Orem’s Self-Care Theory
Dorothea Orem, founder of nursing’s Self-care deficit theory, dedicated her life to helping those less fortunate receive quality nursing care. Orem developed a theory that focused on improving health care through self-care (Libster, 2008). In doing so, she defined nursing’s role in modern healthcare, which directly impacted the nurse’s ability to better care for patients.
Born in 1914, Dorothea Orem grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. Raised by a construction worker and homemaker, Orem was influenced greatly by her two aunts who were Daughters of Charity nurses. The Daughters of Charity originated in France with St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac. “The Sister- Nurses filled a need in community by helping some of the most marginalized of society such as the insane, inebriates and those suffering from dreaded diseases, such as cholera. In fact, it was during their care for the cholera victims during the 1832 pandemic that they cinched their early American reputation as nursing experts” (Libster, 2008, p. 10). Orem attended Seton High School which continued with this tradition as did Providence Hospital in Washington, D.C. where she attained her diploma in nursing in 1934. These significant roots were set as the foundation for Orem’s theory of self-care.
Orem began her career as a staff nurse and supervisor in OR and ER settings. She returned to Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. and graduated with her BSN in 1939, when she assumed a faculty position. In 1946, she graduated with her MSN from Catholic University, and became the Director of Nursing Services and Education in Detroit. Orem was greatly influenced by the philosophical thought provoking questions of Aristotle and ...
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In today’s modern world of medicine that demands shorter hospital length of stay and decreased readmission rates, there is more pressure than ever on the nurse to quickly but effectively transition the patient from the wholly compensatory system to the supportive-educative system. Orem’s modern day approach to nursing practice allows the patient to assume responsibility of self-care as they can handle it. In the absence of this ability, it is the nurse’s role to fill in and create an environment to improve that patient’s quality of life by regaining that self-care ability. “Supporting self-care can improve health outcomes, increase patient satisfaction and help in deploying the biggest collaborative resource available—patients, their families and communities” (Pearson, 2008, p. 2).
... Through the demonstration of these values on a daily basis, the nurse is able to not only take better care of his or her patients, but is also able to take care of his or herself. Through self-care, the nurse is able to better understand the phenomena of the client, and is able to provide better client-centered care.
A diverse range of elements affects patient experiences in relation to the quality of nursing care. However, nurses often have to reconcile systemic biases with their desire to provide nursing care that 's based on patient needs and preferences. Establishing autonomy over their own practice in order to improve patient experiences is considered optimal.
... M.A. (2006). Applications of Dorthea Orem's self care deficit nursing theory. In M.E. Parker (Ed.) (2006). Nursing theory and nursing practice (2nd ed., pp. 149-155). Philadelphia: EA. Davis Company.
The goal was to maintain and improve the standards of nursing education throughout nursing history. She also joined the American Nurses Association (ANA) along with the North Carolina Nurses Association (NCNA). With these two organizations, the purpose of these commitments was to improve the standards of health and access to healthcare services for everyone. Promotion of the professional growth and development of all nurses included economic issues, working conditions, and independence of practice. She joined the state organization and through the state organization she was indirectly a member of the ANA and now it has just been proposed that a nurse can join the ANA without going through the state first. The ANA establishes and continually update standards of nursing practice (Catalano, 2009). The ANA hall of fame decided to honor her and other nurses whose achievements and dedication affected the nursing
West, E., Griffith, W., Iphofen, R. (2007, April vol.16/no.2). A historical perspective on the nursing
One of the many theorists that followed the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale, was Merle Mishel (Alligood, 2014). However, Florence Nightingale’s theory is different
During my career as a registered nurse I have had the privilege of caring for my patients at the bedside and meeting their needs holistically. Additionally, the safety of my patients is one of the most important aspects of my current role. The experience of advocating for my patients during my nursing career has taught me to place my patient’s health and wellbeing first. The second most important aspect of nursing that I have learned during my career is how to meet my patient’s needs as a whole, not just physically but also emotionally and psychologically applying the holistic approach to each patient. I believe that the patient’s needs
Registered nurses came through a long way back to the 19th century, when they used to provide care to the injured soldiers and other injures strangers. Florence Nightingale was the first influenced in this career. She was a daughter of a British family who worked her life to improve the field of nursing. Her main goal was to spread this field throughout the countries. As a success the first school was in the United States, in Boston. Then later it was passed to New York and others states. In today’s society we are still acknowledge to her great work. And improve the medical field for a better upgrade towards today’s society and generation.
Her theory explains how an individual can achieve or maintain a healthy state using self-care, directly or through the help of a nurse. When an individual becomes unable to provide care for themselves, the nurse would be responsible for providing the assistance needed. However, if the person is fully capable of providing their own basic self-care, the nurse’s role would then be come supporter/education of that self-care. Stated on the Nursing Theory Webpage Self Care Deficit Theory, “Orem 's theory is comprised of three related parts: (1) theory of self-care, (2) theory of self-care deficit, and (3) theory of nursing system” (Self care deficit theory,
Every person’s needs must be recognized, respected, and filled if he or she must attain wholeness. The environment must attuned to that wholeness for healing to occur. Healing must be total or holistic if health must be restored or maintained. And a nurse-patient relationship is the very foundation of nursing (Conway et al 2011; Johnson, 2011). The Theory recognizes a person’s needs above all. It sets up the conducive environment to healing. It addresses and works on the restoration and maintenance of total health rather than only specific parts or aspect of the patient’s body or personality. And these are possible only through a positive healing relationship between the patient and the nurse (Conway et al, Johnson).
I chose to do a concept analysis on ‘Self-Care.’ The nursing theory that uses this concept is Orem’s theory of nursing. This theory is a grand theory and consists of three minor interrelated theories; self-care, self-care deficit, and nursing systems. (Parker & Smith 2010). Orem defines self-care as when an individual initiates activities and performs to maintain life, health and well-being on their own and self-care deficit as not meeting adequate self-care requisites which include “limitations for knowing, deciding and producing care to self or dependent. (Parker & Smith, 2010)
Seed, M., & Torkelson, D. (2012). Beginning the recovery journey in acute psychiatric care: Using concepts from Orem's self-care deficit nursing theory. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 33, 394-398
Nursing is more than merely a job, an occupation, or a career; it is a vocation, a calling, a frame of mind and heart. As a nurse, one must value the general good of others over his own. He must devote of himself nobly to ensure the well-being of his patient. However, today’s well-recognized nurses are notably different from nurses of the recent past. Service is the core of the nursing profession, and the essential evolution of the vocation reflects the ever-changing needs of the diverse patient population that it serves. As a profession, nursing has evolved progressively, particularly in its modernization throughout the past two centuries with the influence of Florence Nightingale. The field of nursing continues to grow and diversify even today, as nurses receive greater medical credibility and repute, as its minority representations
One of the theories of nursing is Dorothea Orem’s self-care theory, also called the self-care deficit theory. Nursing theories are important for several reasons. The profession is strengthened when knowledge is built on sound theory (Black, 2014). Theory is important for reasoning, thinking, decision-making, and supporting excellence in practice (Black, 2014). Dorothea Orem’s theory is a conceptual model that provides a structure for critical thinking in the nursing process (Black, 2014). A conceptual model provides a comprehensive and holistic perspective of nursing (Black, 2014). Orem published her theory in 1959 and continued to develop her model, eventually formalizing three interrelated theories: theory of self-care, theory of self-care deficit, and theory of nursing system (Black, 2014). The focus of Orem’s model is the patient’s self-care capacity. The process helps to design a nursing process specific to each patient that will provide for the self-care deficit of the patient (Black, 2014). Self-care deficits exist when the patient has limitations and the self-care requirement is greater than he patient’s capacity (Manzini & Simonetti, 2009).
When Florence was born nurses weren’t seen as anything more than prostitutes. Due to her war efforts, and overall healing abilities she began to give nursing a face. She was known as the ‘lady of the lamp’ to men and women throughout the war. Male doctors came to her and offered her full compliance if she would assist in aiding their ill. People took note of this and realized that these nurses were crucial in the healing process. All the men who even so much as witnessed the caregiving power of these nurses had to give their respect. Because of Nightingale’s efforts the world began to shift its view on nursing. Nursing became a respected line of duty, and something women could be proud to be a part of. Nightingale is often talked of as one of the first great feminists of the world because of how empowering she was to other female nurses. She gave women chances and a drive to be something other than a maid or a stay at home mother. These were the first positive outlooks on nursing, which lead to nursing becoming something more than just a position in the health