orem's self care theory

1. Topic:
Orem’s Self care theory
by
Samuel Samu Haruna

2. INTRODUCTION:
Orem’s theory was formed by Mrs Dorothea
Orem between 1971-2001. She was born in the
year 1914 in Baltimore, US.
She earned her diploma at Providence Hospital –
Washington, DC
1939 – BSN Ed., Catholic University of America
1945 – MSN Ed., Catholic University of America
She worked as a staff nurse, private duty nurse,
nurse educator and administrator and nurse
consultant.
Received honorary Doctor of Science degree in
1976.

3. Mrs. Dorothea Elizabeth

4. What is orem’s self care theory?
Orem’s self theory is a theory that explain how
people are responsible for their health and
how to live a healthy life.

5. Aim
To provide individual the ability to perform
self-care, and to let them know they are
responsible for their health and how.

6. Objectives of Orem’s theory
To assess the patient condition by the various
methods explained by the nursing theory.
To apply the theory to solve the identified
problems of the patient.
To evaluate the extent to which the process
was fruitful.

7. Major assumptions
People should be self-reliant and responsible
for their own care and others in their family
needing care
People are distinct individuals
Nursing is a form of action – interaction
between two or more persons

8. Major assumptions cont..
Successfully meeting universal and
development self-care requisites is an
important component of primary care
prevention and ill health
A person’s knowledge of potential health
problems is necessary for promoting self-care
behaviors
Self care and dependent care are behaviors
learned within a socio-cultural context

9. what is self care?
It is the activities that individuals initiate
and performs on their own behalf in
maintaining life, health and well-being.

10. Part of Orem’s self care theory
• Generally, Orem’s theory is in three part
1. Theory of self care
2. Theory of self care deficit
3. Theory of nursing system.
1. Theory of self care.
This theory is base on four (4) perspective;
 Self care: This is the performance of activities that individual
initiate and performs on their behalf to maintain life, health
and well-being.
 Self care agency: The individual ability to perform self care
activities. The part of the theory is into two which are;
i. Self care agent: person who provides the self care.
ii. Dependent care agent: person other than the person who
provides the care e.g parent. The is affected by basic
condition factor.

11. Part of Orem’s self care theory cont..
Self care requisites: action directed towards
provision of self care. Reason for which health care is
done; the express the intended result. This is in 3
categories;
 Universal: The refers to needs that are common to all
individual e.g air, water, food, elimination, rest e.t.c.
 Development: needs resulting to maturation or
development due to a condition or event e.g adjustment
to new job, puberty e,t,c

12. Part of Orem’s self care theory cont..
iii. Health deviation: Needs resulting to illness, injury and
disease or in treatment e.g learning to walk with crutches
after a leg fracture.
 Therapeutic self care demand: The totality of Care
measure necessary at specific time or over a duration of
time for meeting and individual self care requisites by using
appropriate methods and related set and action

13. Part of Orem’s self care theory cont..
2. Theory of self care deficit
This is the general center of Orem’s general
theory of nursing. It describes how people can
be help through nursing. It is a very important
aspect of the theory that shows how a nurse
can provide health care ( self care) to an
individual.

14. Part of Orem’s self care theory cont..
The role of a nurse are
Acting or doing for another.
Guiding and directing.
Providing physical or psychology support.
Providing and maintaining an environment
that support personal development.
Teaching another.

15. Part of Orem’s self care theory cont..
Importance of theory of self deficit
Coordinate nursing care.
Establishing the kind and amount of
immediate and continue care needed.
Coordinating the care with other services,
such as other health care, social or
educational Services needed or being receive.
Discharging patients from nursing care when
the have regained their ability to perform
their own self care needs.

16. Part of Orem’s self care theory cont..
3. Theory of nursing system.
It describe how the patient’s self care needs will be
met by the nurse, patient or even the both in other to
promote good living. If there is a self care deficit i.e If
there is a difference between what an individual can
do( self care agency) and what needs to be done to
maintain optimum functioning ( therapeutic self care
demand), then nursing is require.

18. Part of Orem’s self care theory cont..
Classification of Nursing system.
it identify 3 classification of nursing system to
meet the self care requisites of the patient:-
Wholly compensatory system: Consists of
complete care to the patient by the nurse
because the patient is not able to perform any
of their self care activities. The nurse only
provides assistance and education to support
the patient's self care abilities and activities.

19. Classification of Nursing system. Cont..
Partly compensatory system: consists of the
provision of some care when the patient can
perform some but not all of the needed self
care activities. ... Dorothea Orem's third
nursing system is the supportive educative,
also referred to as the developmental
nursing system.

20. Classification of Nursing system Cont..
• Supportive – educative system: as consisting
of helping actions that include combinations
of support, guidance, provision of
developmental environment and teaching.
Much of the current literature indicates a
focus on education to help persons develop
self-management abilities.

21. Characteristics of orem’s theory
Interrelate concepts in such a way as to create
a different way of looking at a particular
phenomenon
is logical in nature.
is relatively simple yet generalizable
is basis for hypothesis that can be tested

22. Characteristics cont..
Contribute to and assist in increasing the
general body of knowledge within the
discipline through the research implemented
to validate them
Can be used by the practitioners to guide and
improve their practice
Must be consistent with other validated
theories ,laws and principles

23. importance of Orem’s theory to the
nursing practice.
Provides a comprehensive base to nursing
practice
It has utility for professional nursing in the areas
of nursing practice nursing curricula ,nursing
education administration ,and nursing research
Specifies when nursing is needed
Her self-care approach is contemporary with the
concepts of health promotion and health
maintenance.

24. Limitation or disadvantage of orem’s
self care theory.
In general system theory, a system is viewed
not as a single whole thing while Orem defines
a system as a single whole, thing.
Health is often viewed as dynamic and ever
changing.
The theory is illness oriented

25. conclusion
Orem’s theory is a theory that show how one
can help his/her self and be helped for better
health through the phases and steps of
nursing health care.

26. Reference
 www.nursing practice.com
 Orem, D.E. (1991). Nursing: Concepts of practice (4th ed.).
St. Louis, MO: Mosby-Year Book Inc.
 Taylor, S.G. (2006). Dorthea E. Orem: Self-care deficit theory
of nursing. In A.M.
 Tomey, A. & Alligood, M. (2002). Significance of theory for
nursing as a discipline and profession. Nursing Theorists
and their work. Mosby, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of
America.
 Whelan, E. G. (1984). Analysis and application of Dorothea
Orem’s Self-care Practuce Model. Retrieved October 31,
2006.

27. Reference
Wills M.Evelyn, McEwen Melanie (2002).
Theoretical Basis for Nursing Philadelphia.
Lippincott Williams& wilkins.
Meleis Ibrahim Afaf (1997) , Theoretical Nursing :
Development & Progress 3rd ed.
Philadelphia, Lippincott.
Taylor Carol,Lillis Carol (2001)The Art &
Science Of Nursing Care 4th ed.
Philadelphia, Lippincott.
George B. Julia , Nursing Theories- The base for
professional Nursing Practice, 3rd ed. Norwalk,
Appleton & Lange.