Self- Care Theory: Dorothea Orem Essay

Nursing theories were developed to be used as a foundation in nursing research, which is important to help develop the nursing practice. Making a theory relevant is a challenge, but it is the core of nursing. Theory tells us what the nursing practice aspires to be in the future. Nursing theory started with Florence Nightingale environmental theory to my favorite Orem self care deficit theory. All research tend to be theory-based we probably haven’t read a theory in years, but still base our practice on a theory when we follow institutional or professional guidelines.Self- Care Theory: Dorothea Orem Essay

Importance of Nursing Theory

I see the need to continue learning and developing theories help give the nursing profession an area of practice based on science. The continued focus on theory helps the advanced practice nurse the framework for any research. It is important for a master’s program to include the study of theory to encourage future nurses to embrace and understand the importance of research and increasing our presence in health care decisions that affect the care we provide. Our increase presence in research can help further the presence of nurses in government and key leadership roles. “Failure to incorporate nursing theories into a curriculum will have significant implications for the future of the discipline”(Yancey, 2015).

I would really love to have a theorist that has recent and relevant experience that can be compared to the challenges faced by nursing today. Staffing shortage, nurse to patient ratio and decrease the amount of time spent on the computer so we can go back to bedside nursing. Many of the nursing theories are old and are outdated models that does not relate to current practices in today’s nursing profession. In the past nursing had no theory we followed the physician’s theories because we were their assistants and nursing was not a practice or respected as a profession in healthcare. Physicians concentrate on the disease and we help to concentrate on the patient and their family and their problems associated with the disease. Recently the increase of masters and doctorate prepared nurses our practice has become more accepted as a profession that plays an important role in healthcare. Currently this theory can be used in research on current evidence based practices.Self- Care Theory: Dorothea Orem Essay

Hourly rounding is also based on this theory by attending to the metaparadigm concepts. In the environment we look to see if it is free of clutter and all personal possessions are within reach. In addressing their pain and need to be toileted we are addressing their health needs. Introducing yourself and staff to the patient and their caregiver and allowing them to participate in bedside shift report we address the needs of the person. Finally the communication and trust built by addressing all their needs every hour helps strengthen our nursing profession by increasing their view of how valuable nurses are in their care.

Orem’s Self –Care Deficit Theory

Dorothea Orem developed a theory of nursing that focused on the client’s self-care needs. Self-care is based onany goal-oriented activities directed toward the patient in maintaining life, health, social and developmental needs.As a nurse we have to determine why a patient is unable to meet these needs, and focus on what tools or assistance needed be to enable the patient or caregiver to meet them, and how much self-care can be completed. The simple tools such as assistive feeding devices or a shower chair can encourage independence and also empowerment.“Orem’s self-care deficit nursing theory (SCDNT) could be a useful guide in diabetes self- management education”(Sürücü,et al,2012). As an example a diabetic patient would be educated on how and when to check blood glucose levels at their level of comprehension, which will encourage adherence and unnecessary readmissions due to complications.

The Influence of Orem in Education

In a clinical practice area as an educator the staff can learn how to help patients regain the ability to manage self- care. In a school setting an educator can help student nurses to determine a patient’s capacity to engage and participate in self care needs and activities.  As patient educators,” nurses provide a critical system for educating patients toward self-management of chronic health conditions such as hypertension and chronic kidney disease”(Schub, 2015).A nursing assessment of what the patients need to know and do, evaluation of any skills required, and feedback from patients on what to expect and when to call the doctor. This theory can also help educate nurses how to an effective individualized care plan to improve participation during hospitalization ad at discharge. As an educator in a clinical setting we can develop new techniques based on evidence based practices to provide safe care to our patients and also an appropriate rationale to staff that might doubt new procedures.Self- Care Theory: Dorothea Orem Essay

Conclusion

In writing this paper and the research gathered I could see how important it is to preserve the theories from the past to help strengthen our practice. In the advances that we have made in nursing education that started from diploma and individualized hospital programs to the present bachelors to doctorate prepared nurses. Our practice will get stronger by the capability to participate in research and hold leadership roles in healthcare with other medical professionals. If educated nurses lack a solid foundation in the theories of the discipline, new knowledge development within nursing will suffer”(Yancey, 2015).

Reference

Orem, D. E., Renpenning, K. M., & Taylor, S. G. (2003). Self Care Theory in Nursing: Selected Papers of Dorothea Orem. New York: Springer Publishing Company.

Schub, E. (2015). Orem’s Self-Care Model: Integration into Practice. CINAHL Nursing Guide.

Sürücü, H. A., & Kizilci, S. (2012). Use of Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory in the Self-Self- Care Theory: Dorothea Orem Essay

Management Education of Patients with Type 2: A Case Study. Self-Care, Dependent

Care & Nursing, 19(1), 53-59 7p.

Yancey, N. R. (2015). Teaching-Learning Processes. Why Teach Nursing Theory?.Nursing

Science Quarterly, 28(4), 274-278 5p. doi:10.1177/0894318415599234

Self-care theory- is considered a primary form of care for patients with chronic condition who make many day by day decision, or self- manage, their illness. (Wikipedia. self-care).
According to D. Orem’s, general theory of nursing three(3) related parts, theory of self-care, theory of self- deficit, and theory of nursing system.(Olin,Jennifer,2011)
The purpose of this theory is to discuss about self-care by Orem’s how does it help in the nursing practice especially in long term care facility.
In my own understanding as a nursing student self- care theory discuss the outcome of patients need to encouraged and help to bring out the best in them.to renew and regain themselves despite of being ill for period of time. In nursing care our main goal is provide and assist residents or client in order to achieve our care plan to maintain the level of function and effectiveness of every individual.

As a nursing student Orem’s theory is important and helpful in every nursing practice it guides us on how to deal in every individual especially elderly and other health care concern in the facility .But when the patients or residents can’t able to achieve their self-care needs the self-care deficit occurs. In this case the nurse steps is to provide help, education and support in order to continue to promote personal needs. In relation to long term facility every elderly residents some of them categorize to limited assistance they needs mild support and extensive assistance they can still do weight bearing support while others needs total care. Nurses provide their needs such as medical assistance like given

SELF-CARE THEORY

Medications as prescribed to relieve their sense of comfort
Maintain physical activity, providing assistance in bathing, dressing and feeding .As Nurse we need to take them to considerations to formulate a care plan in every residents in facilities, to facilitate individual assurance of self-care behavior. We need to motivate them in doing their daily activities since they are lack of ability to feed themselves, failure to do their daily activities, unable to dress themselves,Self- Care Theory: Dorothea Orem Essay
We need to demonstrate the ability to use adaptive assistance device such as wheelchair, scooter to achieve their comfort and satisfactions. The quality of our nursing care are providing them comfort and sense of security which every residents deserves to receive.

REFERENCES:

Olin, Jennifer. (2011).retrieved from. http://current nursing.com/nursing theory/self-care deficit_theory.htm.
Potter, A. Patricia and Perry, G. Anne. (2014).fundamental of Nursing, 5th edition, page, 60-61.
Http//www.rncentral.com/blog/2011/7-nursing-theories-to practice.
Taylor, S.G. (2006).Dorothea E. Orem: Self-care deficit theory of nursing. In A.M.
Wayne, Gil. (2014).retrieved from .http//www.rncentral.com/blog/2011/7-nursing-theories-to practice.
Wikipedia.com.retrieved from. Http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki.self-care.Self- Care Theory: Dorothea Orem Essay