Carol Picard

Pattern of Expanding Consciousness in Midlife Women: Creative Movement and the Narrative as Modes of Expression

This study is based on Newman’s theory of expanding consciousness; it expands Newman’s method to include creative movement as a mode of expression. The researcher engaged in two in-depth interviews and one creative movement group experience with each of 17 midlife women. Results demonstrate expanding consciousness at midlife, with patterns of meaning identified in relationships with others, self, and spirit as well as challenges of loss, illness, and threats to relationships. Activities of consciousness were choosing, balancing, accepting, and letting go. Concepts of flow, turbulence, and a movement dialectic were identified in study findings. Creative movement supported self-awareness.

Embodied soul. The focus for nursing praxis.

This article explores the nature of embodied soul as a phenomenon of concern to nursing. Examples of the body/soul debate from early Greek philosophers to the present day are examined. Early writings on the subject echo in medieval writings and in present-day knowledge of neuroscience and physics, as well as in the writings of Merleau-Ponty. The author proposes that nursing embrace the concept as it relates to Berrys patterns of differentiation, subjectivity, and communion in the universe. These patterns exist from the cellular to the cosmic level. It is through the embodied soul that one engages in this process. The works of selected nurse theorists are examined as they relate to the topic. Both the subject of the client and of the nurse as embodied souls are addressed.

Praxis as a Mirroring Process: Teaching Psychiatric Nursing Grounded in Newman’s Health as Expanding Consciousness

The purpose of this column is to describe the application of Newman’s theory of health as expanding consciousness in nursing education. The authors examine the value of mirroring presence, self-reflection, appreciation of meaning and pattern, and creative approaches to student learning in their care of clients with chronic mental illness. Praxis as the basis for caring in the human health experience is discussed in this newly developed teaching-learning model.

Family Reflections on Living through Sudden Death of a Child

The author describes a method of cooperative inquiry into a family’s experience of the sudden death of a child. Through the praxis method based on Newman’s health as expanding consciousness, family members had an opportunity, individually and together, to explore the impact of this experience on subsequent family life over three generations. Members were given transcripts of all dialogues for further reflection. All writings were shared with all family members. Both process and content of the inquiry will illustrate the shared and unique ways in which this loss was expressed over time. Implications of the mode of inquiry will be discussed.