A Process Model of Healing and Personal Transformation in Persons With Chronic Skin Wounds

Abstract

Utilizing Newman's research as praxis process, this research examined the patterns of those living with chronic skin wounds. Ten men and 8 women, primarily of retirement age and living with chronic skin wounds for a year or more, reflected upon important relationships and life events during two in-depth interviews and a self-expressive drawing. Emerging from each participant's pattern was the link among human development, expanding consciousness, and processing a serious physical threat. Considering data across participants, five themes emerged from the data with evolution of a process model of wholistic healing that has implications for advanced nursing practice.

The Process of Healing Transformations

“…Each research participant in Rosa's (2006) study described the role of the wound care nurse as central to the support and process of healing. The partnership formed with the nurse focusing on increasing awareness profoundly influenced personal change and encouraged people to "keep going."…”

Integrative Review on the Use of Newman Praxis Relationship in Chronic Illness

“…Next were the four studies that included findings on both aims (Endo, 1998;Endo, et al, 2000;Falkenstern, Gueldner, & Newman, 2009;Rosa, 2006). In the past 20 years, on average one study per year (10 in the first 10 years and 8 in the latter 10 years) has been published on investigating persons with chronic illness using Newman's praxis relationship.…”

“…The informational pattern informed nurses of the need for interviews beyond the number that was initially anticipated and/or beyond the expected length (Endo, et al, 2005;Falkenstern, et al, 2009;Kiser-Larson, 2002). Some Newman scholars looking across their participants used the relationship to illuminate the nature of participants' insights (Endo, et al, 2005;Kiser-Larson, 2002;Lamendola & Newman, 1994;Litchfield, 1999;Rosa, 2006) and turning points (MacNeil, 2012;Neill, 2005;Rosa, 2006). Yet found that when "families started to recall past meaningful events with their special needs child, they did not want to stop until they felt they were finished" prolonging some meetings to two and half hours (Falkenstern, et al, 2009, p. 269).…”

“…Newman scholars used the mutual process dimension of relationship to discover the work of the relationship (Awa & Yamashita, 2008;Endo, 1998;Rosa, 2006), to support creating openness and space for new solutions (Endo, et al, 2005;Neill, 2002;Tommet, 2003;Yang, et al, 2009), and to facilitate relationship connectedness at times searching for the pattern that connects (Falkenstern, et al, 2009). Newman scholars used the mutual process dimension of relationship to discover the work of the relationship (Awa & Yamashita, 2008;Endo, 1998;Rosa, 2006), to support creating openness and space for new solutions (Endo, et al, 2005;Neill, 2002;Tommet, 2003;Yang, et al, 2009), and to facilitate relationship connectedness at times searching for the pattern that connects (Falkenstern, et al, 2009).…”

“…Newman scholars used the mutual process dimension of relationship to discover the work of the relationship (Awa & Yamashita, 2008;Endo, 1998;Rosa, 2006), to support creating openness and space for new solutions (Endo, et al, 2005;Neill, 2002;Tommet, 2003;Yang, et al, 2009), and to facilitate relationship connectedness at times searching for the pattern that connects (Falkenstern, et al, 2009). A few scholars looking across interactions with participants developed models of unfolding across the course of the relationship (Endo, et al, 2005;Litchfield, 1999;Rosa, 2006). Later Endo and colleagues (2000) found nurses who struggled to get in "sync with the family's tempo" took longer to establish the rhythm of relating with the family, prolonging the first phase of "[the family-nurse mutual concern and evolution of family's pattern]" (p. 608).…”