Roy's Theory of Adaptation

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While completing a master’s degree at the University of California- Los Angeles, Sister Callista Roy theorized that the ultimate goal of nursing was to promote adaptation (Clarke, Barone, Hanna, & Senesac, 2011). Applying scientific knowledge to nursing practice, her framework aimed to improve nursing care by providing a holistic perspective to the adaptive behaviours of individuals and groups. Since publication in 1970, Sister Callista Roy has continued to refine her theory of adaptation, addressing its limitations and expanding upon philosophical insights (Roy, 2009). Today, Roy’s theory is one of the most commonly used frameworks in nursing, guiding research, education, and clinical practice (Shosha & Al kalaldeh, 2012). Hence, the purpose of this essay is to provide an in-depth review of Sister Callista Roy’s adaptation model and discuss its contributions to nursing research and evidence based practice.
Adaptation
Adaptation refers to the way in which people cope with changes in their environment. Roy and Andrews (1999) define this as, “the process and outcome whereby thinking and feeling persons as individuals or in groups, use conscious awareness and choice to create human and environmental integration.” Effective human and environmental integration serves to maintain overall health and well-being, thereby improving quality of life, however, environmental factors often present health challenges (Roy, 2009). In order to compensate with these challenges, coping and feedback mechanisms activate, conversely, if ineffective, individuals or groups become compromised, resulting in negative health outcomes (Roy, 2009). Therefore, it is the nurse’s role to promote adaptation and enhance interaction with the environment in o...

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...ently published studies that used Roy’s adaptation theory and critically analyzed the effectiveness of her model to guide nursing practice and research. Their findings suggested that Roy’s adaptation theory was an applicable, flexible, and useful model in research and served to effectively guide nursing practice (Shosha & Al kalaldeh, 2012).
Conclusion
In conclusion, Roy’s Adaptation Model provides clinicians and researchers with a theoretical foundation to build upon. In practice, Roy’s adaptation model provides a systematic and dynamic approach to the nursing process, allowing nurses to develop holistic and meaningful care plans. In research, Roy’s adaptation theory has been extensively tested, generating evidence within nursing practice. In essence, this provides nurses with the necessary strategies to effectively promote health and improve client care.

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