Theorist Selected: Dorothea Orem

Theorist Selected: Dorothea Orem

Description of Theory: Dorothea Orem's general theory of nursing consist of three theories. The self care theory which is made up of activities done by the individual to help in their well being. Self care agency which has the ability to carryout care activities (this theory has two components, the self care agent (one who performs their own care and the dependent agent like a parent who provides care. The Self care requisite (also called self care needs), this is how self care is provided. The three ways self care is provided fall into these categories, universal ( needs common to all), developmental (needs resulting form growing up/maturing or secondary to a condition) and health deviation ( needs resulting form illness or injuries). Orem's self care theory is about nursing and when nursing is needed and how patients benefit from nursing..

Theory's Historical background: Dorothea Orem earned her Bachelor of science degree in nursing in 1945. In the early 1950;s she worked for the state board of health in Indiana, completed her master's degree in nursing education and in 1958 began working on her Self-Care Theory. According to an editorial in the International Journal of Nursing practice,(Pearson, 2008) "This model assumes that all individuals have self-care needs, and that they have the right and ability to meet these needs themselves, except when their ability is in some way compromised." Dorothea Orem self-care theory was first published in 1971 and then further addition over the years, last in 2001.