Dorthea Orem's Nursing Theory Analysis

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Summary of Dorthea Orem’s Nursing Theory
Dorthea Orem’s nursing theory is based on the philosophy that people have a desire to be independent and care for themselves. People function at the highest level and recover expediently and holistically from health care deficits when they are enabled to perform self-care at the highest level possible. The theory postulates that people benefit from nursing care when they suffer health conditions that limit their ability to provide self-care (Blais& Hayes, 2016, p. 105). There are four key components to the theory these include self-care which are the individual’s activities of daily living in which they perform independently to promote health and well-being (Blais & Hayes, 2016). The second component
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Orem’s theory uses a multidisciplinary approach to identify areas of self-care deficits due to a health-related condition. Nurses design a system that will guide, teach, support and assist the patient in achieving the highest level of functioning (Blais & Hayes,2016). Helping the patient to become independent with activities of daily living, gives them a sense of empowerment, autonomy and increases self-esteem. Self-care independence also offers the patient a sense of hope for the future. Having a stroke can affect a patient’s ability to perform many of the activities of daily living. An example would be a patient who had a stroke and residual left hemiplegia. Through application of Orem’s theory using the nursing process and a multidisciplinary approach, nurses can assist the patient in adapting and promotion of independence to maintain and restore the individual’s human integrity (CurrentNursing.com, 2012). Providing appropriate care to empower the patient with hope and autonomy will improve the patient care …show more content…
The success in attaining self-care requisites is an essential element preventive care and management of chronic care. Patient’s need to be supported by the five methods of help; to teach, guide, support and assist to increasing knowledge of health conditions and promoting self-care behaviors (Petiprin, A., 2012). Orem’s requisites provide the framework for promotion of basic human functioning and optimizing the individual’s potential for independence with activities of daily living (Petiprin, A., 2012). By empowering patients with knowledge about health conditions and promoting freedom in all aspects of their care, patients are more likely to follow treatment regimens and attend to preventative care. These independent behaviors will help reduce health care

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