BETTY NEUMAN

NEUMAN SYSTEMS
MODEL

PERSON
a

layered multidimensional being

Each layer consists of five person
variables or subsystems:

Physical/Physiological
Psychological
Socio-cultural
Developmental
Spiritual

PERSON
an

open system that interacts

with both internal and external
environmental forces or stressors
in constant change

ILLNESS

STABILITY

HEALTH
Health

is a condition in which all

parts and subparts (variables) are
in harmony with the whole of the
client.
the condition or degree of system
stability and is viewed as a
continuum --wellness OR illness

ILLNESS

WELLNESS

HEALTH

WELLNESS

WELLNESS-ILLNESS
CONTINUUM

WELLNESS
AVAILABLE
ENERGY

DEATH
ILLNESS

<

AVAILABLE
ENERGY

NEEDE
D

>

NEEDE
D
ENERG
Y

ENVIRONMENT
the

totality of the internal and

external forces which surround a
person and with which they
interact at any given time
internal environment
external environment
created environment

NURSING
a

unique profession that is

concerned with all of the
variables which influence the
response a person might have to
a stressor
requires a holistic approach
actions which assist individuals,
families and groups to maintain a
maximum level of wellness

NURSING
The primary concern of
NURSING
is to define the
appropriate action
in
situations that are stress
related or in relation to
possible reactions of the
client or client systems to
stressors.

THE NEUMAN
SYSTEMS MODEL

GOAL:

to provide a holistic
overview of the physiological,
psychological, socio-cultural,
and developmental aspects of
human beings
2 MAJOR COMPONENTS: stress
and reaction to stress
an open system in which
repeated cycles of input, process,
output and feedback constitute a
dynamic organizational pattern

MAJOR CONCEPTS OF THE

MODEL
I. PERSON VARIABLES
II. CENTRAL CORE
III. FLEXIBLE LINES OF DEFENSE
IV. NORMAL LINE OF DEFENSE
V. LINES OF RESISTANCE
VI. RECONSTITUTION
VII. STRESSORS
VIII. PREVENTION

MAJOR CONCEPTS OF SYSTEMS

MODEL
1.

PERSON VARIABLES
PSY

SPIRITUAL

L
A
C
I
G
O
CHOL

L
A
C
I
G
O
L
O
I
PHYS
L
SOCIOC
A
T
ULTUR
N
E
AL
M
P
O
L
E
V
DE

MAJOR CONCEPTS OF
SYSTEMS MODEL

II. CENTRAL CORE

made up of
the basic
survival
factors
persons
HOMEOSTASIS
system as an
open system

MAJOR CONCEPTS
OF SYSTEMS MODEL
III. FLEXIBLE LINES
OF DEFENSE
acts

as a
cushion
accordion-like
as it expands
away from or
contracts closer
to the normal
line of defense
dynamic

MAJOR CONCEPTS OF SYSTEMS

MODEL
IV. NORMAL LINE OF DEFENSE
represents system stability over
time
considered to be the usual level
of stability in the system
can change over time in
response to coping or
responding to the environment

MAJOR CONCEPTS OF SYSTEMS MODEL

V.

VI.

LINES OF RESISTANCE
protect the basic structure and become
activated when environmental
stressors invade the normal line of
defense

RECONSTITUTION
the increase in energy that occurs in
relation to the degree of reaction to the
stressor
begins at any point following initiation
of treatment for invasion of stressors

MAJOR CONCEPTS OF SYSTEMS

MODEL
VII. STRESSORS
Intrapersonal
Interpersonal
Extra personal
VIII. PREVENTION
1. Primary
2. Secondary
3. Tertiary