Dorothea Orem's Theory Analysis

Introduction (Yvonne)

Within the nursing industry, there have been many significant theorists who have helped to develop, shape, and provide a foundation for the nursing system. Nursing theories help to clarify, define, and support the purpose of nursing from other caring professions. Additionally, nursing theorists have set professional boundaries within the nursing profession (McEwen and Wills, 2014).

Subsequently, Dorothea Orem was one of America’s preeminent nursing theorists who postulated the Self-Care Nursing Theory, or the Orem Model of Nursing (Wayne, 2014). This theory helped to define nursing as the assistant to others who may need additional provisions and management of self-care to improve the human functioning at a baseline effectiveness.

These factors allow the interactions of the patient and nursing to identify the individual’s needs. At the same time, the patient has developed self-care deficits, while in addition, serves to validate the roles of patient and nurse (Whelan, 1984).

Likewise, Orem’s theory has provided a foundation basis in nursing, to evaluate nursing essentials, to establish a focus for nursing practice, to provide a scope for nursing practice, which can be broad or contextual, and to determine a balance of highly complex and simplicity (Whelan, 1984).

For this purpose, the following is an overview of Dorothea Orem’s work, her life, her influences, the concepts and propositions of the theory, and how this theory is applied to nursing practice.

Biography and Influence

She received her diploma in nursing from the Providence Hospital School of Nursing, Washington, D.C. in 1934. Orem received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing Education from the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. in 1939, and received her Master of Science in Nursing Education from the same university in 1945 (McEwen & Wills, 2014, p. 142). She went to the Indiana State Board of Health, Hospital Division, where she worked to help upgrade the quality nursing services in general hospitals in the state. Orem had to formulate a definition of nursing as part of her master’s degree work. In 1957, she moved to Washington, D.C. and worked as a consultant to the Office of Education, Department of Health, Education and Welfare. From 1958 to 1960, she worked on a project to improve practical nurse training. This project stimulated her to identify the condition or circumstances under which a decision is made that nursing care is needed. The condition that indicates the nursing assistance is the inability of persons to continuously provide for themselves the amount and quality of required self-care because of situations of personal health. The Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory was developed as a result of Orem’s working toward her goal of improving the quality of nursing in general hospitals in Indiana (Alligood, 2014, p.