Dorothy Orem Self-Care Theory - Essay Example

The Importance of Nursing Theories in Nursing Education Introduction Nursing theories guide curriculum development and practice. The care roles originated as a vocation in the 1800s. However, people began to appreciate the roles in mid-1900s. Subsequent periods prompted greater awareness and development of nursing education. To catch up with the findings, researchers and theorists formalized theories to accommodate the duties and relationships of nurses and their patients. Some of the theories include Erikssons Theory of Psychosocial Development, Nightingale’s, and Roy’s theory. The work analyses Dorothy Orem self-care theory in the promotion of nursing education and care provision. Dorothy Orem self-care theory Orem’s nursing model recognizes universal self-care requirements namely, progressive self-care fundamentals, and health-deviation self- care basics. It evidences in importance of self-care and rehabilitation settings and encourages individual independence during treatments. Hence, self-care incorporates individuals own innovation and suitable implementation strategies for health improvement (Alligood, 2014). If a person takes full responsibility over his or her health, then self-care is achievable. Orem’s self-care theory explains complex interplay of patient’s psychological and socio-economic surroundings on health. Therefore, enlightens individuals to embrace appropriate life styles to minimize lifestyle diseases. Owing to the provisions Orem’s theory, nurse training takes into consideration the changing health care needs and teaches nurses to design issue specific nursing system for care delivery. Relevance to Nursing Education The principal concepts of the theory identify self-care deficits and characterize individuals and nurse roles in addressing health demands. The components add to the nurses’ career skills to produce and efficiently manage the health scare systems. Therefore, the knowledge base enable nurses to determine extent of self-care need, assist clients to uphold a satisfactory state of self-care determine extent of nursing and utilize theories in practical cases. Since the nursing model centers on individuals capabilities, it helps nurses to conduct and empower people in order to promote healthy living. Dorothy Orem’s self-care system is an excellent education process component that helps students to learn the main health care concepts by examining individuals’ role or enhancing impressions of thought and feelings (Taylor & Renpenning 2011). Largely, the theory aims to overcome human confines in the provision of nursing services and nursing education programs. The contemporary nursing environment countenances for quick and a detailed analysis of cases from medical databases across different sectors. Most important include research studies which address various health problems under innumerable conditions, and with specific samples of the population. Orems system integrates knowledge, different professionals and the specific roles of nurses and individuals in health promotion. Suitably, self-care theory offers ample theoretical frameworks, which benefits nurses momentously (Alligood, 2014). Thus, students and practicing nurses gain the opportunity to identify latest nursing methods, patient data collection and recording information for future reference. Significance of the Self-care theory Orem’s self-care theory helps in diagnosis of diseases and prescription Diagnosis and prescription. It helps to determine reasons for nursing intervention. Moreover, it assists in the analysis and making right decisions about care provisions. Conferring to Orem, nurses should be dignified and quick to determine capabilities of families and patients. Incorporating the concepts in everyday operations enhances nurse’s creative and critical thinking ability in such environments. In addition, the knowledge of the theory augment credibility of the operations and researches enabling successful service delivery requires creativity and ingenuity. The theory of self-care encompasses reflective skills and theoretical research-based knowledge offers. Thus, awareness about the mode equips learners with new perspectives on practical issues. Perhaps, the provisions enable the utilization of research behavior in nursing practice. Initially, the lack of knowledge hindered the necessities of nursing. However, the continuous research and dissemination of information of nursing processes and collaborations enhances self-care provisions (Hatlevik, 2012). Throughout the years, nurses worked to address the impeding care giving situations. Thus, the state facilitated availability of advance knowledge and implementation of a systematic technique of categorizing information. Dorothy Orem self-care theory provides the basis for effective examination of situations. It gives nurses the theoretical structure for organization analysis, and decision-making based on different viewpoints and understanding. In addition, the theory takes into consideration contrivances for ideal health for everyone, the individuality in caring for people’s health care necessity and principles nursing as beneficial to the citizens. As a practicing or nurse who is in training, an individual benefits by gaining diverse and up to date information about contemporary nursing practices. The self-care theory guides assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation entailed in the essential nursing procedures. Likewise, Orem’s theory elucidates the expansion and progression of nursing discipline. Orem’s concepts necessitate learning, and harmony with the expansion of nursing knowledge coupled with significant changes that occur in health care on a daily basis. It helps nurses to rate self-care deficits according to patient’s deficiencies for instance, partial, total or supportive compensation. Orem’s theory points out limitations, self-care needs, and champions for participation of everyone in enhancing nursing processes. It emphasizes on the three types of nursing systems for example wholly compensatory and partly compensatory nursing system that entails a dual role between both the nurse and the patient (Alligood, 2014). Furthermore, the Orem’s theory equips professionals with supportive educative nursing system through knowledge, encouragement, and support. Possibly, Orem’s theory of self-care is a learned behavior and a deliberate action in response to a health need. It outlines three categories of self-care requisites like universal self-care obligatory. The grouping comprises of the social and psychological relations of all human beings. Moreover, self-care also involves developmental self-care recognized during the stages of growth and development (Taylor & Renpenning 2011). Whereas, health-deviation self-care arises from the needs derived from an illness or a disease. It is dependent care if a different person completes it. Orem’s self-care deficit puts emphasis on nursing education and the evolution of the dynamic nursing practice. It equips nurses with skills to administer new treatment modalities. Conventionally, nurses’ education occurred mainly in hospitals. However, this knowledge combines both theory and practical concerns in order to advance the profession in a more positive way. Differential needs and development requires adequate implementation of new and advance technologies. Improved nursing knowledge promotes and maintains important standards of care. Therefore, application of the theory of self-care brings substantial leadership skills of participatory service delivery and integration of health concerns and technologies (Hadi et al, 2013). In regards to the new features brought to the nursing industry, vocational and practical nurse theory advances aspect of nurse training. Orem’s theory becomes handy through the model of comprehensive deficit leadership skills exhibited by the nursing care. Personal experience about the theory Orem’s theory is essential for both a beginner nurse and advanced nurses. The knowledge of the model meaningfully amended my ethics. The aspects of the theory shaped and ensured a perfect patient care experience and I think it is worth embracing. Other than forming the basis of my daily work plan, Orem’s model facilitated my understanding of patient’s views and needs. Hence, throughout my work experience, the theory concepts enabled me to give patients the opportunity for patients to meet there optimum level of self-care. The basics of the theory also enhance nurse’s skills in disseminating information. Sometimes, the care giving requires administering of knowledge to the patient through education. Personally, I feel relieved when a patient makes proper health and care decisions and has enhanced confidence because he/she is aware of the prevailing circumstances. Orem’s theory specifications enhanced my dealing and understanding of patients. It also takes care of the shy and reluctant clients to change since it offers team members integration of the care model. Evidently, the approach helps patients to overcome fears. Conclusion Nursing systems, self-care and the deficits form part of the daily patient conditions. The concept is understandable even for the starting student nurses. The theory stamps the main idea of letting learners to adopt the practice of offering assistance while also considering the knowledge and patient’s personal initiatives (Hatlevik, 2012). Even though the theory seeks for independence of the sick, it requires special models for infants and the aged who lack the power to administer self-care. Therefore, nurse educators and practitioners harmonize and implement appropriate concepts in collaboration with other stakeholders. References Alligood, M.R. (2014). Nursing theorists and their work (8th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby. Hadi, H., Hamid, H., Abbas, D., Eskandar, F-A, & Sima, M. (2013). Simulation utilization in nursing education. International Research Journal of Applied and Basic Sciences (IRJABS), 7(9), 554-557. http://www.irjabs.com/files_site/paperlist/r_1983_131228184617.pdf. Hatlevik, I. (2012). The theory-practice relationship: Reflective skills and theoretical knowledge as key factors in bridging the gap between theory and practice in initial nursing education. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 68(4), 868-877. Taylor, S. G., & Renpenning, K. M. L. (2011). Self-care science, nursing theory, and evidence-based practice. New York: Springer Pub. Read More