Nursing Theorist Susan Leddy Major Research Proposal

Though in theory these methods sound hokey the practice is actually relatively simple to see if one takes elements of application for the theory and divorces it from the ideological, such as equating the terminology laying of hands with the use of therapeutic massage or heat therapy with consistent and historical use of heat pads, blankets and circulation instruments to raise body temperature of a patient as well as provide comfort and pain relief. These methods, taken out of the context of Leddy's model language then are then not actually untested but foundational to the ideology of the nurse as the bringer of comfort measures for reestablishment of health.

Relationship of Man, Health, Environment to Nursing

Leddy's theories may in careful analysis come across as relatively ideological and frankly metaphysical, especially when given her emphasis on the unseen, the different energy flow theories, such as the Chakra (pp. 91-93) and other highly controversial at least in language. Yet one must also acknowledge that one fundamentally important aspect of her theory ie. The connectivity of man, health environment and nursing is well documented and well made in her theories and many that have sprung from them.

Leddy acknowledges in quasi-western mostly modern terminology the interconnectivity between the individual and his environment and health, as well as with his fellow human beings. In the connectivity of these aspects Leddy places the nurse as an advocate for knowledge and change suggestion, based on assessment, observation and intervention where needed, yet she acknowledges that the dynamic of change is almost solely rooted in the individual learning, seeing and then applying change agents to the reestablishment of health/balance in the dynamic between the person and the environment. This emphasis make sit clear that this model, despite its sometimes hokey language lays the real responsibility for health and wellness on internal (self-driven) choices and causes with the inclusion of the interjection of knowledge and possibly procedure from the nurse. Reading and believing all the language of the work can be challenging, especially for the modern medical practitioner as such language might denote untested and untried applications of terms and theories, but ultimately the core connectivity of the theory makes the reader/learner wish to continue to seek out the gems of knowledge within the pages of ideology. This interconnectivity, coupled with the individual as responsible for his or her own health play well with modern ideologies of medicine and personal responsibility found in nursing theory and in medicine in general at this time.

Resources

Leddy, S.K. (2006) Integrative Health Promotion. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.