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An insight to Betty Neuman and

the Neuman systems model.

Abstract
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Founded in 1970, the Neuman Systems model is a major theoretical foundation of Nursing

established by Betty Neuman. This theory of nursing views the patient as an open and receptive

system that responds directly to stressors in the environment. In doing so, a researcher will use a

concrete scientific method to identify stress in order to formulate coping strategies and/or

nursing interventions to reduce the overall stress the patient experiences. This system considers

human beings to be an open system receptive to internal and external forces or variables. These

include physiological, psychological, sociocultural, developmental, and spiritual variables that

can be considered along with a persons natural line of defense. The strength of the model is that

it can be applied to and expanded into every area of nursing. The weakness of the model lies in

the ambiguity of the definition of certain key terms; one specific term is entropy which by the

textbook definition is characterized as a closed system.

Keywords: variables, stressors, environments,

Neuman Systems Model Overview

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Originally started by Dr. Betty Neuman at UCLA in 1970 as a way to teach introductory

nursing courses to students, this multifaceted system has been implemented worldwide for

research and as a holistic approach to identifying stressors in the environment and improving

overall patient health. This model helps identify stressors in the environment and facilitates

nursing intervention that will lead to an improved overall patient health.

Definition, Key Terms, and Concepts

The major concepts involve considering human beings as open systems that are

dynamic; that is always shifting and changing on the spectrum of health towards illness and

disease, or conversely health and stability. The environment is defined as any factor that affects

the system and can be subdivided into internal and external environment. The internal

environment is the defined client system which consists of either the individual, the family, a

group, or a community. The external environment consists of everything outside the client

system.

In the core of the client system are the basic biologic survival factors that are pertinent

to all organisms. The Neuman systems model accentuates that there are many patient variables

that interact with the environment and can potentially lead to the client system being

compromised. On top of the core is the flexible line of defense, normal lines of defense, and

lines of resistance. These lines of defense all are natural defense mechanisms of the individual

client system and provide a means of resistance to stressors. Stressors themselves are any

factor that can penetrate these lines of defense and results either positively or negatively.
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Neuman also considers many patient variables in her model simultaneously. These

include physiological, psychological, sociocultural, development, and spiritual variables. Each of

these variables influence how the patient interacts with their external and internal

environment. When taken into consideration, these variables can be used to determine the

best overall kind of nursing intervention.

Organizations Involved

The Neuman Systems model is currently used by many organizations around the world

to help solve interdisciplinary health care issues. The strongest proponent of this system is the

Neuman Systems Model Institute, which leads the development of the Neuman system as a

research model. Still today, many research teams worldwide use the Neuman system model as

a framework for their studies. Sources found in nursing journals include research teams from

Africa, South America, and the Middle East.

Nurses Affected

It can be argued that this system is so far reaching in that it

Advantages

The biggest advantage to this system is its flexibility, it can be applied to virtually any

issue across all disciplines of nursing; from administration to palliative care. It is possible to do

this because this system is logical; it has a clear step by step reasoning to reach a solution.

Another strong point in favor of the Neuman system is that the view of the client can be

adapted to an individual or family or group of people. The use of the model is mainly primary
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prevention, where a problem is addressed and certain nursing interventions can be applied to

prevent breakdown of the clients lines of defense that would lead to a compromised system.

Criticism

The only criticism of the Neuman Systems method is the use of the word entropy. In the

classic textbook definition of the word, it is used to define a closed system. In Neumans model,

entropy is used to define an open system with so many confounding variables that it can be

very confusing to someone who is not well versed in this particular research model. It is also

important to note that this author believes the terms used in this model need to be clarified

more and not be so ambiguous.

It is completely understandable why Betty Neumans model framework became so well

known around the world. Her model theory provides an improved understanding of the

practice of nursing using a concept that can be easily applied and distributed to every discipline

of nursing.
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