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.
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The discipline of nursing has long attempted to establish itself as a professional identity with a distinct knowledge base. In order for nursing to separate itself from other professions, it must inaugurate foundational nursing theory. Theory is an essential component to the nursing profession, because it defines and clarifies nursing concepts, and the purpose of nursing practice, which distinguishes nursing from other caring professions (McEwen, 2011). Additionally, "theory offers structure and organization to nursing knowledge and provides a systematic means of collecting data to describe, explain, and predict nursing practice" (McEwen, 2011, p. 23). Theory is the foundational component to the complex, continuously evolving nursing profession, as it enhances nursing knowledge, guides nursing practice and research, and helps in establishing and advancing the identity of the profession of nursing.
Nursing theories are critical for education and practice. The theories suppose to provide a foundation for general knowledge and assist in practice. Thus, healthcare professionals, managers, and patients recognize the unique healthcare service. However,
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Incorporating these theories into the everyday practice of nurses has developed a stronger and more advanced nursing discipline. The knowledge that the theorists shared strengthens the fundamentals of nursing concepts, values and beliefs that is being taught to each and every nursing generation to come. As a nurse, and someone who has sustained sleepless nights providing bedside care to the weak, frail and dying, practicing nursing through the components of nursing models in order reach an over all goal has been my struggle. Without theories, nursing would not be as advanced as it is scientifically, which would not benefit the
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To make good nursing decisions, nurses require an internal roadmap with knowledge of nursing theories. Nursing theories, models, and frameworks play a significant role in nursing, and they are created to focus on meeting the client’s needs for nursing care. According to McEwen and Wills (2014), conceptual models and theories could create mechanisms, guide nurses to communicate better, and provide a “systematic means of collecting data to describe, explain, and predict” about nursing and its practice (p. 25). Most of the theories have some common concepts; others may differ from one theory to other. This paper will evaluate two nursing theorists’ main theories include Sister Callista Roy’s
Orem’s theory is based on self-care requisites, which are basic needs of individuals at all stages of life. The ability or lack of ability of a patient to provide these self-care requisites for himself determines the self-care deficit (Black, 2014). The ability of a patient to provide his own self-care is dependent on factors such as age, gender, current state of health, and sociocultural factors (Caetano & Pagliuca, 2006). The self-care deficit Is then used to design a nursing plan that meets the patients’ needs (Black, 2014). Self-care requisites can be divided into three categories...
The nursing theories that are currently in place in the emergency room to promote professional growth and development are vital; however, there are other nursing theories that could be implemented to help improve professional growth and development. A theory that should be implemented to more effectively promote professional growth and development is Orem’s theory of self-care deficit. Orem’s theory is considered a “realistic reflection on nursing practice” (McEwen & Wills, 2014, p. 146). If the nurse is not taking care of him or herself, “stress [can] accumulate [and the] nurse can … become angry, exhausted, depressed, and sleepless” (Ruff & Hoffman, 2016, p. 8). By the nurse having these feelings he or she is not able to take care of him
Nursing theory can be applied to resolve nursing problems or issues, irrespective of the field of practice. A nursing theory benefits nurses and the patients that are in his or her charge. . Depending on the issue or problem that is needed to be solved determines what theory needs to be used. Nursing theory started with Florence Nightingale. She believed that a clean environment would promote better health. Virginia Henderson’s need theory emphasizes the need to ensure that the patient’s independence is being increased while in a health care facility. Ensuring that a patient can increase his or her independence allows for them to experience better outcomes upon discharge home. This is just two examples of nursing theories that were used
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