Essay Sample on Pamela G. Reed’s Theory of Self-Transcendence in Patient Care

Theory of Self-Transcendence

Pamela G. Reed is a famous nursing theorist and professor at the University of Arizona College of Nursing in Tucson, AZ. She received her education at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, and earned a BS in Nursing, MS in Nursing, MA, and PhD degrees from the same University. Reed, credited as a meta-clinical researcher, penetrates deeply into the inner realms of areas of study, including spirituality, self-transcendence, mental health, and end-of-life care. Her Self-Transcendence Scale and Spiritual Perspective Scale have gained much popularity in the scientific sphere, with researchers worldwide utilizing them in different studies.

Reed specializes in courses pertinent to nursing philosophy, metatheory, and theory development for doctoral students who hold master’s degrees in nursing sciences. She wrote a couple of books and a few papers on these topics in which she made author contributions to the nursing theory. Reed is known for propounding the Self-Transection Theory, which was first used in 1991. The mid-range nursing theory centers around the resilience of the human experience, particularly in circumstances that keep us from being in excellent health. The theory is about how people endure adversity and how psychological maturity, mental health, and well-being are in a circular relationship (Smith et al., 2023). The Self-Transcendence Theory regards this ability to go beyond the self as being one in which human beings can transcend their limitations in many ways. Such a self-transcending tendency enhances happiness and helps one manage the vulnerability-wellbeing relationship. The theory’s major concepts comprise vulnerability, personal growth, and personal and contextual factors. It represents a space of reflection and exploring personal practices to enhance one’s well-being, even in the face of destabilizing circumstances. It has been used for different population segments through different life stages, adolescence, and end-of-life care (Abu Khait et al., 2020). The “Theory of Self-Transcendence” presents an enlightening concept of the human mind that allows understanding the influence of self-awareness and finding meaning in life as essential for people to adapt positively and to have a higher quality of life although facing great challenges like chronic illness, disability, and death.

Analysis of Basic Components/Concepts and Major Relationships in the Theory

In this theory, three close-knit concepts are underlined and are mutually relevant. The first one is self-transcendence itself, which is the word for an individual activating their thoughts and capabilities to move outside their boundaries and perspectives. It can be inwardly by boosting your self-awareness, outwardly through the process of strengthening relationships with others, temporally by combining your past, present, and future in a way that they are all in the right place, and transpersonally by breaking the barriers between dimensions beyond the visible components (Abu Khait et al., 2020). Manifestation of self-transcendence is a widened view of life and participation in pastimes slightly beyond the common people.

The second fundamental principle is well-being, defined as the feeling of wholeness, health, and fulfillment based on one’s judgment (Smith et al., 2023). Good condition can be revealed through parameters such as life satisfaction, positive self-image, hopefulness, happiness, and capacity for self-care, as well as attaining the meaning of life. The concept of vulnerability is the next crucial aspect, and it is described as a recognition of personal mortality or danger to one’s well-being resulting from difficult life situations, for instance, aging, illness, disability, and loss of someone dear to your heart.

The theory envisions several connections among these parameters. The first necessary condition is supposed to be vulnerability, which promotes the development of self-transcendence. Nevertheless, this relationship, which is also qualified by individual factors such as age or convictions and contextual factors like supportive systems, can be widely mitigated. The second probable connection is the straight positive connection between self-transcendence and indicators of well-being (Smith et al., 2023). Moreover, it is postulated that self-transcendence moderates the relationship between vulnerability and well-being; thus, without this psychological resource, one’s subject to any vulnerable situation can lead to diminished well-being.

Relevance

Personal Relevance of the Theorist

The personal and professional lives of Pamela G. Reed were decisive factors in elaborating the “Theory of Self-Transcendence.” The theory was influenced by three major events: including developmental psychology’s lifespan movement, which observes the possibility for developmental change across the life span; suits Martha Rogers’s philosophical postulates, which are about the nature of human beings and their potential for healing and well-being; and knowledge of clinical nurse specialist practice from applying developmental theories in child and adolescent psychiatry-mental healthcare (Abu Khait et al., 2020). In this regard, Reed’s curiosity about how people can rebound from adverse experiences and the correlation between psychosocial development, mental health, and well-being provided an intellectual grounding for the “Theory of Self-Transcendence,” according to.

Relevance to Healthcare and the Client

“Theory of Self-Transcendence” is the main factor that healthcare and its subjects draw on. Based on the theory, self-transcendence, which could be interpreted as a capacity to go beyond the borders of the inner, interpersonal, temporal, and transpersonal issues, might be a way of achieving wellness during the difficult health challenge period. Providing health care is a field that becomes a witness when confronting the hardest circumstances in life, like chronic illness, disease, disability, aging, loss, and other crises (Abu Khait et al., 2020). Such moments are the ones that naturally make us more aware of our frailty and incomprehensibility. According to the “Theory of Self-Transcendence,’ helping clients shift from this area by creating self-transcendence brings about the issues of meaning, value, and transcendence (Smith et al., 2023). Theory forms an approach to understanding the reasons for individuals` health behaviors, an essential feature in nursing.

Application to Research and Practice

“Theory of Self-Transcendence” has been commonly used for research and nursing practices, and many supported studies have maintained their postulates well and have proved to apply to various nursing situations. In the field, both the Self-Transcendence Scale (STS) developed by Reed and others of similar nature were used to measure the level of self-transcendence. Its association with different well-being indicators in various populations prevailed by the elderly, individuals with chronic diseases (for instance, cancer, HIV/AIDS, and multiple sclerosis), and caregivers (Abu Khait et al., 2020). The research findings that have been yielded from these studies have confirmed the notion that self-transcendence is linked to positive outcomes that include resilience, a sense of coherence, purpose in life, and a sense of emotional well-being. The theory has played a role in developing and testing interventions to lead to the process of self-transcendence and promote well-being (Smith et al., 2023). For instance, some methods include support groups, psychoeducational programs, personal narrative work, art-making, creative bonding, and therapeutic music videos. The programs achieve desirable outcomes, like higher self-transcendence, decreased depression rate, and enhanced quality of life.

Nurses use self-transcendence theory to care for clients when they are ill and experience an awful health-related life. Nurses may adopt various strategies of these theories to provide their clients with ways of self-transcendence, which may include meditation, prayer, visualization, review, reminiscing, journaling, support groups, altruistic actions, and spiritual exploration (Smith et al., 2023) Through the imparting of self-transcendence, the nurses are enabled to lead the clients to the feeling of meaning, purpose, and recovery amidst misery. Generally, the “Theory of Self- Transcendence” provides an effective roadway for understanding and promoting wellness in healthcare settings, which is based on the human principles of development and self-transcendence in the face of crises. It was applied not only in research but also in practice in order to improve interventions on the evidence base. It has added a new dimension to nursing by promoting clients’ qualities or resources for the process of recovery or being well.

Articles

“Reed P. G. (2021). Self-Transcendence: Moving from spiritual disequilibrium to well-being across the cancer trajectory. Seminars in Oncology Nursing, 37(5), 151212.”

The article synthesizes research on self-transcendence among cancer patients and caregivers to enlighten nursing practices promoting well-being. Self-transcendence involves expanding self-boundaries to create meaning and foster well-being. Peer-reviewed research supports Reed’s theory proposing “self-transcendence” as a healing process facilitating well-being by expanding boundaries transpersonally, interpersonally, and intrapersonally. The article outlines five practice implications for nurses to support well-being and self-transcendence aligned with the theory, utilizing the creative experiences of expanding self-boundaries.

“Haugan, G., Deliktaş Demirci, A., Kabukcuoglu, K., & Aune, I. (2022). Self-transcendence among adults 65 years and older: A meta-analysis. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 36(1), 3–15.” https://doi.org/10.1111/scs.12959

The meta-analysis examined self-transcendence levels and correlations with meaning, coherence, resilience, and depression in adults aged 65+. Self-transcendence, expanding personal boundaries for well-being, was low overall but similar across residence and gender. Moderate positive correlations existed with meaning and resilience, weak positive with coherence, and moderate negative with depression. The authors suggest self-transcendence can guide understanding well-being and health-promoting approaches among older adults, inspiring new practices supporting health, well-being, and independence.

Conclusion/Summary

The “Theory of Self-Transcendence,” developed by “Pamela G. Reed,” provides a valuable framework for understanding and promoting welfare in the framework of challenging health-related involvements. The theory’s strength lies in its ability to capture the human capacity for growth and personal expansion in the face of adversity, emphasizing the role of “self-transcendence” as a resource for resilience and well-being. The theory proposes that “self-transcendence,” the ability to expand personal boundaries in various ways (intrapersonally, transpersonally, temporally, and interpersonally), facilitates well-being by mediating the effects of vulnerability on well-being outcomes. The proposition has been supported by numerous empirical studies across diverse populations, including older adults, individuals with chronic illnesses, and caregivers.

The theory’s strength lies in its applicability to nursing practice, guiding nurses in promoting self-transcendence and well-being through various strategies, such as meditation, support groups, artistic modalities, and spiritual exploration. On the downside, there is still a need for research on how individual and contextual factors may shape the pathways between vulnerabilities, self-transcending, and well-being. Overall, the “Theory of Self-Transcendence” offers a valuable perspective on the human capacity for healing and well-being, highlighting the importance of fostering self-transcendence processes in healthcare settings. Its application in research and practice has contributed to developing evidence-based interventions. It has enriched nursing care by emphasizing clients’ inherent resources for growth and well-being amidst challenging life experiences.