DOROTHEA OREM’S SELF CARE DEFICIT THEORY SIMPLIFIED

Summary

In this video, Busari M, a registered nurse and educator, introduces Dorothea Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory. She explains the theory’s core concepts—self-care, self-care agency, and self-care deficits—and how they guide nursing practice. The theory emphasizes that individuals should care for themselves, with nurses stepping in only when self-care is not possible. Through a case study of Mr. Zan, a patient with type 2 diabetes, Busari demonstrates how the theory is applied in real-life scenarios, using education, support, and collaboration to empower patients and improve care outcomes. It’s an insightful guide for nurses aiming to enhance patient care.

Takeaways

• 😀 Dorothy Orem is an American nurse known for developing the Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory, which emphasizes self-care as a fundamental human need.
• 😀 The theory focuses on how individuals typically care for themselves but need nursing intervention when they cannot meet their self-care needs.
• 😀 Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory consists of three interrelated theories: the Theory of Self-Care, the Theory of Self-Care Deficits, and the Theory of Nursing Systems.
• 😀 Self-care involves activities like eating, exercising, and taking medications that individuals perform to maintain their health and well-being.
• 😀 Self-care agency refers to the individual's ability to perform self-care activities independently, such as bathing, medication management, and mobility.
• 😀 Self-care requisites are the basic needs that individuals must meet to perform self-care, including factors like age, posture, and mental clarity.
• 😀 A self-care deficit occurs when individuals cannot care for themselves, creating a gap that necessitates nursing intervention.
• 😀 Nursing systems are frameworks used by nurses to provide care based on a patient's self-care ability, ranging from fully compensatory to supportive educative care.
• 😀 The three types of nursing systems are: wholly compensatory (nurse provides all care), partly compensatory (nurse and patient share care), and supportive-educative (nurse supports patient in performing self-care).
• 😀 Orem’s theory is applied in nursing practice to guide care plans, including educating patients, offering support, and motivating them to take active roles in their care.
• 😀 An example of applying the theory is the case of Mr. Zan, a diabetic patient who struggles with medication adherence and lifestyle changes, where nursing interventions focus on education, motivation, and creating a supportive environment for better self-care.

Q & A

Who is Dorothea Orem, and what is her contribution to nursing theory?

Dorothea Orem was an American nurse who developed the Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory. Her most notable contribution to nursing is emphasizing the importance of self-care, suggesting that nursing intervention is only needed when individuals are unable to meet their self-care needs.

What are the key concepts in Orem's Self-Care Deficit Theory?

The key concepts in Orem's theory are: Self-care (the activities individuals perform to maintain health), Self-care agency (an individual’s ability to perform self-care activities), Self-care requisites (the requirements to perform self-care effectively), Self-care deficit (when a person cannot care for themselves), and Nursing systems (the structures by which nurses provide care based on patient needs).

What is the primary focus of Orem's theory of self-care?

The primary focus of Orem's theory of self-care is on the activities that individuals do independently to maintain their health and well-being. These activities include basic self-care needs like eating, bathing, and resting, which are essential for every person.

What does the theory of self-care deficit imply?

The theory of self-care deficit refers to situations where individuals are unable to meet their own self-care needs, leading to the need for nursing intervention. This can occur due to health conditions or other limitations that hinder a person’s ability to care for themselves.

How does the theory of nursing systems relate to self-care deficit?

The theory of nursing systems explains how the nurse and patient interact based on the patient's ability to perform self-care. It includes three types of systems: compensatory (nurse provides all care), partly compensatory (nurse and patient share care responsibilities), and supportive-educative (nurse provides education and support while the patient performs self-care).

What are the three types of nursing systems in Orem's theory?

The three types of nursing systems are: Completely Compensatory (nurse provides all care), Partly Compensatory (nurse and patient share care responsibilities), and Supportive-Educative (nurse provides guidance and education to help the patient perform self-care independently).

What would a nurse's intervention be for a patient with a self-care deficit, according to Orem's theory?

For a patient with a self-care deficit, a nurse’s intervention would involve assessing the patient’s needs and providing support, education, and advocacy to help the patient regain the ability to perform self-care activities. This could include teaching, guiding, and supporting the patient in activities like medication management, diet, and mobility.

In the case of Mr. Zan, a 58-year-old diabetic patient, what is his self-care deficit?

Mr. Zan's self-care deficit lies in his inconsistent medication adherence, poor dietary choices, and lack of physical activity, all of which contribute to poorly controlled diabetes and related symptoms such as fatigue, frequent urination, and occasional blurred vision.

How can a nurse apply Orem's theory to Mr. Zan's care plan?

To apply Orem's theory to Mr. Zan’s care, the nurse should educate him about proper diabetes management, including diet, exercise, and medication adherence. The nurse would also collaborate with Mr. Zan to set realistic goals and provide ongoing support, such as medication reminders and monitoring his progress.

How does involving Mr. Zan's wife in his care plan align with Orem’s nursing systems?

Involving Mr. Zan’s wife in his care plan aligns with Orem's supportive-educative nursing system, where the patient can manage their own health with proper guidance and support. By educating his wife, the nurse ensures that she can help remind, encourage, and monitor Mr. Zan’s progress, creating a supportive home environment.