Orem's Theory of Self Care
The Main Idea Presented in the Article: This 1986 article studied clinical application of Orem’s theory of self-care and which factors acted as a facilitator or inhibitor to this theory. Orem’s theory is briefly reviewed with direct emphasis on the nurse’s role in influencing patients to provide care for themselves. The study focused on geriatric patients and data was collected over a 10-week period during home health visits.
Summary of the material presented in the article: Orem’s theory places emphasis on the idea that people have not only the right, but also the ability to provide care for themselves (Clark, 1986). In this study the role of the nurse was to encourage self-care abilities. A 73-year-old white female was the primary subject of the study. She apparently had undergone certain struggles in life, but believed that she was a leader. The nurse was to encourage self-care activities. A self-care plan was developed and implemented for study. After initial results were reviewed, the care plan was revisited, revised, and implemented.
Synthesis of the material presented in the article: There are eight basic self-care requisites that determine the need for nursing. These must be understood in order to grasp Orem’s theory: 1-3) Maintenance of sufficient intake of air, water and food, 4) The provision of care associated with elimination and processes of excrement, 5) Maintenance of a balance between activity and rest, 6) Maintenance of a balance between solitude and social interaction, 7) Prevention of hazards to life, functioning and well-being, and 8) Promotion of functioning and development in social groups in accord with potential, limitations, and the desire to be normal (Clark, 1986). Assessment of these areas came from the client, family, health care records and observance by healthcare professionals. Data was collected during home visits and expanded over a ten-week period. The patient was evaluated on her progress toward the pre-developed care plan based on the self-care requisites. Findings were divided into facilitators (factors that aid in theory use) and inhibitors (factors that deter theory use). Facilitators included the patient’s desire to remain independent, the positive nurse-patient relationship, a mutual goal between the nurse and patient, the knowledge of the nurse related to the theory, and the care plan. Inhibitors were the numerous aspects of Orem’s theory and the fact that there was a lack of studies on Orem’s theory for which to compare results. The results showed that the nurse’s attitude has a direct correlation to participation in self-care, the patient’s self-image influences the degree of self-care, and nursing interventions that could be used to influence self-care. It was evident that the patient lacked awareness to different aspects of her own care, even when related to water, food, rest, and social interaction.
Application of the material: This material is applied daily in nursing. From the moment of patient-nurse introductions, it is the goal of the nurse to instill trust. The nurse focuses on having this positive relationship in order to influence patient attitude, willingness to change, and implement interventions. If the nurse has a strong working knowledge of the material he or she is implementing is it often easier to do so.
Interesting points of the article: This article is interesting in the aspect that it was published in 1986, but it very relevant to nursing care several years later. The study not only considered the objective data, but also what the patient felt about her ability to provide self-care. As a future nurse practitioner, this is of importance because the patient must believe in him or herself and must trust the provider in order to willingly follow the prescribed direction. It is evident that the information presented in this article has stood the test of time in nursing, which cannot be said about many aspects of this ever changing field.
Question that the Article raised: Would the results show a different outcome if studied in a different age population, such as adolescents, who often have yet to develop a self-image and tend to be rebellious?
Reference
Clark, M. (1986). Application of Orem's theory of self-care: a case study. Journal Of Community Health Nursing, 3(3), 127-135
The Main Idea Presented in the Article: This 1986 article studied clinical application of Orem’s theory of self-care and which factors acted as a facilitator or inhibitor to this theory. Orem’s theory is briefly reviewed with direct emphasis on the nurse’s role in influencing patients to provide care for themselves. The study focused on geriatric patients and data was collected over a 10-week period during home health visits.
Summary of the material presented in the article: Orem’s theory places emphasis on the idea that people have not only the right, but also the ability to provide care for themselves (Clark, 1986). In this study the role of the nurse was to encourage self-care abilities. A 73-year-old white female was the primary subject of the study. She apparently had undergone certain struggles in life, but believed that she was a leader. The nurse was to encourage self-care activities. A self-care plan was developed and implemented for study. After initial results were reviewed, the care plan was revisited, revised, and implemented.
Synthesis of the material presented in the article: There are eight basic self-care requisites that determine the need for nursing. These must be understood in order to grasp Orem’s theory: 1-3) Maintenance of sufficient intake of air, water and food, 4) The provision of care associated with elimination and processes of excrement, 5) Maintenance of a balance between activity and rest, 6) Maintenance of a balance between solitude and social interaction, 7) Prevention of hazards to life, functioning and well-being, and 8) Promotion of functioning and development in social groups in accord with potential, limitations, and the desire to be normal (Clark, 1986). Assessment of these areas came from the client, family, health care records and observance by healthcare professionals. Data was collected during home visits and expanded over a ten-week period. The patient was evaluated on her progress toward the pre-developed care plan based on the self-care requisites. Findings were divided into facilitators (factors that aid in theory use) and inhibitors (factors that deter theory use). Facilitators included the patient’s desire to remain independent, the positive nurse-patient relationship, a mutual goal between the nurse and patient, the knowledge of the nurse related to the theory, and the care plan. Inhibitors were the numerous aspects of Orem’s theory and the fact that there was a lack of studies on Orem’s theory for which to compare results. The results showed that the nurse’s attitude has a direct correlation to participation in self-care, the patient’s self-image influences the degree of self-care, and nursing interventions that could be used to influence self-care. It was evident that the patient lacked awareness to different aspects of her own care, even when related to water, food, rest, and social interaction.
Application of the material: This material is applied daily in nursing. From the moment of patient-nurse introductions, it is the goal of the nurse to instill trust. The nurse focuses on having this positive relationship in order to influence patient attitude, willingness to change, and implement interventions. If the nurse has a strong working knowledge of the material he or she is implementing is it often easier to do so.
Interesting points of the article: This article is interesting in the aspect that it was published in 1986, but it very relevant to nursing care several years later. The study not only considered the objective data, but also what the patient felt about her ability to provide self-care. As a future nurse practitioner, this is of importance because the patient must believe in him or herself and must trust the provider in order to willingly follow the prescribed direction. It is evident that the information presented in this article has stood the test of time in nursing, which cannot be said about many aspects of this ever changing field.
Question that the Article raised: Would the results show a different outcome if studied in a different age population, such as adolescents, who often have yet to develop a self-image and tend to be rebellious?
Reference
Clark, M. (1986). Application of Orem's theory of self-care: a case study. Journal Of Community Health Nursing, 3(3), 127-135