Myra Estrin Levine (1920-1996) was an American nurse recognized for the formulation of the conservation theory, which postulates that there must be an organizational structure for the teaching of medical-surgical nursing. In addition, she stood out for her extensive work as a civil and private nurse, surgical supervisor and clinical instructor.
Her concern for her father's health led her to obtain a nursing diploma from the Cook County School of Nursing in 1944, at the age of 24. She later completed her nursing studies at the University of Chicago in 1949.
Myra estrin levine. Image taken from:
In 1962 she was awarded her master's degree in nursing from Wayne State University in Detroit. He also obtained an honorary doctorate from Loyola University in the same year.
At present, Levine's conservation model is fundamental in nursing education, as it highlights the importance of nursing interactions and interventions to facilitate healing and the preservation of the structural integrity of the individual.
Biography
After graduating from the Cook County School of Nursing in 1944, Levine received a bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of Chicago in 1949. She also earned a master's degree in nursing from Wayne State University in 1962.
In 1944, after finishing her studies in nursing school, she began working as a private nurse, but the following year she joined the United States Army as a nurse. From 1947 to 1950 she was a clinical instructor of physical sciences at Cook County School.
Between 1950 and 1951 she took the position of director of nursing at the Drexel Home in Chicago and during the years 1951 and 1952 she was supervisor of surgical nursing at the Clinic of the University of Chicago. Later, between 1956 and 1962, she served as a surgical supervisor, but at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.
Myra continued her career to various academic positions at Nebraska's Bryan Memorial Hospital Lincoln, Cook County School of Nursing, Illinois University, and Rush University. In the latter institution, she coordinated the oncology nursing graduate program.
In 1974, she was chosen director of the continuing education department at Evanston Hospital, where she was also a counselor. After earning a master's degree in nursing, Levine taught at various institutions, including the University of Illinois in Chicago and Tel Aviv University in Israel.
Nursing Theories
Levine expressed on several occasions that she never tried to develop a theory, but managed to create an organizational structure for nursing teaching, an area that she was passionate about since she was little.
The conservation model was based on the physical concept of energy conservation, along with other psychosocial aspects. He brought together the three fundamental principles that work together to facilitate healing: wholeness or globality, adaptation and conservation. Three concepts that were the basis of his theory of conservation.
The concept of integrity maintains that nurses must deal with external and internal factors of the patient. This allows the individual to be seen as a person of integrity and not just as sick. The nurse as a caregiver becomes an active part of that environment.
As for the principle of adaptation, Levine considered it as a process of change through which the patient adapts to the realities of his new situation. The better you adapt to changes, the better you can respond to treatment and care.
Finally, conservation is the product of adaptation. It describes how complex systems are able to continue to function even when severely affected. Conservation enables individuals to respond effectively to the changes their bodies face, while maintaining their uniqueness.
Conservation principles
Myra Levine postulates that in order to achieve the objectives of the conservation model, certain interventions must be carried out. He called them conservation principles.
- Energy conservation. The person needs to constantly balance their energy in order to maintain their vital activities. For this reason, it should be ensured that the patient does not expend too much energy, through rest and exercise.
- Preservation of structural integrity. In this principle, healing is a process by which structural and functional integrity is restored to protect the whole. It is about promoting activities or tasks that help the patient's physical healing.
- Preservation of personal integrity. Integrity and self-worth are seen as important and the most vulnerable people become patients. Nurses can help patients maintain their uniqueness and individuality.
- Preservation of social integrity. Nurses play the role of helping families in care and patients maintain social and community ties. This will increase their self-esteem during the time they are in the hospital and will also make them feel better.
Over time, it was questioned whether this model was the most appropriate when it comes to tackling one's illness in the long term.
This is because Myra's model focuses primarily on the individual and their wholeness, as measured by their personal and emotional well-being over a specific period of time.
Other contributions
Levine, in conjunction with other authors, worked with the conservation model to develop a theory of health promotion in neonates.
In addition, it had great potential to study sleep disorders and also to develop care practices.
References
- Nursing diagnoses as instruments in the training of nurses: a literature review. (2019). Taken from scielo.isciii.es
- The conservation model. (2019). Taken from nursite.com
- Myra Estrin Levine. (2019). Taken from nursingtheories.weebly.com
- Myra Levine - Nursing Theory. (2019). Taken from nursing-theory.org
- Myra Estrin Levine. (2019). Taken from esacademic.com