Dorcas Gray
NUR/403
January 13, 2014
Marilyn Moorhouse
University of Phoenix Material
Nursing Theorist Grid
The chosen theorist is Dorothea Orem.
Description of key points of the theory
The self-care deficit theory “provides a way of looking at and investigating what nurses do” (Blais & Hayes, 2011, p. 102). It speaks to activities that individuals can perform independently to maintain life, health, and wellbeing. The theory outlines the three different categories of self-care requisites – which is required by all individuals. It revealed that overtime there may be the need to obtain assistance, and making adjustments because of changes in health, development or body image. When there is a self-care deficit, an individual experiences health related limitations and at this point he or she is unable to perform tasks independently, and so he or she benefits from nursing care. However, the concept of the nursing system, allows nurses to support individuals according to his or her ability to perform personal care (Blais & Hayes, p. 102, 2011).
Historical background
Dorothea Orem was born 1914 in Baltimore Maryland. She began her nursing career in Washington D.C. and got her diploma in the early 1930’s (Nursing Theories, 2014). She developed the Self-care Deficit Nursing Theory –SCDNT in 1956 (Alligood, p. 261, 2010). Orem’s theory highlights self-care as a human need, and allows nurses to develop interventions to encourage self-care. The aim of the theory is to help individuals and their families to maintain control of their health during the continuum of life.
The general theory is referred to as the Self-care deficit theory of nursing and was first published in 1971 (Blais & Hayes, p. 102, 2011). Orem’s idea of an individual’s independence is manifested in her sub theories: self-care, self-care deficit and nursing systems (Kozier, Erb, Berman, & Snyder, 2004).
The self-care theory
References: Alligood, M. R. (2010). Nursing Theory: Utilization and Application (4th ed.). Retrieved from University of Phoenix eBook Collection database Bernier, F. (2002). Applying orem 's self-care deficit theory of nursing to continence care: Part 2. Urologic Nursing, 22(6), 384-90. Blais, K. K., & Hayes, J. S. (2011). Professional Nursing Practice: Concepts and Perspectives (6th ed.). Retrieved from University of Phoenix eBook Collection database. Kozier, B., Erb, G., Berman, A., & Snyder, S. (2004). Fundamentals of Nursing: concepts, process, and practice (7th ed.). Upper saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc., Nursing Theories. (2014). Biography of Dorothea Orem. Retrieve from http://nursingtheories.info/dorothea-orem-self-care-deficit-nursing-theory/ Nursing Theories. (2014). Dorothea Orem: Self Care Deficit Nursing Theory. Retrieve from http://nursingtheories.info/dorothea-orem-self-care-deficit-nursing-theory/