Orem's General Theory of Nursing and Families - Essay Example

Dorothea Orem’s theory al affiliation Dorothea Orem’stheory Theory’s Historical background Dorothea Orem’s theory traces its roots in 1945 when Orem accepted her appointment as in the Nursing Service and Education in Detroit. During her tenure in her line of duty, she developed the basics for this theory. Later on, in the late 1940s, she moved to Indiana where she worked as a nursing specialist. This provided a good ground for the development of the theory as Orem was experiencing massive issues in having tangible reference in the field of nursing. In this case, she made numerous attempts to come up with a theory that would incorporate all aspects of the nursing practice. Description of Theory The theory works on the basis that, the practice of nursing is an activity that allows for contact between two parties. According to Taylor (2001) all persons must be self reliant and responsible for their own healthcare as well as that of persons around them. For self-care to be promoted among the individuals, it is vital that all the requirements of collective and self development wants are met. An instance when individuals are conversant with their health issues, they are more likely to develop behaviors that are directed towards promotion of feelings of self care in individuals. Define according to theorist:  Person According to Cox & Taylor (2005) the person or rather the nurses’ client can be described as an individual who has the capacity to reflect and internalize various symbols as depicted to them. A person, according to the theory, is an individual that is universal and encompasses a myriad of needs that need to access self care. They can also be described as groups of people that have the ability to be of utility in the society. In essence, the person in Dorothea Orem’s theory is the major focus of nursing care and provision of skills that assist in self care ability in the individuals. Health Taylor (2001) argues that health, according to Dorothea Orem’s theory, is those aspects that relate to all aspects that make develop all senses of living things. This interprets the fact that, health can either be structural or functional, so long as the entire system embraces the aspects of veracity and entirety. These attributes make the individuals- the persons- human and are able to operate in terms of physiology and psychologically. Conversely, these attributes allow individuals be in a position to interact with other human beings; thus make them human in the course of their living. Nursing Nursing, in the context of the Dorothea Orem’s theory is a form of art, and a technology that is directed towards offering healthcare to the persons. Nursing also entails all those actions that are selected by the health practitioners in an attempt to assist persons adjust their behaviors in line to the environment in question. Geden, et al (2001) indicate that nursing operates within the confines of the patients’ health conditions as prescribed by the physician. The major aim of nursing is to allow the persons access self care needs, so as to recover their health status in times of disabilities or injuries. Environment Environment refers to all the aspects that are related to the person’s health in terms of environmental factors. Among the environmental factors are inclusive of aspects such as enthronement factors, conditions, and the environment that comes as a result of these factors. Environmental factors are those factors that correlate with the milieu of the patients that may be concerned with the types of foods being in taken by the patients, cleanliness of their environments amongst other factors. The environment must be clean and safe so as the persons may acquire quick health. How does this concept relate to nursing practice?  Person In the case of the nursing practice, patients matter a lot in the nursing practice. Fawcett (2001) indicates that persons are the reasons behind the existence of nursing practice. A system of nursing education devoid of comparisons to patients, or persons would not qualify to be referred to as contextual nursing practice. Being the major beneficiaries it is alienable to not refer to patients in the course of nursing practice. Persons make it worthwhile to set the curriculum right for the nurses so as they may comprehend the reasons behind persons under care and to put into place measures for implementation of the concepts taught in nursing practice. Health Health correlates to the ability of persons to have the innate ability of individuals to deal with responsible healthcare. This aspect is useful in the nursing practice as all heath practitioners must work towards encouraging individuals work towards leading a healthy life directed towards self reliance and responsibility of one’s healthcare. Health cannot be alienated from their nursing practice as nursing revolves around inculcating a healthy lifestyle amongst individuals and maintained throughout the patients’ life. Nursing Nursing creates a situation whereby individuals access help on how to deal with the person’s predicaments in terms of health and access to self care. Including nursing in nursing practice is useful, in that, it allows the health practitioners access information on how to deal with patients’ well being and life in general. Through nursing, persons are able to deal with tough circumstances in the patients’ life. In this context, it is, therefore, arguable that nursing cannot be alienated in the context of practicing health practitioners. Environment Just like indicated above, environment refers to the factors that are around the patient that determine whether the aspects of health provision will be accepted by the individual or not. Environmental issues are useful to the nursing education and practice as they allow practitioners determine the factors in the environment that promote the heath of the individuals and the factors that do not. In the case of cleanliness, the health practitioners are aware of the fact that this fact has to be maintained at all tomes for proper heath care, amongst other practices. These attributes can only be understood and learnt through nursing practice. How does this concept relate to nursing education?  Person Inclusion of persons in the nursing education allows nurses get prepared on how to deal with the individuals and how the concept of self care applies to such persons. Persons are the reasons behind the existence of the nursing practice. Education on persons prepares the nurses on the need to deal with predicaments that may concern the persons, as well as the best interventions to alleviate individual related issues. Health Nursing education and health go hand in hand. This is from the fact that, nursing education provides the clinic nurse with all that is required so as to provide to the needs of the person. According to Berbigli (2002), health is a general term that comprises of numerous aspects that have to me met by all nurses. This explains the fact that health can only be promoted if education on its contents is imparted on the practicing nurses. Nursing Education on the concept of nursing provides practicing nurses health practitioners with the ability to offer comprehensive care to patients, allow individuals note that provision of healthcare is comprehensive and that all parties must take part in ensuring that total care is offered to the patients. Education on health matters allows the health practitioners understand the reasons behind the operation within the confines of proper care to all persons. Environment Environment relates to the concept of nursing education, in the context of it being an aspect of nursing plan. According to Allison (2007) through Orem’s theory, the educators are able to impart the necessary skills in the health practitioners that promote quality heath provision among the individuals who are the major beneficiaries of proper healthcare. An understanding of the environmental factors among the health practitioners allows them comprehend the standards of health provision through education. References Allison, S. E. (2007). Self-care requirements for activity and rest: An Orem nursing focus. Nursing Science Quarterly, 20(1), 68-76. Berbiglia, V. A. (2002). Orems self-care deficit nursing theory in practice. In Tomey, M. & Alligood, R. (Eds.), Nursing theory utilization & application (2nd Ed) St. Louis: Mosby. Cox, K. R., & Taylor, S. G. (2005). Orems self-care deficit nursing theory: Pediatric asthma as explar. Nursing Science Quarterly, 18(3), 249-257. Fawcett, J. (2001). The nurse theorists: 21st century updates - Dorethea Orem. Nursing Science Quarterly, 14(1), 34-38. Geden, et al. (2001). A theory of dependent-care: A corollary theory to Orem’s theory of self-care. Nursing Science Quarterly, 14, 39-47. Taylor, S. G. (2001). Orems general theory of nursing and families. Nursing Science Quarterly, 14(1), 7-9. Read More