Copyright (C) 2007 by Josephine Paterson and Loretta Zderad. Humanistic Nursing (Meta-theoretical Essays on Practice) by Josephine Paterson and Loretta Zderad Copyright (C) 2007 by Josephine Paterson and sLoretta Zderad all rights reserved except as follows. This e-text may be freely copied for academic and scholarly work with the copyright notice clearly affixed to all copies. No commercial use may be made of any part of the text without the express permission of the copyright holders. This e-text version of the classic text "Humanistic Nursing" is made available with the kind permission of the authors and copyright holders, Josephine Paterson and Loretta Zderad. The book was originally written to define the Humanistic Nursing Theory which presented a way for each nurse to become-more as a person and to extend that becoming-more to the community of nurses in which he or she practices. The offering of this book in the "free" e-text format reiterates the continuing contribution of these two nurses long after their retirement from practice. It is their hope that nurses everywhere will take their vision for nursing and expand on it and integrate it into their nursing practice. At the request of the authors this e-text version is complete with the original 1976 Front Matter. Susan Kleiman For more information or questions about the subject of Humanistic nursing or this e-text you may contact Professor Susan Kleiman, PhD, RN, CS, NPP at: susank@humanistic-nursing.com. Alternatively you may visit the web site: www.humanistic-nursing.com. The Humanistic Nursing Inquiry web site provides context for the major initiatives of humanistic nursing, which celebrate the enduring and immutable ideals of Humanism that give us insight into the fundamental truths of being in the world of nurses, patients, families, colleagues, and students. FOREWORD to the 1976 Edition These essays will evoke different reactions from different readers. "Well, I know that," for example, may be the reaction of a beginner in nursing; "I wouldn't have said it that way but I knew that is really nursing." "Since they've given us a methodology," perhaps from one more experienced in nursing; "I'll give it a try." Others with still more or different kinds of experience may respond, "It's about time nurses put that into words; it's about time." Timely as these essays are I would prefer not to use up the foreword with a listing of the crises, the "eco-spasms," and scientific triumphs that would document their timeliness. It is my pleasure, rather, to use this opportunity to relate the six elements of my own reaction: