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At children need nurturing in order to survive and develop normally. This nurturing is supplied by adults, primarily parents, with the majority of the nurturing usually coming from the mother. The ability to nurture children is recognized as an essential, life sustaining skill. Literature, research, and practitioners abound with advice for the caregivers of children. While nurturing of others is a highly visible and valued phenomenon, nurturing of self is a less recognized, but equally valuable and life sustaining process.
Self nurturing skills of the client are a central concern in health promotion nursing. Lifestyle changes require the establishment of healthy, "good to yourself" patterns. It is not uncommon for clients to possess the ability to care for others, yet lack the consideration and skills to nurture themselves. Developing nursing theory for self nurturing furthers the clinical practice of health promotion and wellness by providing a framework for assessment and intervention development.
Attribute clarity facilitates theory development. Concept analysis is a clarification strategy in which concept characteristics are identified and distinguished from other phenomena. The word symbol . its empirical properties, and the perceptual bases that link the word and the phenomena are considered. An analysis of the concept of self nurturing follows. The analysis framework utilized is based on models suggested by Chinn and Jacobs (1983). Kim (1983), and Walkerand Avant (1983) and includes concept definitions and dimensions, concept usage, discussion of model cases, construction of alternative cases and identification of defining attributes, antecedents, consequences, and empirical indicators.
NURTURING
Definitions and Dimensions.
Nurturing is a holistic process involving the interrelationship between the physical, psychosocial and spiritual dimensions. Definitions of the word nurture verify its holistic properties. Webster's New World Dictionary (1951) denotes nurture as:
1. Derived from the Latin word "nutrire" meaning "to nourish, feed." This derivation affirms the physical dimension of nurture.
2. "Anything that nourishes, food; nutriment." This definition refers to the provision of substances necessary for life and relates to the physical dimension. Substances such as food, clothing, shelter, are included.
3. "The act or process of raising or promoting the development of; training; rearing; upbringing." This definition relates to the psychosocial, spiritual dimension that includes belonging, esteem, actualization, and meaningful experiences.
4. "In sociology, all the environmental factors, collectively to...