Neuman's environment is viewed as all factors, both inside and outside the client or client system, which influence the person (Neuman, 1995). Additionally, Neuman adds the concept of the "created environment" (p. 31),which serves to protect the person from reality when the person is ill-prepared to handle the truth. An example of this would be a child's denial of sexual abuse at a time when he/she didn't have the coping skills to deal with the abuse. Denying the abuse aids in creating a false, but protective, environment.This created environment is developed without conscious thought (Neuman).
Health, in Neuman's model, is seen as occurring on a continuum; at opposite poles are wellness and illness. The client's health is not static and is a reflection of the ongoing interactions between the client and his/her environment (Neuman, 1995). Health is viewed as "the best possible wellness state at any given time" (p. 32). The usual state of wellness is coined "the normal line of defense" (p. 26). Movement away from wellness is a result of stressors overwhelming the normal line of defense (Neuman).
Neuman says the goal for nursing is a stable client system (Neuman, 1995). Leddy and Pepper (1993) describe Neuman's goal for nursing as stressor reduction at three levels including primary, secondary and tertiary prevention. (Continued in part 2).
-Brenda, April 2002
As with all nursing models, Neuman offers her own description of the domain of nursing. Neuman uses the term client or client person in reference to person. The client system refers to more than one person, such as family or community (Neuman, 1995). Neuman's model views
the client or client system, according to Leddy and Pepper (1993), as "an open system seeking balance and harmony; a composite of physiological, psychological, sociocultural and developmental variables viewed as a whole" (p. 155). Added to these variables is the variable of spirituality (Neuman).
The client or client system is seen as an open system (Leddy & Pepper, 1993) which
Leddy, S. & Pepper, J.M. (1993). Conceptual Bases of Professional Nursing (3rd ed.). Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincottt Company.
Neuman, B. (1995). The Neuman Systems Model (3rd ed). Stamford: Appleton & Lange.