions subtle elements, conceptual, on the thought processes and emotional and social processes. The external environment is part of the patient the nurse, whose responsibility is to interact with the patient and act on his environment so as to favor, the 'adaptation: "Adaptation is a process of change through which the individual maintains its integrity within its environment." If the nursing intervention remains unchanged health status of the patient support is defined, if it promotes healing and recovery of health status it comes to therapeutic intervention (Dorothy, 1961).

The theory of Levine's focus is on those patients who come into contact with health facilities to current health problems. The actions of nursing are based on four principles:

Energy conservation: the person needs for their vital activities of energy, and energy balance must be continually rebalanced

Conservation of structural integrity: we need to limit physical damage real or potential healing restores the structural integrity

Preservation of personal identity and the maintenance or recovery of its value

Preservation of social recognition of the patient as a social being, implementation of interpersonal relationships.

Application of the Theory

In practice, the nurse, when in contact with the patient, in analogy with the nursing process, observe and interview the patient, formulates a nursing diagnosis, planning interventions, puts them in place and assess the ...