You have spent six weeks exploring theories of nursing. These represent the “how” of what we do as nurses. This week, we enter a higher level of thought and explore the “why” of our actions. Present a personal nursing philosophy. Apply what

Aspects of Dorothea Orem’s Self-Care Theory that Fits My Philosophy

Dorothea Orem’s theory fits my nursing philosophy. This theoretical framework focuses on helping individuals manage their self-care to improve or retain their human functioning effectively. It focuses on the capacity of individuals to implement self-care (Hartweg & Metcalfe, 2021). Subsequently, this theory focuses on the activities and interventions individuals can implement and perform independently to improve health status, well-being, and quality of life. Orem’s theory has three intertwined theories: “theories of self-care, nursing system and self-care deficit” (Hartweg & Metcalfe, 2021). The self-care theory concentrates on why and how individuals take care of themselves. In contrast, the nursing systems theory concentrates on the therapeutic relationship between nursing staff and patients and the effect of this interaction on the quality of care provided (Hartweg & Metcalfe, 2021). On the other hand, the self-care deficit theory focuses on how nursing provision helps individuals (Hartweg & Metcalfe, 2021).

In Orem’s theory, there are three assumptions regarding self-care requirements. The first assumption opines that all individuals have common needs and thus require similar materials to sustain their lives (Hartweg & Metcalfe, 2021). The second assumption is that all individuals need multiple activities to improve their growth and development in the stages of life (Hartweg & Metcalfe, 2021). The third assumption is that the tendency of human beings to deviate from normal functional well-being requires actions to reduce the occurrence of deviations and regulate the adverse effects linked to the deviations (Hartweg & Metcalfe, 2021).

Individuals who lack the skills and knowledge to implement self-care will have self-care deficits. Thus, Nurses must provide nursing care to individuals with limited self-care needs and knowledge to improve their health and well-being (Hartweg & Metcalfe, 2021). The assumptions of Orem’s theory fit in my nursing philosophy. Holistic and patient-centered care allows nurses to participate in their self-care. It will improve their physical, psychological, and mental well-being, especially for individuals who do not have the skills and knowledge to implement self-care.

Comparison Between My Nursing Philosophy and Orem’s Theory

Similarities

Self-care involves measures and activities implemented to meet the requirements of individuals lacking the adequate skills and knowledge to perform self-care. Patients who lack the knowledge and skills include geriatric patients, infants, mentally disabled patients, and patients with functional and cognitive impairments. APRNs must thus offer care to these patients to aid them in meeting their most basic physiological needs. This aspect of self-care theory matches the author’s nursing philosophy. My philosophy is to provide patient-centered holistic nursing care to enhance the patient’s physical, psychological, mental, and emotional well-being.

In my nursing practice with some populations, I have noticed that infants, geriatric patients, mentally disabled patients, and patients with dementia require extra attention from nurses since they cannot perform self-care. Nursing must transform nursing practice to boost care safety, quality, and efficiency in primary healthcare settings (Abou Malham et al., 2020). This will help meet the unique healthcare needs of individual patients, families, and communities. I will thus strive to provide patient-centered care to help patients address their healthcare needs.

Orem’s theory further outlines two deliberate actions. Nursing practice is a deliberate action done by members of the nursing profession to benefit individuals (Hartweg & Metcalfe, 2021). This means that actions implemented by nurses are aimed at addressing the self-care deficits of patients. This aspect is similar to my nursing philosophy. My philosophy involves providing patient-centered and holistic care to meet the unique care needs of my patients and improve their well-being. My nursing care is provided to various patients, such as infants, babies, adolescents, and geriatrics.

Differences

Orem also outlines deliberate actions and individuals. Patients are required to know their challenges and conditions. They should strive to address the challenges they face in the best possible way. This aspect of Oreom’s theory is different from my nursing philosophy. It involves providing holistic and patient-centered care to all patients to enhance their physical, emotional, and mental well-being regardless of their ability to address these issues and implement solutions to address them.